Wooten v. Norris

MELLOY, Circuit Judge.

Arkansas death-row inmate Jimmy Don Wooten appeals the district court’s1 denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas relief. The district court and our court granted certificates of appealability regarding two ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Wooten alleges that his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective during the guilt phase of his bifurcated trial for failing to argue that mental-health issues prevented Wooten from formulating the necessary mens rea for his capital offense. Wooten also alleges that trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective…