Romano v. Gibson

SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge.

Petitioner-appellant John Joseph Romano appeals the denial of habeas relief, see 28 U.S.C. § 2254, from his Oklahoma first degree murder conviction and death sentence. Romano argues, among other things, that his trial attorneys’ second-stage strategy was constitutionally ineffective. We disagree, and affirm the denial of habeas relief on this and his other claims.

I. FACTS.

A jury convicted Romano of murdering a business acquaintance, Lloyd Thompson. 1 Thompson was a fifty-eight year old gambler with a heart condition. Romano worked for Thompson setting up card games. On…