Branch v. McDonough

ORDER DENYING THE PETITION

ROBERT L. HINKLE, District Judge.

A Florida state-court jury convicted the petitioner Eric Scott Branch of sexually battering and murdering a student who was walking to her car alone at night on a college campus. The jury recommended and the judge imposed the death sentence. Mr. Branch was unsuccessful on direct appeal and in a state-court collateral attack. He now has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. He seeks relief on multiple grounds, including alleged errors by the trial judge and ineffective assistance of counsel. But the trial…