Sam Felder, Jr., Also Known as Sammie Felder v. Gary L. Johnson, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division

EDITH H. JONES, Circuit Judge:

Sam Felder, a death row prisoner in Texas, appeals the district court’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. He raises numerous issues, three of which are discussed in depth in this opinion. First, Felder challenges the constitutionality of the “Texas waiver rule,” which— until it was abrogated last year — treated a criminal defendant’s admission of guilt during the punishment phase of his trial as a guilty plea that waived all guilt-phase trial errors. This claim is Teague-barred. Second, Felder argues that the prosecution violated his due process…