Robert v. Black, Jr. v. James A. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division

KING, Circuit Judge:

Robert V. Black, Jr., was convicted in a Texas court of hiring a man to kill his wife, Sandra Black, and sentenced to death. After exhausting his state remedies, Black filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. The district court denied relief on all claims, and refused to grant a certificate of probable cause to appeal. Black now applies to this court for a certificate of probable cause and moves for a stay of execution. We deny the application and the motion.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTOR Y

In the fall of 1984, Black became acquainted with John Wayne…