Robert C. Bransford v. Robert Brown Dale Foltz

NATHANIEL R. JONES, Circuit Judge.

The most important question presented by this appeal is whether the unavailability of transcripts of jury instructions is a per se violation of a criminal defendant’s due process rights. We hold that it is not.

Petitioner, Robert Carl Bransford, was convicted in January 1973 of first degree felony murder and armed robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. His trial counsel, Wilfred Rice, was originally appointed to represent petitioner on appeal. However, due to other commitments, Mr. Rice turned the case over to Leonard Townsend. Mr. Rice gave to Mr.…