Curtis v. Duval & Harshbarger

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

Petitioner-appellant Daniel J. Curtis, a state prisoner serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, challenges the constitutionality of his conviction. He asseverates that three occurrences — the absence of counsel when the trial judge delivered a supplementary jury instruction, the fact that the supplementary instruction impermissibly shifted the burden of proof, and the trial court’s refusal to immunize a potential defense witness — abridged his constitutional rights. The district court declined to issue a writ of habeas corpus. We affirm.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A…