Rodney Beckham v. Cookie Crews

ROGERS, Circuit Judge.

Rodney Douglas Beckham was convicted in Kentucky state court of murder and being a persistent felony offender and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Beckham appealed directly to the Kentucky Supreme Court, arguing, among other things, that the trial judge violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel by prohibiting him from discussing his ongoing testimony with his attorneys during a brief 20-minute period. The Kentucky Supreme Court, however, rejected this argument. Beckham then filed a habeas petition, reasserting his Sixth Amendment claim, but the district court…