Woodward v. Epps

CARL E. STEWART, Circuit Judge:

Paul Woodward was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. After exhausting state court proceedings, Woodward filed a petition for habeas relief in the federal district court. The district court denied the requested relief, but it issued a certificate of appealability (“COA”) as to three issues: whether Woodward’s constitutional rights were violated (i) when his trial counsel conceded guilt to the jury without first securing Woodward’s consent; (ii) by his attorney’s failure to object to the State’s use of other bad acts in its closing arguments; and…