United States Fifth Circuit

In a death penalty case, denial of federal habeas relief on a claim that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to present any evidence at the punishment phase of the trial is affirmed where a state court's decision, that defendant's counsel made a reasonable strategic decision to forego the presentation of evidence at the punishment phase, was neither contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law.

Appellate Information

• Decided 11/30/2006
• Published 12/01/2006

Judges

• E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge:, Before JOLLY, DAVIS and OWEN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Jack Knox Wall, Law Office of J.K. Rusty Wall, Midland, TX, for Petitioner-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Woodson Erich Dryden, Asst. Atty. Gen., Postconviction Litigation Div., Austin, TX, for Respondent-Appellee.