John Ramirez v. William Stephens, Director

KING, Circuit Judge: *

Petitioner-Appellant John Ramirez was convicted of capital murder in Texas state court and sentenced to death. After his conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct review, Ramirez unsuccessfully pursued state habeas relief asserting-a number of constitutional claims, including violations of his due process rights, right to a public trial, arid ineffective assistance of counsel. State habeas courts denied him relief, finding that his claims were either procedurally defaulted or without merit. Ramirez filed for federal habeas relief thereafter on the same claims. The…