Pratt v. Cain

RHESA HAWKINS BARKSDALE, Circuit Judge:

In this challenge to habeas relief conditionally granted to George Pratt, Jr., at issue is whether, pursuant to LaUode Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 770 (West 1981) (mistrial for objected-to references by the State to inadmissible evidence of other crimes committed by the defendant), Pratt’s counsel’s failure to object to the prosecutor’s references to Pratt’s involvement with illegal drugs, both in questions on cross-examination of Pratt and during rebuttal closing argument, constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel, viola-tive of the Sixth Amendment. The…