Bradley Register v. Rick Thaler, Director

PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:

The district court granted habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 because the reporter for the state trial court lost her *625notes, impairing resolution of the prisoner’s challenges to his conviction. We are persuaded that the district court could likely have reconstructed an adequate record, and we vacate the grant of relief and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings.

I

A Texas jury convicted the petitioner, Bradley Allen Register, of possession or transportation of anhydrous ammonia, a chemical used in manufacturing methamphetamine, in…