Ladd v. Cockrell

RHESA HAWKINS BARKSDALE, Circuit Judge:

This appeal is from the denial of habeas relief concerning a Texas capital murder conviction for which a death sentence was imposed. Primarily at issue is whether the State’s request, as permitted by Texas law, for a “jury-shuffle” at the start of jury selection was impermissibly motivated by race. The district court granted a Certificate of Appealability (COA) on two issues: (1) whether Robert Charles Ladd was denied the right to a fair and impartial jury because of the prosecution’s “shuffle” of the venire; and (2) whether Ladd was denied effective…