Batiste v. Stephens
Filing
39
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING 22 Opposed MOTION for Summary Judgment . Batistes petition is DENIED and this case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. All other requests for relief are DENIED. The Court will not certify any issue for appellate review. (Signed by Judge Gray H Miller) Parties notified.(rkonieczny, 4)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
TEDDRICK BATISTE,
Petitioner,
v.
LORIE DAVIS,
Respondent.
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CIVIL ACTION H-15-1258
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER
Teddrick Batiste, an inmate on Texas’ death row, has filed a federal petition for a writ of
habeas corpus challenging his capital conviction and death sentence. Dkt. 9. Respondent Lorie
Davis moves for summary judgment. Dkt. 22. After considering the record, the pleadings, and the
applicable law, the Court finds that Batiste has not shown an entitlement to habeas relief.
Accordingly, the Court will GRANT Respondent’s motion for summary judgment and DENY
Batiste’s habeas petition. The Court will not certify any issue for appellate review.
I. BACKGROUND
On direct appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals described the facts underlying the
murder of Horace Holiday as follows:
In the early morning hours of April 19, 2009, [Batiste], a member of the Five Deuce
Hoover Crips, was at home getting some tattoos, when he looked in the mirror,
thinking about all of his bills. He asked his friend, Loc, to “ride around” in his Buick
with him looking for something to steal because “that’s the way you get money.”
After fruitlessly cruising the streets for a while, they ended up at an after-hours club
on Veteran’s Memorial Drive on the north side of Houston. [Batiste] saw a white
Cadillac coming out of the parking lot, and he decided that he wanted the Cadillac’s
fancy rims. “I just look at the rims, and I know what the rims are worth. . . . I could
get $3,000 on the streets.”
[Batiste] started following the Cadillac, and they drove for miles down the freeway.
Eventually the driver must have noticed him, because the Cadillac began “swanging”
from the right to the left lane and back again. [Batiste] was scared because the driver
was acting “street smart,” but he didn’t want to show any fear because he and Loc
were Crips, so he told Loc to lean back while [Batiste] pulled up even with the
Cadillac and started shooting at the driver through Loc’s passenger window. He shot
the driver four or five times with his nine-millimeter, semi-automatic Glock pistol.
The Cadillac exited the freeway, pulled into an Exxon station, and ran into one of the
gas pumps. [Batiste] drove into the station and saw the badly wounded driver slowly
come out of the Cadillac, crying “Help, help, help.” The man collapsed on the
concrete. [Batiste] thought, “[M]an, this is my chance. I got to get those wheels. . . .
And I got my gun, and I put my hat on, and I had a ski mask.” He told Loc to drive
the Buick to [Batiste’s] wife’s apartment, and then [Batiste] ran over to where Mr.
Holiday, the driver, was lying on the ground. When he saw the man move, he shot
him several more times in the back and head. Mr. Holiday died.1
[Batiste] jumped into the Cadillac and drove out of the Exxon station and back onto
the Eastex freeway, heading north. He soon noticed a police car behind him and
realized that he would be caught, but first he led the pursuing officers on a
high-speed chase for about twelve miles.2 It was not until officers placed a spike
strip across the road and [Batiste] ran over it, destroying the Cadillac’s
passenger-side tires, that he was finally forced to stop.
[Batiste] was taken into custody and placed in a patrol car. One officer, who had
noticed a great deal of blood on the Cadillac’s steering wheel and driver’s seat, came
over to ask [Batiste] if he needed medical attention. [Batiste] told him that he was
“fine”; it wasn’t his blood, it “belongs to the guy I took the car from.” After [Batiste]
was taken to the homicide division, he gave officers a recorded statement confessing
to the capital murder of Horace Holiday. He then gave two more confessions – one
to a second capital murder and one to a separate aggravated robbery.
Batiste v. State, No. AP-76,600, 2013 WL 2424134, at *1 (Tex. Crim. App. June 5, 2013) (footnotes
added) (hereinafter “Opinion on Direct Appeal at ___”).
1
The victim's body “had fifteen gunshot wounds, including fatal gunshot wounds to the brain, liver, gall
bladder, and stomach.” S.H.R. at 938.
2
A police officer “observed a handgun and a ski mask being thrown out of the driver’s side of the
Cadillac” during the pursuit. S.H.R. at 937. “The bullets recovered from the [victim’s] neck and back were consistent
with being fired from [Batiste’s] Glock recovered on the freeway.” S.H.R. at 938.
2
In 2011, Batiste stood trial in the 174th District Court of Harris County, Texas.3 The defense
did not call any witnesses or present evidence in the guilt/innocence phase. One of Batiste’s trial
attorneys conceded in a habeas affidavit that “[t]he guilt phase was indefensible.” S.H.R. at 811.4
The jury found Batiste guilty of capital murder.
A Texas jury decides a capital defendant’s fate by answering special issue questions at the
conclusion of a separate punishment hearing. Here, the instructions asked jurors to decide (1)
whether Batiste would be a future societal danger and (2) whether sufficient circumstances militated
against the imposition of a death sentence. C.R. at 1712-13. The Court of Criminal Appeals
summarized the punishment portion of Batiste’s trial as follows:
During the punishment phase, the State offered evidence that, on March 23, 2009 (a
little more than three weeks before killing Horace Holiday), [Batiste] robbed Walter
Jones, his wife, Kari, and David McInnis, at the Phat Kat Tats tattoo shop. A little
before 11:00 p.m., [Batiste] parked his Buick in front of the Shipley’s Donuts shop
in the strip center where the tattoo shop was located. Then he and two cohorts
marched into the shop, wearing blue bandanas over their faces and carrying
semi-automatic pistols. [Batiste] screamed, “This is a fucking robbery!” Each of the
robbers grabbed one of the three adults, and each put a gun to that person’s head.
Walter Jones, the owner of Phat Kat Tats, noticed that these robbers were well
organized and likely had done this before. Kari, very afraid that their five-year-old
son might come into the shop from the next room, pleaded with the robbers not to
shoot him if he did so. One of the robbers started yelling at her, “Shut up, bitch, I'll
kill you, I’ll kill you. Shut up.” The robbers made them empty out their pockets.
Disappointed with the result, the robbers then scooped up two laptops, several cell
phones, a digital camera, and three tattoo machines. They ran out of the shop and
fled in [Batiste’s] Buick. The surveillance camera at the nearby Shipley’s Donuts
caught [Batiste], his cohorts, and the Buick, on tape.
3
R. P. “Skip” Cornelius and Gerald Bourque represented Batiste at trial. The Court will refer to the
defense attorneys collectively as “trial counsel.”
4
The state court proceedings in this case resulted in a voluminous record. The Court will cite the
Clerk’s Record containing trial court motions and docket entries as C.R. at ___. The reporter’s record containing the
trial court proceedings will be cited as Tr. Vol. ___ at ___. The Court will refer to the record from Batiste’s state habeas
proceedings as S.H.R. at ___.
3
Two weeks later – shortly after midnight on April 8, 2009 – [Batiste] drove his Buick
through the strip-mall center where the Black Widow tattoo parlor was located. He
was “casing” it for a robbery. He backed his Buick into a parking slot in front of the
shop, and then he and two other men walked into the tattoo parlor. Steve Robbins,
the shop’s owner, was tattooing Joshua’s arm, while two of Joshua’s friend–Anthony
and Christie–were napping on the couch. Two of the robbers held Anthony and
Christie at gunpoint, while the third robber went toward the back where Steve was
tattooing Joshua. [Batiste] and the other two robbers were yelling and “cussing” at
everyone, demanding money and wallets. When Steve told the robbers that they had
gotten all the money and they should leave because the store had surveillance
cameras, [Batiste] turned back to him and said, “What, motherfucker?” and began
shooting Steve. [Batiste] and another robber shot a total of sixteen bullets before
they finally fled in [Batiste’s] Buick. Steve died.
The State also introduced evidence of [Batiste’s] long criminal history, his
gang-related activities, and his various acts of violence and intimidation while in jail.
Horace Holiday’s mother, Lisa Holiday Harmon, gave the jurors a brief glimpse into
her son’s life and how he had saved up the money to buy the special rims for his
Cadillac just two weeks before his death. She told the jury that, after the murder,
Horace’s grandmother moved into Horace’s old room to be closer to his memory.
Horace’s grandmother testified that, after Horace’s death, the “whole family fell
apart.”
During his punishment case, [Batiste] called a dean from the University of Houston
to testify to the TDCJ inmate classification system and life in prison. He also called
a high-school track and football coach who said that [Batiste] was a gifted athlete in
middle school, but that he “disappeared” after he got into trouble for car thefts.
[Batiste’s] former boss testified that [Batiste] worked at Forge USA for over six
months as a helper on the forging crew. He never had any problems with [Batiste].
[Batiste’s] girlfriend, Stephanie Soliz, testified that she and [Batiste] lived together
with her two children, one of whom was fathered by [Batiste]. [Batiste] was “the
best” father. Stephanie admitted that they smoked a lot of marijuana at home and
that [Batiste] had a second job as a “fence” for stolen property. She was “okay” with
[Batiste] selling stolen property, as long as he wasn’t doing the stealing himself.
[Batiste’s] younger brother, Kevin Noel, testified that [Batiste] was “a very caring
and loving brother.” He did not try to get Kevin to commit crimes or join the Crips
gang, but Kevin did join the Line Five Piru Bloods gang and has the gang’s tattoos.
Kevin would pick [Batiste] up from work and bring him back to his apartment where
Kevin smoked dope with [Batiste] and Stephanie. [Batiste] would write him letters
from jail suggesting various new gang tattoos and bragging about having sex with a
nurse in the infirmary. [Batiste] also wrote a letter from the jail to a friend telling
4
him that he had broken his hand fighting with “a white guy from the military.” When
that man had interfered with [Batiste’s] phone call, [Batiste] broke his jaw.
Darlene Beard testified that [Batiste] was her “favorite grandson.” She took care of
him until he was nine years old. After that, she saw him every Thanksgiving, and
sometimes on her birthday or Mother’s Day. She never saw [Batiste] do anything
bad. “I can only tell you about the good things that I know concerning my
grandchild.” Mrs. Beard said that [Batiste] has a “huge” family and does not have
any conflict with any member of that family. [Batiste’s] mother testified that she was
barely sixteen when [Batiste] was born, so her mother took care of him while she
finished high school. He was a healthy, happy, church-going child without any
mental-health or learning problems until he started getting into trouble in middle
school. She knew that [Batiste] was sent to TYC for stealing cars, but he never told
her about his other crimes, being in a gang, or having gang tattoos.
[Batiste] testified that he had a happy childhood, but when he was in middle school,
he began selling Ritalin because he wanted to make money. After he was caught, he
was sent to an alternative school for the rest of eighth grade and half of ninth grade.
[Batiste] said that, after TYC, he committed crimes “just like to keep money in my
pocket, keep everything I needed.” [Batiste] stated that he spent some of his money
on marijuana for Stephanie and himself, but he didn’t commit crimes to get drug
money. He said that he really loves his two boys, Kash and Alex, and would guide
them and tell them “what’s right, what’s wrong.”
[Batiste] testified that he could be a positive influence on people in prison, and he
would distance himself from the Crips members “and just pick different goals.”
[Batiste] stated that he had followed the jail rules “[t]o the best of my ability. . . .
Every time, it’s always mutual combat. It’s never been where I just hit somebody.
I hit them back.” But [Batiste] did admit that, when faced with the choice to show
empathy and help Horace Holiday, who was bleeding to death on the concrete,
[Batiste] made the choice to shoot him several more times and steal his car.
When [Batiste] was in jail, Stephanie tried to move on with a new boyfriend, Aaron.
[Batiste] wrote rap lyrics about shooting him: “But Aaron ain’t crazy, man. That
nigga respect my game. He’s a target up in my range. Extended clip to his brain.”
[Batiste] admitted that his jailhouse rap lyrics could be seen as glorifying capital
murder (“I popped and he dropped”), the gangster lifestyle, and violence in general.
[Batiste] agreed that he recruited the gang members for the Phat Kat Tats robbery and
told them what to do. He admitted that he was the leader in the Black Widow capital
murder as well. And he said that those were not his first robberies.
5
Opinion on Direct Appeal at 2-4. The jury answered Texas’ special issue questions in a
manner requiring the imposition of a death sentence.
Batiste challenged his conviction and sentence on appeal.5 The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals issued an unpublished opinion affirming the judgment in 2013. Batiste v. State, No.
AP-76,600, 2013 WL 2424134 (Tex. Crim. App. June 5, 2013).
Batiste filed a state habeas application during the pendency of his direct appeal.6 In 2015,
the trial-level state habeas court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that
the Court of Criminal Appeals deny his habeas application.7 On April 29, 2015, the Court of
Criminal Appeals adopted the lower court’s recommendation and denied habeas relief.
Federal review followed. Batiste filed a timely federal petition raising the following grounds
for relief:
1.
Trial counsel provided ineffective representation by:
•
•
not investigating, preparing, and presenting evidence of Batiste’s
brain dysfunction.
not calling an expert witness to rebut the State’s testimony concerning
Batiste’s gang involvement.
5
Patrick F. McCann represented Batiste on appeal.
6
The Texas Office of Capital Writs represented Batiste on habeas review.
7
The trial court signed the State’s proposed findings and conclusions without alteration. Batiste
unsuccessfully asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to remand his case to force the trial court to make independent
findings. Batiste argues that this Court should not apply AEDPA’s presumption of correctness to the state habeas court’s
factual findings because the trial judge signed the State’s proposed findings and conclusions. Dkt. 38, pp. 29-32. In
another context, the Supreme Court has criticized the “verbatim adoption of findings of fact prepared by prevailing
parties, particularly when those findings have taken the form of conclusory statements unsupported by citation to the
record.” Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 572 (1985); see also Jefferson v. Upton, 560 U.S. 284, 29495 (2010) (“Although we have stated that a court’s verbatim adoption of findings of fact prepared by prevailing parties
should be treated as findings of the court, we have also criticized that practice.”) (quotation omitted). The Fifth Circuit,
however, has rejected the argument that habeas findings adopted verbatim from those submitted by the State are not
entitled to deference. See Basso v. Stephens, 555 F. App’x 335, 342, 343 (5th Cir. 2014); Green v. Thaler, 699 F.3d
404, 416 n. 8 (5th Cir. 2012).
6
•
•
•
•
•
•
not calling an expert witness to explain the relevance of Batiste’s
social history.
not investigating, preparing, and presenting testimony from lay
witnesses.
not calling additional witnesses to strengthen his mitigating evidence.
not presenting additional evidence that Batiste would not be a future
societal danger.
inadequately preparing Batiste to testify.
failing to challenge the State’s use of letters Batiste wrote while
awaiting trial.
2.
The State violated Batiste’s right to a fair trial by failing to disclose
impeachment evidence.
3.
Juror misconduct violated Batiste’s rights to due process and a fair trial.
4.
Trial counsel failed to preserve error regarding the State’s presentation of
allegedly inadmissible evidence.
5.
The trial court erred by compensating trial counsel with a flat fee and trial
counsel provided ineffective representation by accepting that arrangement.
6.
Trial counsel provided ineffective representation by not making a sufficient
objection to the introduction of evidence allegedly protected by the First
Amendment.
7.
Texas unconstitutionally administers the death penalty in an arbitrary manner.
8.
The trial court violated the Constitution by not informing jurors that a single
juror’s vote could result in a life sentence.
9.
Trial counsel failed to preserve the record for appeal.
10.
The punishment phase instructions constricted the jury’s consideration of
mitigating evidence.
11.
Batiste’s appellate and habeas attorneys provided ineffective representation
in their selection of grounds for relief.
12.
The trial court violated Batiste’s First Amendment rights by allowing
testimony and evidence about religious practices.
7
13.
The trial court violated Texas evidentiary law by allowing victim-impact
testimony.
14.
Courtroom disruptions violated Batiste’s right to due process.
15.
The trial court improperly prevented the defense from presenting executionimpact testimony.
16.
The trial court violated Batiste’s constitutional rights by granting the State’s
challenge for cause to one prospective juror.
17.
The trial court should have suppressed Batiste’s statements to police officers.
Stating that his petition was “fact based” without “discuss[ing] all of the applicable law,”
Batiste indicated that he would file a supplement to his federal petition. Dkt. 9 at 2. The Court
entered a scheduling order giving Batiste an opportunity to supplement the arguments in his petition.
Dkt. 18. Batiste did not file any supplemental pleading.
Respondent has moved for summary judgment. Dkt. 22.8 Batiste has filed a reply. Dkt. 38.
This action is ripe for adjudication.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The writ of habeas corpus provides an important, but narrow, examination of an inmate’s
conviction and sentence. See Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 103 (2011); Barefoot v. Estelle,
463 U.S. 880, 887 (1983). “Society’s resources have been concentrated at [a criminal trial] in order
to decide, within the limits of human fallibility, the question of guilt or innocence of one of its
8
Summary judgment is proper when the record shows “that the moving party is entitled to judgment as
a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c). “As a general principle, Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, relating
to summary judgment, applies with equal force in the context of habeas corpus cases.” Clark v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 760,
764 (5th Cir. 2000). A district court considering a motion for summary judgment usually construes disputed facts in a
light most favorable to the nonmoving party, but must also view the evidence through “the prism of the substantive
evidentiary burden.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 254 (1986). The general summary judgment
standards hold to the extent they do not conflict with AEDPA and other habeas law. See Smith v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d
661, 668 (5th Cir.2002) (Rule 56 “applies only to the extent that it does not conflict with the habeas rules”), overruled
on other grounds by Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274 (2004).
8
citizens.” Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 90 (1977); see also McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849,
859 (1994) (stating that a “criminal trial is the ‘main event’ at which a defendant’s rights are to be
determined”). The States, therefore, “possess primary authority for defining and enforcing the
criminal law. In criminal trials they also hold the initial responsibility for vindicating constitutional
rights.” Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 128 (1982).
If the inmate has presented his federal constitutional claims to the state courts in a
procedurally proper manner, and the state courts have adjudicated their merits, AEDPA provides for
a deferential federal review. “[T]ime and again,” the Supreme Court “has instructed that AEDPA,
by setting forth necessary predicates before state-court judgments may be set aside, ‘erects a
formidable barrier to federal habeas relief for prisoners whose claims have been adjudicated in state
court.’” White v. Wheeler, ___ U.S. ___, 136 S. Ct. 456, 460 (2015) (quoting Burt v. Titlow, ___
U.S. ___, 134 S. Ct. 10, 16 (2013)). Under AEDPA’s rigorous requirements, an inmate may only
secure relief after showing that the state court’s rejection of his claim was either “contrary to, or
involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the
Supreme Court of the United States,” or was “based on an unreasonable determination of the facts
in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1),(2).
Inmates arguing legal error in state court decisions must comply with § 2254(d)(1)’s
“contrary to” and “unreasonable application” clauses. See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694 (2002).
A petitioner does not merit relief by merely showing legal error in the state court’s decision. See
White v. Woodall, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S. Ct. 1697, 1702 (2014) (stating being “merely wrong” or in
“clear error” will not suffice for federal relief under AEDPA). In contrast to “ordinary error
correction through appeal,” AEDPA review exist only to “guard against extreme malfunctions in the
9
state criminal justice systems . . . .” Woods v. Donald, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 1372, 1376 (2015)
(quotation omitted). “[F]ocus[ing] on what a state court knew and did,” Cullen v. Pinholster, 563
U.S. 170, 182 (2011), AEDPA requires inmates to “‘show that the state court’s ruling on the claim
being presented in federal court was so lacking in justification that there was an error well
understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded disagreement.’”
Woodall, 134 S. Ct. at 1702 (quoting Richter, 562 U.S. at 103); Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S.
370, 380 (2010); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 413 (2000). “If this standard is difficult to meet,
that is because it was meant to be.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 102.
A petitioner challenging the factual basis for a state decision must show that it was an
“unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2); see
also Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340 (2003). “[A] state-court factual determination is not
unreasonable merely because the federal habeas court would have reached a different conclusion in
the first instance.” Wood v. Allen, 558 U.S. 290, 301 (2010). A federal habeas court must also
presume the underlying factual determinations of the state court to be correct, unless the inmate
“rebut[s] the presumption of correctness by clear and convincing evidence.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1).
As the same judge presided over the trial proceedings and the state habeas action in this case, the
presumption of correctness for state habeas factual findings is especially strong. See Mays v.
Stephens, 757 F.3d 211, 214 (5th Cir. 2014); Woods v. Thaler, 399 F. App’x. 884, 891 (5th Cir.
2010); Clark v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 760, 764 (5th Cir. 2000).9
9
Section 2254(e)(2) authorizes evidentiary hearings under narrow conditions. No evidentiary hearing
is necessary to adjudicate Batiste’s petition.
10
An inmate’s compliance with 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) does not guarantee habeas relief. See
Horn v. Banks, 536 U.S. 266, 272 (2002) (observing that no Supreme Court case “ha[s] suggested
that a writ of habeas corpus should automatically issue if a prisoner satisfies the AEDPA
standard[.]”); Robertson v. Cain, 324 F.3d 297, 306 (5th Cir. 2003) (finding that 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)
“does not require federal habeas courts to grant relief reflexively”). A habeas petitioner meeting his
AEDPA burden must still comply with weighty jurisprudential tenets, such as the harmless-error
doctrine and the non-retroactivity principle, that bridle federal habeas relief. See Thacker v. Dretke,
396 F.3d 607, 612 n.2 (5th Cir. 2005). Thus, any error cannot require habeas relief unless it “ha[d]
a ‘substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict,’” Robertson, 324
F.3d at 304 (quoting Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 629 (1993)), or would not require the
creation of new constitutional law, see Banks, 536 U.S. at 272 (relying on Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S.
288 (1989)).
III. ANALYSIS
A.
Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
Batiste raises several complaints about his trial representation. A court reviews an attorney’s
representation under the general conceptual framework established in Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 686 (1984). Under Strickland, a criminal defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights are “denied
when a defense attorney’s performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness and
thereby prejudices the defense.” Yarborough v. Gentry, 540 U.S. 1, 3 (2003) (emphasis added); see
also Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S. 374, 387 (2005); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 520 (2003). To
establish deficient performance, the petitioner must show that “counsel made errors so serious that
counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed . . . by the Sixth Amendment.” Strickland,
11
466 U.S. at 687. A petitioner must also show actual prejudice, meaning “there is a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings would have
been different.” Id. at 694; see also Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 534.
“Surmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an easy task . . . .” Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S.
356, 371 (2010). When the state courts have already adjudicated the merits of a Strickland claim,
“[a] state court must be granted a deference and latitude that are not in operation when the case
involves review under the Strickland standard itself.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 101. Federal courts
employ a “doubly deferential judicial review” of already adjudicated Strickland claims that gives
wide latitude to state decisions. Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111, 123 (2009); see also Cullen
v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 201 (2011). “The question is whether there is any reasonable argument
that counsel satisfied Strickland’s deferential standard.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 104; see also Premo
v. Moore, 562 U.S. 115, 123 (2011). With those standards in mind, the Court turns to Batiste’s
individual allegations of error by defense counsel.
1.
Investigation, Preparation, and Presentation of Evidence Relating to Brain
Dysfunction
Batiste claims that he was denied effective trial representation because counsel did not retain
a neuropsychologist, investigate sufficiently whether he suffered from frontal lobe damage, and
advance a mitigation defense based on his general cognitive functioning. Mental-health issues did
not play a prominent role in Batiste’s trial. The State presented testimony in the penalty phase from
Dr. Scott Krieger, a clinical psychologist who had examined Batiste at age sixteen. Dr. Krieger had
performed several psychological tests, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory Adolescent
Form (MMPI-A). As a result of his interview and testing, Dr. Krieger diagnosed Batiste with
“disruptive behavior disorder non-specified,” a condition characterized by disruptive or oppositional
12
behaviors. Dr. Kieger also testified that Batiste’s results on the MMPI-A were common to people
with hyperactive, impulsive behavior patterns. The State adduced testimony from Dr. Kieger
showing that Batiste felt no empathy for his victims. Dr. Kieger, however, did not attribute any
psychological condition to brain dysfunction or disorder. The defense did not call any mental-health
experts at trial.
On state habeas review, Batiste argued that his trial attorneys did not perform an adequate
investigation because they did not secure a neurological examination. Specifically, Batiste faulted
trial counsel for not retaining a neuropsychologist who could diagnose him with brain dysfunction.10
Batiste identified “neuropathology and cognitive dysfunction risk factors present in [his] social
history,” such as his “history of meningitis as a neonate” and other “risk factors present in [his]
juvenile history,” that should have prompted counsel to seek a neuropsychological evaluation.
S.H.R. at 39. Batiste substantiated his claim through the results of a neuropsychological examination
conducted by Dr. James Underhill on January 5 and 6, 2012. Dr. Underhill administered various
testing instruments, the results of which led him to opine, “with a reasonable degree of scientific
certainty, that Teddrick Batiste suffers from damage to the frontal lobe of his brain. As a result, he
is unable to calculate risk and appropriately weigh the consequences of his actions.” S.H.R. at 275.11
Dr. Underhill could not identify the etiology of Batiste’s brain dysfunction, but speculated that it may
have been either his mother’s lack of pre-natal care while pregnant with him or “the meningitis Mr.
10
In addition to training in clinical psychology, a neuropsychologist specializes in administrating
psychological tests to evaluate human brain disorders or psychological impairment caused by, or related to, injury to
brain tissue. See United States v. Kasim, No. 2:07 CR 56, 2008 WL 4822291, at *4 (N.D. Ind. Nov. 3, 2008) (describing
a neuropsychologist as a “specialist of interdisciplinary branch of psychology and neuroscience that aims to understand
how the structure and function of the brain relate to specific psychological processes and overt behaviors”).
11
Dr. Underhill also concluded that “Mr. Batiste suffers from mild impairment of memory. However,
it is his inability to conceptualize risk that significantly affects his functioning.” S.H.R. at 272.
13
Batiste was reported to have suffered from as a neonate.” S.H.R. at 273. Dr. Underhill specified that
Batiste’s “damage to his frontal lobe” was specifically located in “the part of the prefrontal cortex
that controls risk taking.” S.H.R. at 270. Persons with similar frontal lobe damage exhibit
“[I]mpulsivity and/or risk taking” behaviors, causing them to “make a decision quickly, without
considering the consequence, ultimately leading to behavior that exhibits a lack of control.” S.H.R.
at 271.12 Dr. Underhill opined that “Mr. Batiste’s inability to perceive risk can be compared to that
of an impulsive gambler” because “the chance of winning is extraordinarily slim, and the likelihood
of him losing his money is great,” but “once the process of gambling has begun, he experiences
difficulties in stopping himself” and “ increases the risk by continuing to gamble, despite the fact that
he can acknowledge he will almost certainly lose.” Dr. Underhill opined that medication and the
structures of prison life would help control Batiste’s risk-taking behaviors. S.H.R. at 274-75.
The record indicates that trial counsel made some effort to investigate issues relating to
Batiste’s mental health. The state habeas court found that the defense’s “pre-trial investigation
included an investigation of [Batiste’s] mental health; that trial counsel sought funding for and
retained three mental health experts.” S.H.R. at 950. Specifically, trial counsel retained two clinical
psychologists and a medical doctor as a substance-abuse expert. The record indicates that these
experts conducted forensic interviews, reviewed records, and consulted with the defense team. The
12
Dr. Underhill clarified:
Impulsivity and/or risk taking are often seen in individuals following frontal lobe damage; While these
two concepts may seem to have the same meaning, they are indeed different; impulsivity is simply a
response disinhibition, while risk taking is related to the reward-based aspects of decision-making. An
impulsive person will make a decision quickly, without considering the consequences, leading
ultimately to behavior that exhibits a lack of self-control. Contrarily, a person with an inability to
evaluate risk will look at the consequences but not weigh them. Instead, they will jump at the
opportunity of a reward even if the likelihood of receiving that reward is slim.
S.H.R. at 271.
14
record does not contain any psychological report obtained from those three experts. Nothing in the
record, however, suggests that the three experts uncovered any information that would have
indicated the need for neuropsychological testing.
Trial counsel provided an affidavit on state habeas review explaining the defense
investigation into possible mental-health issues. Trial counsel expressed concern about the doubleedged nature of using mental-health evidence in general:
One of the realities of death penalty litigation that all experienced defense attorneys
will admit is this: if you use mental health evidence, short of proving actual insanity,
you run the risk of making the defendant look even more dangerous to the jury, and
frankly it is generally true, because they are more dangerous. Let me illustrate
briefly. If you prove that the defendant needs medicine to overcome his mental
health challenges, and even if you prove the medicine is available, the State will
argue that even if this were true the jury will never be assured the defendant will take
his medicine and if he doesn’t society is in danger.
Conversely, if you don’t use mental health evidence you will be writing affidavits
like this one and/or testifying at hearings as to why you didn’t use it.
S.H.R. at 817. With that context, trial counsel provided specific reasons for which the defense did
not investigate the possibility of brain dysfunction:
We had no information from any source, be it a family member, friend, our experts
or investigators, or any record that would indicate a frontal lobe disorder, or any
mental disorder. He was sharp and I personally saw him make decisions. I am very
careful not to call witnesses, especially experts, who on cross examination can
destroy our case.
If the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rules, or if the Texas Legislature passes a law
that requires in every capital murder prosecution a defendant must be given
neuropsychological testing to see if they have brain damage, even if there is
absolutely no indication, and the county or State must bare the cost, then I certainly
will follow that requirement but that is not my understanding of the law in Texas.
S.H.R. at 817.
15
With that background, the state habeas court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law
denying this claim. Despite the use of three mental-health experts, as well as the other investigations
into Batiste’s background, the state habeas court found that trial counsel “had no information from
any expert, investigator, record, family member, or friend indicating that [Batiste] had any indicia
of frontal lobe disorder.” S.H.R. at 951. The state habeas court also questioned Dr. Underhill’s
diagnosis of frontal lobe damage. The state habeas court found “unpersuasive Dr. Underhill’s
conclusions regarding [Batiste’s] alleged frontal lobe damage and impaired perception/control of
risky behavior.” S.H.R. at 950. The state habeas court found that Dr. Underhill’s conclusion about
the source of Batiste’s risk taking was “vague” because he “does not disclose [Batiste’s] specific
score” or provide specific facts which could be corroborated. S.H.R. at 951. Additionally, the state
habeas court found “Dr. Underhill’s conclusions unpersuasive” about his impulsivity because state
jail records “reflect[ed] that [Batiste] had no disciplinaries while incarcerated at the Lynchner Unit
[before trial] which indicated that [Batiste] could control his behavior, including risk taking
behavior, when he so chose without medication.” S.H.R. at 952. Also, Dr. Underhill’s “conclusion
regarding [Batiste’s] alleged inability to calculate risk and weigh the consequences of his actions is
cumulative of Scott Krieger’s punishment testimony concerning the results of [his] MMPI-A score
which indicated that [Batiste] was impulsive and preferred action over thought and reaction.” S.H.R.
at 952. In sum, the state habeas court found no deficient performance by counsel or actual prejudice.
a.
Deficient Performance
Batiste has not shown that trial counsel’s performance was deficient. Batiste is correct that
trial counsel “did not retain an expert to perform a neuropsychological evaluation and/or conduct any
testing of Batiste.” Dkt. 9 at19. Applying applicable Supreme Court precedent, the Fifth Circuit has
16
explained that, “[I]n investigating potential mitigating evidence, counsel must either (1) undertake
a reasonable investigation or (2) make an informed strategic decision that investigation is
unnecessary.” Charles v. Stephens, 736 F.3d 380, 389 (5th Cir. 2013). Trial counsel “must not
ignore pertinent avenues of investigation, or even a single, particularly promising investigation lead.”
Id. at 390 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted); see also Higgins v. Cain, 720 F.3d 255,
265 (5th Cir. 2013) (explaining that counsel must “research relevant facts and law, or make an
informed decision that certain avenues will not prove fruitful”). Batiste’s claim depends on
identifying some set of circumstances that would have led a reasonable attorney to engage in an
investigation that included specific neuropsychological testing.
Trial counsel inquired into Batiste’s background and retained the services of three mentalhealth experts. Batiste’s attorneys explored facets of his mental health and background with the
assistance of various psychologists.13 Trial counsel did not receive “information from any source,
be it a family member, friend, our experts or investigators, or any record that would indicate a frontal
lobe disorder, or any mental disorder.” S.H.R. at 817. Batiste has not pointed to any place in the
record containing any indication that he experienced a head injury or other physical event causing
brain damage.14 Under the Strickland standard, counsel are required to conduct reasonable
13
In a state habeas hearing, the State summarized the concern with Batiste’s argument: “Your Honor
approved expert funding for two psychologists and an addiction specialist. Two psychologists met with Mr. Batiste.
They interviewed family members. And what they told you was – is that was no indicia of any brain damage. And what
habeas counsel and [Batiste] wants you to do is in essence create a new prevailing professional norm that in every case
its not just enough that you have to see a psychologist you have to see a neuropsychologist. There’s no case law to
support that.” Transcript of December 21, 2014 Writ Hearing, p.10.
14
Here, Dr. Underhill pointed to “several possible etiologies of the brain dysfunction.” S.H.R. at 373.
Dr. Underhill only specifically mentioned, however, that “[t]he impairment can result from head trauma or illness.”
S.H.R. at 373. Batiste argues that his “medical history of infantile meningitis” should have alerted trial counsel to engage
in a neuropsychological investigation. Dkt. 38, p. 57. Dr. Underhill, however, opined that “the meningitis Mr. Batiste
was reported to have suffered from as a neonate could have contributed to or been the direct cause of Mr. Batiste’s
(continued...)
17
investigation under prevailing professional norms. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688. Counsel are not
expected to be experts in all fields, but can reasonably rely on experts in deciding the scope of pretrial investigation. See, e.g., McClain v. Hall, 552 F.3d 1245, 1253 (11th Cir. 2008) (finding no error
in trial counsel’s investigation notwithstanding a later, more favorable expert opinion). Recognizing
that “[j]udicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance must be highly deferential,” Strickland, 466 U.S.
at 698, Batiste’s trial attorneys could reasonably forgo investigating neuropsychiatric problems when
the defense’s three mental health experts did not indicate that such investigation was necessary.
Yet even if trial counsel had uncovered evidence suggesting that Batiste possibly suffered
from brain dysfunction, and secured results similar to those reached by Dr. Underhill, Batiste has not
necessarily shown that a reasonable attorney would have presented that information to the jury. Trial
counsel was apprehensive about presenting similar testimony because it would allow the State to
characterize Batiste’s mental state as unpredictably dangerous and intractable. Testimony about a
brain injury may be a “‘double-edged’ sword,” Martinez v. Dretke, 404 F.3d 878, 889 (5th Cir.
2005), because jurors could fear that the defendant would never be able to control his violent
behavior. See Nelson v. Quarterman, 472 F.3d 287, 307-08 (5th Cir. 2006). “Presenting evidence
of ‘organic (i.e., permanent) brain damage,’ which is associated with poor impulse control and a
violent propensity, would have substantiated the state’s evidence and increased the likelihood of a
future dangerousness finding.” Martinez, 404 F.3d at 890. And, as the Seventh Circuit has noted,
sentencers “may not be impressed with the idea that to know the cause of viciousness is to excuse
14
(...continued)
impairment.” S.H.R. at 273. Dr. Underhill posited that Batiste had developed brain dysfunction as a “neonate” based
on his mother’s claim that he had been born with meningitis. The record, however, does not indicate that Batiste suffered
from any neonatal disease. Instead, Batiste experienced meningitis at nine months of age. S.H.R. at 385. Dr. Underhill’s
affidavit does not describe whether the same risk of frontal lobe damage occurs when the disease strikes one who is not
a newborn.
18
it; they may conclude instead that when violent behavior appears to be outside the defendant’s power
of control, capital punishment is appropriate to incapacitate.” Foster v. Schomig, 223 F.3d 626, 637
(7th Cir. 2000) (quotation omitted).
Dr. Underhill recognized the double-edged potential of brain trauma evidence but predicated
the mitigating thrust of his conclusions on (1) the ability of medication to reduce Batiste’s tendency
toward risk taking and (2) the structures of prison preventing dangerous actions. Trial counsel,
however, feared that those two factors would not withstand cross-examination. Trial counsel
anticipated that the State would argue that Batiste would only be capable of improvement if he chose
to take his medication. More important, the State had already presented evidence of Batiste’s threats
and violence while in jail awaiting trial. Testimony that incarceration would squelch Batiste’s freeworld violent impulsivity would ring hollow against his inability to control himself in a structured
environment. Weighing the benefit of Dr. Underhill’s testimony against the potential that the State
would undercut it, and possibly turn it against the defense, a reasonable trial attorney could choose
not to present such evidence.
b.
Actual Prejudice
Batiste has also not shown that the state habeas court was unreasonable in deciding that he
did not meet Strickland’s prejudice prong. The state habeas court concluded that (1) the jury already
had before it evidence that Batiste “was ‘impulsive’ and ‘preferred action over thought and
reflection’” and (2) evidence of his “two capital murders, an aggravated robbery, and multiple bad
acts” which was “particularly strong” would eclipse any brain-injury evidence. S.H.R. at 978.
Without the veneer of neuropsychological testimony, the jury already heard a psychologist’s opinion
19
that Batiste acted on impulse. Insofar as that information has only mitigating value, the jury could
already consider the effects of evidence similar to that identified on state habeas review.
Importantly, strong evidence supported the jury’s answers to the special issue questions. The
question of Strickland prejudice does not exist in a vacuum; “[I]n making this determination, a court
hearing an ineffectiveness claim must consider the totality of the evidence before the judge or jury.”
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695. On habeas review “the reviewing court must consider all the evidence
– the good and the bad – when evaluating prejudice.” Wong v. Belmontes, 558 U.S. 15, 26 (2009).
The Fifth Circuit has indicated that a court looks to see if the petitioner’s new evidence will “lessen
the impact of the other evidence against him[,]” Conner v. Quarterman, 477 F.3d 287, 294 (5th Cir.
2007), because “overwhelming aggravating factors” can outweigh unpresented mitigating evidence.
Sonnier v. Quarterman, 476 F.3d 349, 360 (5th Cir. 2007). For instance, the “horrific facts of the
crime,” Martinez, 481 F.3d at 259, the “brutal and senseless nature of the crime,” Smith v.
Quarterman, 471 F.3d 565, 576 (5th Cir. 2006), or the “cruel manner in which he killed,” Miniel v.
Quarterman, 339 F.3d 331, 347 (5th Cir. 2003), may weigh heavily against a finding of Strickland
prejudice. See also Strickland, 466 U.S. at 700; Knight v. Quarterman, 186 F. App’x 518, 535 (5th
Cir. 2006); Ladd v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d 349, 360 (5th Cir. 2002); Andrews v. Collins, 21 F.3d 612,
624 n.23 (5th Cir. 1994); Russell v. Lynaugh, 892 F.2d 1205, 1213 (5th Cir. 1989). Additionally,
if the “evidence of . . . future dangerousness was overwhelming . . . it is virtually impossible to
establish prejudice.” Ladd, 311 F.3d at 360 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 698).
Batiste committed murders for personal gain. The killing in the instant case was particularly
brutal and senseless. Batiste repeatedly shot into the victim’s car on the freeway to steal the rims
from his car. Once they both stopped, Batiste could have stolen the victim’s car and left the injured
20
man lying on his stomach bleeding and pleading for his life. Instead, Batiste repeatedly shot him.
Batiste’s police statement indicates that he did not act on impulse. Batiste paused, mustering “all
[his] empathy towards” the victim, but after “weighing” out what to do, decided that he had “to get
these wheels.” In addition, Batiste participated in, and led, aggravated robberies. He stole cars. He
used drugs. He sold stolen property for others. Batiste did not reform his character after previous
periods of incarceration and, in fact, he became more violent. Even knowing that the State would
use his actions against him in an impending capital murder trial, pre-trial incarceration did not
squelch Batiste’s violence. Batiste engaged in fights, threatened inmates, disrespected jail personnel,
and possessed weapons. Batiste exhibited little remorse in jailhouse correspondence, but continued
glorifying the gang lifestyle and praising violence. Against that background, the state habeas court
was not unreasonable in finding no reasonable probability of a different result from trial counsel’s
failure to present neuropsychological evidence.
2.
Efforts to Rebut Testimony Concerning Batiste’s Gang Involvement
Batiste argues that trial counsel failed to provide the jury with an accurate picture of his gang
membership. While Batiste’s gang membership was mentioned only briefly in the guilt/innocence
phase,15 it was a major and predominant theme throughout the punishment hearing.16 References to
Batiste’s gang affiliation permeated both lay and expert testimony. The State called three expert
witnesses who, in great detail, elaborated on the extent to which Batiste identified as a gang member:
15
Batiste’s gang membership was only mentioned incidentally in the guilt/innocence phase. Tr. Vol. 14
at 127; Vol. 16 at 148.
16
The state habeas court reviewed the State’s evidence of “extensive involvement with the Crips gang”
which included “(a) his gang tattoos; (b) [his] acknowledgment that he was a member of the Crips gang and organized
fellow Crips gang members to participate in the Phat Kats aggravated robbery; (c) [his] letter regarding ‘O[riginal]
G[angster]’ Rome; (d) [his] advice to his brother regarding the type of gang tattoo he should obtain; and (e) the testimony
of Harris County Jail inmate Robert Dean.” S.H.R. at 959.
21
•
Prison classification expert David Davis testified for the prosecution about
Batiste’s tattoos related to his Crips membership.17 In particular, Davis
explained that the Five Deuce Hoover Crips were involved in various crimerelated activities, including drug dealing.
•
Clint Ponder, a Houston Police Department officer assigned to a gang unit,
testified that Batiste was found in the gang membership database as a
documented member of the Five Deuce Hoover Crips. Tr. Vol. 18 at 165-67.
Ponder testified that Batiste had “quite a few tattoos that were gang-related.”
Tr. Vol. 18 at 171-72. Ponder testified extensively about Batiste’s numerous
gang-related tattoos. Those tattoos included the letters HCG under his left
eye, which stand for “Hoover CRIP Gangster.” Tr. Vol. 18 at 179. Other
tattoos included LOC, a “common acronym . . . for love of CRIP”; a Roman
numeral V below his right earlobe signifying the Five Deuce Hoover Crips;
numbers 8-3-7, signifying the letters of the alphabet corresponding to HGC;
and the word CRIP on his left hand. Some tattoos were intended to show
disrespect to other gangs, including one meaning “Piru killer” and “Bloods
killer.” Tr. Vol. 18 at 171-198.
•
Irma Fernandez, a prison security threat expert with TDCJ, testified that
membership in a gang such as the Crips is a security threat in prison.
Fernandez testified that Crips members tended to continue violent and
unlawful activity when incarcerated. Tr. Vol. 19 at 36, 39-40, 64.
Lay testimony provided mixed information about Batiste’s ties to the Crips. Robert Dean,
a fellow jail inmate, testified that Batiste was the leader of a group of Crips inmates that would pick
fights. Dean said that Batiste acknowledged his gang membership and bragged about being
incarcerated for capital murder. Tr. Vol. 19 at 125-26. Some family members and friends did not
know that Batiste belonged to the Crips. Tr. Vol. 24 at 25, 71. Batiste himself, however, took the
stand and acknowledged being a member of the Crips. Batiste told the jury that he recruited fellow
Crips gang members to participate in the Phat Kats aggravated robbery. Tr. Vol. 24 at 192-93.
17
During a previous incarceration, TDCJ classified Batiste as a member of the Crips because he selfidentified as such and had gang related tattoos, including with the gang’s name itself. S.H.R. at 857.
22
Batiste, however, explained that he wanted to distance himself from the gang upon incarceration and
“do what I have to do to renounce them.” Tr. Vol. 24 at 138.
The State argued in closing that Batiste “wanted to portray himself as . . . a tatted-up street
thug who deserves street cred.” Tr. Vol. 25 at 63. The State told jurors: “He told you yesterday he
wanted out of the gang, but you know as recent as May 15th, after all of you had been selected for
this jury, he’s still writing his gang symbols in his mail. . . . He wants to stay in. He’s telling you
that because he thinks you will feel sorry for him and say: Oh, he’s going to change.” Tr. Vol. 25
at 74.
Batiste claims that “he was not a hard-core gang member, and only ever marginally affiliated
at best.” Dkt. 9 at 5. Instead of being a leader in the Five Deuce Hoover Crips, Batiste was “a young
man struggling with the ‘gangster’ label that had been thrust upon him.” Dkt. 9 at 6. Batiste argues
that trial counsel should have called an expert to place his gang affiliation into the proper context.
On state habeas review, Batiste presented an affidavit from Charles Rotramel, the executive
director of an organization that works with at-risk and gang-influenced youth. Rotramel conducted
a three-hour interview with Batiste while on death row in 2013. Rotramel also reviewed trial
testimony, read affidavits from Batiste’s family members, and examined various records. Rotramel
opined that Batiste was “never a ‘hard-core’ gang member” because he was never “formally inducted
into gang membership.” S.H.R. at 238. According to Rotramel, Batiste “never broadcast his gang
membership to the world around him” and, in fact, “never actively defined himself according to his
gang affiliation.” S.H.R. at 238-39. Rotramel explained that Batiste “did not have any actual
involvement or membership” in the Crips before being in Texas Youth Commission custody. S.H.R.
at 240. While in TYC, Batiste joined the Crips, but only “as a matter of his own protection and
23
survival in an unfamiliar and dangerous institution far removed from everything and everyone he
knew.” S.H.R. at 238. When released, Batiste “profess[ed] a Five Deuce Hoover Crip affiliation
outwardly” but “actually never had a strong gang-affiliation because he lacked a set or a common
group of gang members with whom he associated on a regular basis.” S.H.R. at 231. Rotramel also
said that Batiste’s subsequent employment history and interaction with family members was not
indicative of gang membership.
Rotramel reviewed Batiste’s pre-trial letters and opined that they showed “an emotionally
complex young man trying to come to terms with the consequences of his actions and preparing
himself for a life of incarceration.” S.H.R. at 235. “Using the common tropes and argot of hip hop
music,” Batiste “vacillat[ed] between typical empty rap braggadocio and genuine emotional
expression” when creating rap lyrics that “commonly use hyperbolic and grandiose language” but
do not truly “glorify[], much less encourage violence.” S.H.R. at 935. Rotramel saw within
Batiste’s letters “emotional vulnerability behind the thin veneer of typical rap braggadocio and
toughness.” S.H.R. at 328. Also, Rotramel explained that “[r]emorse is a common theme in
[Batiste’s] letters.” S.H.R. at 239. Rotramel contends that “[c]onspicuously absent from Teddrick’s
raps and letters are any explicit gang references, slang, or symbolism.” S.H.R. at 330.
Trial counsel provided an affidavit responding to Rotramel’s opinion that Batiste only had
limited gang involvement:
“Limited scope of [Batiste’s] gang involvement?” Are you kidding? He was as
ganged up as any person I have ever met and I have been doing this since way before
there were gangs in Houston, Texas. A cursory reading of his writing will illustrate
that his gang involvement included virtually every word he wrote. Every conceivable
gang reference is contained in all of his writing, to the point of not using certain
letters because they refer to a rival gang and using certain letters, or the formation of
the letters, to emphasize his gang. He had on his body every conceivable tattoo and
reference to his gang. Every decision he made was about the gang. He was the living
24
embodiment of his gang. We were not going to come out on top with testimony form
any expert on gangs. The less said about gangs the more I liked our chances to save
his life.
S.H.R. at 818.18 Trial counsel, in fact, said that Batiste refused to consider a plea bargain because
it would have required him to turn on another gang member. Trial counsel opined that Batiste was
“so involved in his ‘gang mentality’ that he wouldn’t even consider it. He wanted the life sentence
but the gang code of honor was more important to him than his own life.” S.H.R. at 959.
With that background, the state habeas court found that trial counsel “made a reasonable
strategic decision to not present a gang expert at punishment because counsel believed that such
tactic would harm the defense.” S.H.R. at 954. The state habeas court expressed deep skepticism
regarding Rotramel’s opinion about Batiste’s “limited involvement with the Crips,” particularly in
light of the trial record. S.H.R. at 878. With the extensive, detailed trial testimony about Batiste’s
gang membership, the state habeas court found that Rotramel’s testimony was “unpersuasive.”
S.H.R. at 954. The state habeas court reasonably found that “the State’s trial evidence and
[Batiste’s] testimony directly contradict [his] habeas characterization of his gang membership as
‘limited.’” S.H.R. at 953.
Batiste has not shown that the state court was unreasonable in finding no deficiency because
trial counsel did not present evidence similar to Rotramel’s habeas affidavit. Trial counsel could
reasonably decide that Batiste did not have only limited interaction with the Crips. Rotramel
apparently drew a distinction between a “hard-core gang” member and someone only “affiliated”
with a gang. S.H.R. at 317. Even accepting Rotramel’s opinion that Batiste was not a hard-core
gang member, a reasonable trial attorney could shy away from presenting that expert testimony when
18
The state habeas court issued an explicit finding that trial court’s affidavit was credible. S.H.R. at 935.
25
the violent conventions of gang life permeated Batiste’s words, actions, and lifestyle. Batiste had
not just adopted common customs of gang membership, he bore evidence of gang affiliation over
his entire body. Jurors would have difficulty believing Rotramel’s opinion that Batiste “never
broadcast his gang membership to the world around him” when he had a gang tattoo on his face. The
tattoos covering Batiste’s body testified of his devotion to the Crips. More to the point, his actions
bore indicia of gang membership as he recruited and directed other Crips in the commission of
violent crimes. Batiste told police officers that, “because he was . . . [a member of the] CRIPS,” he
did not want to show fear as he shot into the victim’s moving car. His self-identification as a gang
member continued into the prison setting, where bad acts directly related to gang affiliation
continued despite expert predictions that the rigors of prison would cause him to act otherwise. The
state habeas court was not unreasonable in finding “unpersuasive” any attempt to minimize Batiste’s
gang membership.
A reasonable attorney could instead decide to avoid unnecessary reference to gang affiliation
or identification. With the extensive evidence of Batiste’s involvement in not only the Crips gang,
but in the lawlessness associated with gang membership, the state habeas court was not unreasonable
in finding no Strickland deficient performance or resultant prejudice. Batiste has not met his
AEDPA burden with regard to his claim that counsel should have minimized his gang membership.
3.
Mitigating Evidence
Batiste’s federal petition raises three specific challenges to trial counsel’s efforts to
investigate, prepare, and present mitigating evidence. With Batiste’s extremely violent past, and
aggressive behavior that extended into the prison setting, trial counsel knew that “[m]itigation was
[the] best, and really only, opportunity to save his life at trial.” S.H.R. at 916. The defense team
26
included an investigator, a specific mitigation investigator, three mental-health experts, and an expert
on the criminal justice system. Trial counsel met with family members before trial. From the
defense investigation, trial counsel called various witnesses to provide mitigating evidence. The
state habeas court provided a comprehensive review of the defense’s trial evidence, as recited below:
CLASSIFICATION AND FUTURE RISK
37.
Mary Elizabeth Pelz, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Public Service at the
University of Houston-Downtown, testified as an expert regarding TDCJ-CID
classification, stating that she had interviewed [Batiste] and reviewed his
TYC, TDCJ-CID, and employment records; that studies indicated that
prisoners sentenced to life without parole were “very manageable” and did
not manifest an increase in acts of violence while incarcerated;-that inmates
sentenced to life without parole were more likely to obey prison rules because
they needed to keep as many privileges as possible in order to survive; that
an inmate’s previous behavior in prison was more important than the actual
crime committed to determine future behavior; that Dr. Pelz was not aware
of [Batiste] having any disciplinary issues while incarcerated in a state jail
facility; that [Batiste’s] physical altercations in the Harris County Jail while
awaiting trial would not be “seriously considered” for his inmate
classification; and, that [Batiste’s] future behavior in prison would become
“tempered” as he aged and became institutionalized (XXIII RR at 27-30, 43,
50-52, 59, 97-8, 110).
38.
Sgt. David Davis, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Classification Unit, testified
that [Batiste’s] Harris County jail disciplinary records contained no record of
[Batiste] having physical contact with the jail staff (XVIII RR at 6).
[BATISTE’S] SCHOOL AND WORK HISTORY
39.
Gary Thiebaud, head football coach at Cypress Ridge High School, testified
that [Batiste] was a gifted athlete; that [Batiste] did well in athletics,
presented no disciplinary problems, and benefitted from the program’s highly
structured nature; that Thiebaud considered [Batiste] to be a “follower” who
was influenced by those around him; and, that Thiebaud “lost” [Batiste] after
spring football when [Batiste] left the structure of the sports program and
became involved in car thefts (XXIII R. R. at 115-6, 118-22).
40.
Kristopher McSherry, the plant manager for Forge USA, testified regarding
[Batiste’s] work history, stating that [Batiste] was a helper on a forging crew
where the work was physically demanding and often required working more
than eight hours per day; that McSherry never had issues with [Batiste’s] job
performance; that [Batiste] indicated that he was “desperate to find a job to
feed his family”; and, that McSherry was shocked when [Batiste] was
charged with capital murder (XXIII R.R. at 130-36, 145-7).
27
[BATISTE’S] SOCIAL/FAMILY HISTORY
41.
Stephanie Soliz, [Batiste’s] girlfriend, testified that [Batiste] was the “best”
father to their biological son Alex and her son Kash from a different
relationship; that [Batiste] took care of her, Alex, and Kash financially; that
[Batiste] regularly bathed and clothed the boys; and, that [Batiste] was trying
to be a positive influence on the children while in the Harris County Jail
(XXIII R.R. at 155-8).
42.
Terry Soliz, Stephanie Soliz’s mother, testified that [Batiste] was a loving
influence on Kash; that [Batiste] cared for Kash more than anyone else after
Kash was born; that [Batiste] was always “very respectful” to her and took
care of her when she was sick; and, that she was shocked by the primary
offense (XXIII R.R. at 6-7, 11-2).
43.
Kevin Noel Jr., [Batiste’s] brother, testified that [Batiste] was a loving
brother and a good father who took care of his family; that Noel did not know
that [Batiste] was a member of the Crips; and, that tattoos were common in
their neighborhood (XXIV R.R. at 26, 30).
44.
Micala Lara, [Batiste’s] friend, testified that [Batiste] and Stephanie Soliz
lived with Lara and her husband, Ricardo, in Denton, Texas, in 2007; that
Ricardo helped [Batiste] obtain a job in the Denton area; that [Batiste] got
along with everyone and treated his own children well; and, that [Batiste] was
respectful to Stephanie Soliz and loved her (XXIV R.R. at 56-60, 62, 65).
45.
Beverly West, [Batiste’s] cousin, testified that [Batiste’s] mother was fifteen
years old when she gave birth to [Batiste]; that [Batiste] always treated her
with respect; and, that she never saw [Batiste] act disrespectful to any family
members (XXIV R.R. at 74-80).
46.
Darlene Beard, [Batiste’s] grandmother, testified that [Batiste] was born in
her home because no one knew that [Batiste’s] mother was pregnant; that
[Batiste] was respectful to other family members and attended church as a
child; and, that [Batiste] never had a father figure (XXIV R.R. at 86-90).
47.
Rowena Scott, [Batiste’s] mother, testified that she and [Batiste] frequently
moved when he was young, and her relationship with [Batiste’s] stepfather
had a “bad effect” on [Batiste]; that [Batiste] could follow rules, and it was
possible for [Batiste] to be a positive influence on his children while
imprisoned; and, that, while [Batiste] had meningitis as a child, he was
otherwise healthy with no mental problems or learning disabilities (XXIV
R.R. at 97-8, 107-11).
[BATISTE’S] TESTIMONY AT PUNISHMENT
48.
[Batiste] testified on direct examination at punishment, providing a
comprehensive account of his life and circumstances, including his transient
upbringing, his relationship with Stephanie Soliz and their children, his gang
membership, his criminal acts, and his remorse:
28
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
49.
Regarding his childhood and schooling, [Batiste] testified that
his grandfather was a positive influence on him, but he died
while [Batiste] was in state jail; that his mother kept moving
which caused [Batiste] to attend a series of schools in
Houston; that [Batiste] sold Ritalin in middle school to make
money; that [Batiste] listened to his coach Gary Thiebaud, but
the “goal” of school disappeared after [Batiste] left TYC; and,
that it was [Batiste’s] fault for not listening to Thiebaud
(XXIV R.R. at 113-4, 118-20);
Regarding his family, [Batiste] testified that his relationship
with Stephanie Soliz developed while [Batiste] was in TYC,
and [Batiste] decided to play a paternal role to Kash because
he knew that Kash’s biological father had no interest in
raising the child.
Regarding work, [Batiste] testified that he paid the rent and
other bills with the money he earned from Forge Industries;
that [Batiste’s] work hours were cut as the economy soured;
and, that [Batiste] started selling stolen goods to make up the
difference in his earnings (XXIV R. R. at 133-5);
Regarding his gang membership, [Batiste] acknowledged that
he was a Crips member but testified that he planned to
“distance” himself from the gang in prison, “do[ing] what I
have to do to renounce them” (XXIV R.R. at 138);
Regarding his criminal activities, [Batiste] admitted that he
killed the complainant and Robbins and that he participated
in the Phat Kats aggravated robbery (XXIV R.R. at 136);
Regarding his feelings concerning the primary offense,
[Batiste] testified that he had let his family down and
understood that he needed to teach Kash and Alex right from
wrong, and [Batiste] expressed remorse for his actions,
stating: “I know ain’t no right to take nobody’s life . . . . I let
material things, you know, get ahold of me. Can’t blame
nobody but myself. And just I was wrong for what I did”
(XXIV R.R. at 126-70, 226-7); and
Regarding future danger, [Batiste] testified that he intended
to follow the rules in prison (XXIV R.R. at 142).
On the prosecution’s cross-examination, [Batiste] testified about his
leadership role in the capital murders and aggravated robbery, as well as
certain rap lyrics he composed while awaiting trial in the Harris County Jail,
testifying to the following:
•
Regarding the primary offense, [Batiste] testified that, even
though he knew that the complainant was shot and heard the
29
•
•
•
complainant crying for help, [Batiste] felt that the
complainant could still protect himself at the gas station; that
[Batiste] put on a ski mask and threw his firearm out of the
car in order to facilitate the crime; and, that [Batiste] denied
tinting the windows on his Buick to facilitate his crimes,
insisting that the purpose of the tint was to protect his
children from the sun (XXIV R.R. at 160-1, 218-23);
Regarding the capital murder of Steve Robbins, [Batiste]
testified that he led and planned the capital murder; that
[Batiste] shot Robbins first as Robbins was coming towards
him to protect his customers; and, that [Batiste] shot at
Norsworthy as he ran away to the back of the shop (XXIV
R.R. at 192-3);
Regarding the Phat Kats aggravated robbery, [Batiste]
testified that he was in charge, and he recruited fellow Crips
gang members to participate in the offense (XXIV R.R. at
192-3);
Regarding the rap lyrics in letters that [Batiste] composed
while awaiting trial in the Harris County Jail, [Batiste]
testified that the lyrics described [Batiste’s] feelings regarding
Stephanie Soliz’s new love interest, [Batiste’s] murder of the
complainant, and [Batiste’s] participation in the Phat Kats
aggravated robbery; that the lyrics did not necessarily reflect
[Batiste’s] actual feelings; and, that eighty-five percent of
[Batiste’s] lyrics were “hype music” (XXIV R.R. at 182-9,
192-3, 227-8).
EXHIBITS
50.
Prior to resting on punishment, the defense introduced twenty-one documents
into evidence, including: (a) [Batiste’s] juvenile and TYC files; (b) [Batiste’s]
juvenile psychological evaluations; (c) [Batiste’s] letters composed while in
the Harris County Jail; and (d) [Batiste’s] employment and educational
records (XXIV R.R. at 6-14); Defendant's Trial Exhibits 1-20, 31. The State
and defense attached tabs on certain pages within the documents to highlight
specific information (XXIV R.R. at 7).
S.H.R. at 943-48.
Despite the evidence presented at trial, Batiste contends that trial counsel: (1) should have
called a social historian to put his mitigating evidence into a coherent narrative; (2) inadequately
interviewed and prepared the lay witnesses who testified at trial; and (3) should have called
30
additional witnesses to provide mitigating evidence. On state habeas review, Batiste adduced
numerous affidavits to support these arguments. The affidavits fall into three categories, each
relating to Batiste’s individual allegations of trial counsel errors.
First, Batiste presented affidavits from several witnesses from trial, to wit: Darlene Beard,
Micaela Lara, Kristopher McSherry, Kevin Noel, Rowena Scott, Stephanie Scott, and Beverly West.
Batiste relied on those affidavits to argue that trial counsel did not make sufficient efforts to prepare
witnesses, leaving them vulnerable to cross-examination and prone to provide detrimental testimony.
Batiste contends that with additional preparation those witnesses would have given jurors a morefulsome view into his life.
Second, Batiste relies on affidavits from ten family members and friends that trial counsel
did not put before the jury, four of whom had been interviewed by trial counsel. Batiste argues that
these witnesses would have provided deeper insight into Batiste’s personal background, and also
have given jurors a longitudinal view into the intergenerational problems experienced by Batiste’s
family members.
Finally, Batiste criticizes counsel for not retaining a social historian to weave the details
provided by the various witnesses into a coherent narrative. Through an affidavit provided by Dr.
Scott Bowman, Batiste contends that trial counsel should have used expert testimony to fill in the
outlines drawn by witness testimony, and rearrange the evidentiary picture into a more-powerful
story. In sum, Batiste argues that the defense should have presented evidence that he “was the
product of three generations of poverty, teenage pregnancy, residential instability, and a lack of
positive role models. He was also searching desperately for a way out of the path he was on, [he was
also] a person who helped other people and provided for his family when he could.” S.H.R. at 149.
31
The state court based its resolution of these three arguments on an overarching theme: trial
court presented a “clear and detailed mitigation case” differed from the habeas allegations in detail
but not in mitigating thrust. S.H.R. at 955. The habeas affidavits from trial witnesses and those not
called to testify did not travel a different mitigating path from the themes considered by jurors in
answering the special issue questions.19 Batiste’s habeas arguments presupposed the development
of a mitigating case that covered much of the same ground as the evidence from trial.
In reviewing the choices underlying a trial defense, the Court “must be particularly wary of
arguments that essentially come down to a matter of degrees. Did counsel investigate enough? Did
counsel present enough mitigating evidence? Those questions are even less susceptible to judicial
second-guessing.” Dowthitt v. Johnson, 230 F.3d 733, 743 (5th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks
and citation omitted); see also Kitchens v. Johnson, 190 F.3d 698, 703 (5th Cir. 1999). This is a case
where the additional mitigation evidence presented by Batiste “was largely cumulative and differed
from the evidence presented at trial only in detail, not in mitigation thrust.” Villegas v. Quarterman,
274 F. App’x 378, 384 (5th Cir. 2008). The new affidavits provide background information that “is
essentially cumulative of [Batiste’s] social history evidence presented at trial.” S.H.R. at 959. In
sum, trial counsel presented “a clear and detailed mitigation case” and Batiste was “unpersuasive in
demonstrating that [his] mitigation case would have been strengthened by [the new affiant’s]
respective testimonies.” S.H.R. at 957, 959.20
19
As summarized by the habeas court, the mitigating case at trial focused on showing that Batiste “was
the child of a teenage mother who frequently moved her residence during his formative years, and [he] lacked a
father-figure in his life, worked in a difficult and physically demanding job to support the family he loved, assumed a
fatherly role to a non-biological child, and was a gifted athlete in an inner-city high school who ultimately did not
overcome the challenges of his neighborhood.” S.H.R. at 957.
20
The Court observes that Batiste’s habeas affidavits contain information that pales in comparison to
those cases in which the Supreme Court has found constitutional deficiencies in the investigation and presentation of
(continued...)
32
The only habeas evidence that arguably exceeded the contours of the trial evidence relates
to the background of extended family members. The habeas affidavits discuss generations of poverty
and difficult life circumstance which, in general, do not contain information substantially different
from Batiste’s own background. The new information only shows that other family members shared
somewhat similar experiences. Batiste has not shown that the law requires reasonable attorneys to
present that evidence or that it would have mattered had trial counsel presented it.21
Batiste’s claim faults not only the content of counsel’s chosen defense, but also how it was
presented to jurors. Batiste’s federal petition identifies ways in which an attorney may have brought
mitigating evidence before jurors differently. Trial counsel relied on a mitigation specialist to
develop evidence for the punishment phase. The mitigation specialist interviewed family members
and obtained various medical, school, and criminal history records. Batiste wishes trial counsel had
20
(...continued)
mitigating evidence. For example, in Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003), “the only evidence that Wiggins’s trial
attorney presented to the sentencing jury was Wiggins’s lack of prior criminal history. Comparatively, post-conviction
counsel uncovered evidence of sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, homelessness, as well as an ‘alcoholic, absentee
mother,’ and evidence that Wiggins had ‘diminished mental capacities.’” Escamilla v. Stephens, 602 F. App’x 939, 944
(5th Cir. 2015) (quoting Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 535). In Rompilla v. Beard, 45 U.S. 374, 392 (2005), trial counsel missed
multiple “red flags” that would have led to previously undiscovered evidence of Rompilla’s “organic brain damage[ ]
an[d] extreme mental disturbance significantly impairing several of his cognitive functions [,] [which] relate back to his
childhood, and were likely caused by fetal alcohol syndrome.” In addition, Rompilla’s trial attorney failed to recognize
leads that would have uncovered severe childhood abuse and unimaginable neglect. In Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362
(2000), the inmate presented evidence that he was borderline mentally retarded, that he had experienced severe and
repeated child abuse, that his parents had been imprisoned for criminal neglect, and that he shuffled through abusive
foster homes while his parents were incarcerated. The evidence Batiste has developed after his trial differs fundamentally
from the severe abuse, harsh neglect, and other deeply disturbing circumstance in those cases in which the Supreme Court
found constitutional error. Batiste has not brought out powerful evidence that counsel ignored.
21
The Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment jurisprudence requires that the sentencing jury be able to
consider, as a mitigating factor, the character and the record of the individual offender and his particular offense. Batiste
has not pointed to any Supreme Court precedent requiring defense attorneys to build a mitigation case premised on life
histories across several generations and following various branches of a defendant’s family tree. See, e.g, Wiggins, 539
U.S. at 535 (addressing an attorney’s obligation to investigate “powerful” evidence of abuse and neglect suffered
specifically by the petitioner). Some of the evidence about the upbringing of Batiste’s extended family members has only
marginal relevance to Batiste or his own childhood, if it has any relevance at all. For instance, the fact that Batiste’s
grandmother was raised by a single mother would add little to the jury’s consideration of the special issue questions.
The focus of the mitigation special issue was on Batiste, as opposed to his ancestors or distant relatives. Any evidence
of intergenerational mitigating evidence did not have strong relevance to the special issues.
33
not relied on other lay and expert witnesses to present the mitigating evidence, but instead had called
a social historian22 to tie together his mitigating evidence into a coherent life story.
Batiste’s briefing suggests that not relying on a social historian is per se ineffective
assistance. Dkt. 9 at 57-58. Constitutional law does not require that mitigating evidence come
through one specific vehicle. Because “counsel has wide latitude in deciding how best to represent
a client,” an attorney may decide the best manner in which to put information before jurors. Ward
v. Stephens, 777 F.3d 250, 264 (5th Cir. 2015). The state habeas court found the affidavit proffered
by a social historian to be “similar” to the trial evidence. S.H.R. at 956.23 Without the gloss of
expert testimony, the basic tone and tenor of the social historian’s habeas affidavit mirrors the
mitigation case that the jurors considered. Without being summarized by an expert, trial counsel
“presented a comprehensive social history of [Batiste] through the testimony of [Batiste himself],
his family, and friends . . . .” S.H.R. at 955. Batiste has not shown that the Constitution demands
that trial counsel call an expert to summarize and extrapolate conclusions from the same basic
information jurors have already heard. In the end, “this is not a case in which the defendant’s
attorneys failed to act while potentially powerful mitigating evidence stared them in the face . . . .”
Bobby v. Van Hook, 558 U.S. 4, 11 (2009). The state habeas court was not unreasonable in finding
22
“[A] testifying social historian” is “a species of mitigation expert whose function in this habeas
proceeding is to interpret the detailed social history summary of the [inmate] by developing a coherent theme of the case
within a psychological framework to assist the court in understanding the mitigation evidence.” Allison v. Ayers, 2008
WL 5274580, at *2 (C.D. Cal. 2008). A trial attorney may hesitate in presenting evidence through a social historian or
mitigation specialist because much of the putative testimony may “qualif[y] as hearsay, however, since many of the facts
recounted by the mitigation specialist reflected only what she had been told by others.” Clark v. Thaler, 673 F.3d 410,
419 (5th Cir. 2012); see also Watts v. Quarterman, 448 F.Supp.2d 786, 796 (W.D.Tex. 2006) (recognizing that “the state
trial court repeatedly sustained the prosecution’s hearsay objections whenever defense counsel attempted to elicit
testimony from [a mitigation specialist] concerning the contents of petitioner’s school, medical, or jail records and
concerning the contents of her discussions with petitioner’s family and friends).
23
Even so, the state habeas court found the social historian’s consolidation of evidence and conclusions
derived therefrom to be “speculative, naive, and irrelevant.” S.H.R. at 956.
34
that trial counsel did not perform deficiently in investigating, preparing, and presenting mitigating
evidence.
Batiste has also not shown that the state habeas court unreasonably decided that he had not
shown actual prejudice. Batiste has not adduced any mitigating evidence that would cause jurors to
respond differently than they did at trial. “When compared to the strong aggravating evidence, any
incremental increase in mitigation evidence would not create ‘a reasonable probability that . . . the
result of the proceeding would have been different.’” Davila v. Davis, 650 F. App’x 860, 870 (5th
Cir. 2016) (quoting Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 534). The Court, therefore, finds that the state habeas court
was not unreasonable in denying Batiste’s claim that trial counsel should have better prepared
mitigating witnesses, called more mitigating witnesses, or presented his cumulative evidence through
a social historian.
4.
Evidence of Future Dangerousness
Batiste complains that trial counsel “failed to present any evidence that Batiste was not likely
to commit criminal acts of violence in the future.” Dkt. 9 at 136. A brief review of the punishment
phase contradicts Batiste’s strident claim that trial counsel made no effort to secure a favorable
answer to the future-dangerousness special issue. For instance, the defense called an officer from
the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Classification Unit, who explained that “there was no record of
[Batiste] having physical contact with the jail staff in [his] Harris County jail disciplinary records.”
S.H.R. at 960. Also, the defense relied on records from Batiste’s earlier incarcerations to argue that,
once confined in the structured environment of prison, he would no longer pose a future danger.
Setting his hyperbole aside, Batiste’s federal habeas claim argues that trial counsel should have put
on a better future-dangerousness defense, primarily through expert witness Dr. Mary Elizabeth Pelz.
35
Trial counsel called Dr. Pelz, Dean of the College of Public Service at the University of
Houston-Downtown, as a punishment witness. The defense primarily posed general questions to Dr.
Pelz about the strictures of prison life and the ability of life-sentenced inmates to conform their
behavior to institutional norms. The defense only asked brief questions that elicited testimony that
Batiste had not committed disciplinary infractions while in state jail or juvenile custody. Tr. Vol.
23 at 59.24 Trial counsel carefully avoided asking Dr. Pelz to apply her general testimony about
future dangerousness to Batiste’s specific circumstances. In fact, trial counsel informed the trial
court outside the jury’s presence: “I want the record to reflect that I have not asked [Dr. Pelz] a
question about her opinion as to future dangerousness of [Batiste] and I never intended to ask that.
I haven’t asked it and never intend to ask it. So, the record is clear on that.” Tr. Vol. 23 at 73.25
The State’s cross-examination challenged some of Dr. Pelz’s general opinions about the
threat posed by life-sentenced inmates housed in general population. Most problematic for the
defense, however, the State challenged the insinuation that Batiste had not previously been violent
24
As summarized by the state habeas court, Dr. Pelz
testified for the defense at punishment on a range of topics related to future dangerousness in a
comprehensive manner including: (a) prior incarceration behavior was more important than the actual
crime committed to determine how someone will behave in prison in the future; (b) she was not aware
of [Batiste] having any disciplinary issues while previously incarcerated in state jail; (c) [Batiste’s]
physical altercations with other inmates in the Harris County jail would not be “seriously considered”
for his inmate classification; (d) studies of inmates sentenced to life without parole indicated that these
prisoners were “very manageable” and “do not illustrate” increased acts of violence while
incarcerated; (e) inmates sentenced to life without parole were more likely to obey prison rules
because they need to keep as many privileges as possible in order to survive; and, (f) [Batiste’s] future
behavior in prison would become “tempered” as he got older and institutionalized.
S.H.R. at 960.
25
During voir dire examination by the State, Dr. Pelz explained that she had worked as the Coordinator
of the Unit Classification in a Texas prison unit and had studied inmate populations for over thirty years. Tr. Vol. 23
at 30. Dr. Pelz said that she would testify that there was no “extraordinary violence” in Batiste’s “institutional behavior”
and it was her opinion that he would not be a future danger to society. Tr. Vol. 23 at 30, 32.
36
when in custody. The State questioned Dr. Pelz about Batiste engaging in various fights, assaults,
aggressive actions, and belligerent behaviors while previously incarcerated, including in the time
awaiting trial. Tr. Vol. 23 at 94-97. When the State asked why there is any “reason to believe that
[Batiste is] going to change his behavior” when he entered the prison system, Dr. Pelz expressed a
hope that his behavior “will be tempered because it is the first time he will be in prison. I don’t
know how else to reply to that.” Tr. Vol. 23 at 98. Trial counsel’s redirect tried to refocus Dr. Pelz’s
testimony on the general behavior of inmates, but also tried to minimize the specific violent actions
Batiste had previously committed in jail.
Batiste claims that trial counsel should have done a better job of using Dr. Pelz’s testimony
to show that he would not be violent in prison. Dr. Pelz provided a habeas affidavit saying that, had
her testimony been utilized more effectively, the jury would have heard that Batiste was not likely
to be a future danger because of his age, education, employment history, desire to maintain prison
privileges, and prior behavior while incarcerated. Dr. Pelz opined that trial counsel failed to show
that Batiste would adapt to a secure prison environment in a positive non-violent way. To
summarize, Dr. Pelz faulted counsel for not emphasizing that his past behavior, when considered in
conjunction with future factors, would show a decrease in projected violence.
Trial counsel’s state habeas affidavit explained why the defense limited the focus of Dr.
Pelz’s testimony:
I decided to use Dr. Elizabeth Pelz the way I decided to use her because I felt it was
our best shot at obtaining a life sentence. I did not feel the expert testimony she was
prepared to offer about future dangerousness was going to be as helpful to our case
as my ability to argue it from our witnesses and the records. We had good witnesses
and good records and a lot to argue and my feeling was that a paid expert’s opinion
was not going to win the day and in fact might give the State more to argue and
ultimately be more harmful than helpful.
37
Again this was my decision to emphasize this testimony and these records myself
without a paid expert’s opinion on future dangerousness. I believed we had so much
to work with in this case that I felt a lay juror would understand it and I feared the
repercussions of paid expert testimony. I felt we didn’t need it and were better off
without it. I could have offered it but chose not to.
It is easy to say today that we should have had this expert testimony or that expert
testimony but in my opinion then and now experts in this case and on those issues
would have had no impact on our jury.
S.H.R. at 918.
In light of the state habeas affidavits and the record, the state habeas court found that “Dr.
Pelz’s habeas affidavit is unpersuasive to demonstrate that trial counsel failed to present ‘any’
evidence that [Batiste] was not a future danger and that Dr. Pelz ‘was not utilized in an appropriate
manner.’” Specifically, the state habeas court found that trial counsel made “a strategic decision not
to ask Dr. Pelz her opinion as to [Batiste’s] future dangerousness.” S.H.R. at 961. The state habeas
court also found that “[t]rial counsel exercised a reasonable trial strategy decision regarding the
presentation of future danger evidence, and [Batiste] does not establish trial counsels’ deficient
performance, much less harm.” S.H.R. at 961.
The state habeas court’s rejection of this claim was not unreasonable. Trial counsel made
a strategic decision to focus Dr. Pelz’s testimony on general prison procedures and classification
without extensively particularizing the discussion to Batiste’s own potential future conduct. In
making that decision, trial counsel knew that testimony about Batiste’s actions while incarcerated
could harm the defense. The jury already knew that Batiste had not been subject to any prison
disciplinary action while incarcerated in state jail in 2007 and during his time in juvenile facilities.
But focusing on Batiste’s threat of future violence while incarcerated would ultimately draw the
jury’s attention to his more recent violent actions while incarcerated before trial.
38
Specifically, a reasonable attorney could avoid presenting testimony similar to Dr. Pelz’s
opinion that “the disciplinary infractions [Batiste] received while at county jail during the pendency
of his trial are of limited significance to the overall determination of the probability of future
violence.” S.H.R. at 481. During his pre-trial custody in Harris County, Batiste had led a group of
inmates who assaulted, threatened, and stole from other inmates. Tr. Vol. 19 at 110-32. Batiste
committed disciplinary infractions such as fighting, threatening inmates, possessing or
manufacturing a weapon, and refusing to obey orders. Tr. Vol. 18 at 130-49. Batiste’s actions caused
the atmosphere of the jail to turn from “somewhat relaxed” to “unpredictable.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 129.
Batiste bragged in letters that he had broken another inmate’s jaw. Tr. Vol. 24 at 69, 145-46. In
closing argument the State chronicled his behavior while “awaiting trial, a trial where it will be
determined whether or not he gets the death penalty. And he knows, he knows that [the State] gets
records of what he does.” Tr. Vol. 25 at 72. Even when in that structured setting, and with fateful
incentives, Batiste could not “control himself.” He engaged in a list of bad behavior: “disrespect of
staff,” “[p]ossessing intoxicants in the jail,” “[d]amaging county property,” “[r]iot, group
demonstration,” “[l]ots of fights,” “[t]errorizing the other inmates, extorting, robbing, threatening.”
Tr. Vol. 25 at 72-73. Even when facing a capital murder charge, Batiste “was the big man there.
And he was running things and he was hurting people. And he didn’t care.” Tr. Vol. 25 at 73.
In light of his violence while awaiting trial, Dr. Pelz’s opinion that Batiste’s institutional
history was “unremarkable” would be unpersuasive and could be damaging to the defense. Thus,
trial counsel made a reasonable strategic decision to focus Dr. Pelz’s testimony on policies and
procedures, rather than Batiste’s own behavior. Because Dr. Pelz’s unpersuasive habeas affidavit
could allow the State to highlight further Batiste’s pre-trial violent conduct, Batiste has not shown
39
that trial counsel’s strategic decision prejudiced the defense. The state habeas court, therefore, was
not unreasonable in finding no deficient performance or prejudice in counsel’s use of Dr. Pelz’s
testimony.
5.
Preparing Batiste to Testify
Batiste claims that “[w]ith little preparation, trial counsel thrust Batiste into the witness box
to testify, ill-prepared for what questions to expect from his own defense team much less what the
prosecution might bring up on cross-examination.” Dkt. 9 at 153. While the defense was able to
provide a mitigating view into Batiste’s background through his testimony, a blistering crossexamination by the State examined in fine detail the violence replete throughout his life. In
particular, Batiste’s testimony allowed the State to introduce into evidence letters he wrote while
awaiting trial showing his dedication to gang life, his lack of remorse, and his continued violence.
Batiste now argues that “[h]ad trial counsel properly prepared [him] to testify and adequately advised
him of the potential dangers and pitfalls inherent in testifying, the jury would have never heard such
damaging and prejudicial testimony . . ., either because Batiste would have been more equipped to
respond to the inevitable challenges of cross-examination, or because he would have chosen not to
testify at all.” Dkt. 9 at 159.
Trial counsel averred that they “did prepare [Batiste] to testify.” S.H.R. at 819. Trial
counsel’s affidavit reconfirmed Batiste’s trial testimony that trial counsel discussed “at length”
whether he should testify. Tr. Vol. 24 at 226. The state habeas court found that Batiste then
“provided a detailed account of his life and circumstances on direct examination, as well as an
explanation for certain rap lyrics he composed while in the Harris County Jail, and [Batiste’s]
answers to trial counsel’s comprehensive direct examination questions indicated prior preparation
40
by counsel.” S.H.R. at 962. The trial testimony contradicted Batiste’s “vague and conclusory” claim
that counsel should have prepared him better. S.H.R. at 962.
Batiste has not shown that the state habeas court’s rejection of this claim was unreasonable.
Batiste provides nothing but conclusory allegations about how better preparation would have aided
the defense. He does not explain how additional coaching would have changed what he said or how
he said it, such that the results of the proceedings would have been different. Batiste chose to testify,
and once he made his decision, he risked cross-examination that would hurt the defense. Even with
additional coaching by trial counsel, cross-examination could still have covered Batiste’s jailhouse
correspondence, his former violent acts, and the dissonance between his mitigating evidence and his
lawlessness. The Court finds that the state habeas court was not unreasonable for not finding
deficient performance or actual prejudice.
6.
Batiste’s Letters and Rap Lyrics
The State filed a pre-trial a notice of its intent to introduce Batiste’s extraneous offenses and
jail correspondence at the punishment phase. C.R. at 1426-30. The notice said that the letters
“reflect[] a lack of respect for authority and a high regard for street crime, gun use, theft and gang
membership. In addition, [Batiste] has little regard or respect for women.” C.R. at R 1427. The
defense did not object to the admission of that evidence.
Batiste’s letters proved his dedication to the Crips. Batiste’s letters first came before the
jurors during cross-examination of his brother Kevin Noel, Jr. Batiste wrote to Noel about someone
called “OG Rome,” resulting in testimony that the letters “OG” stand for “original gangster.” Tr.
Vol. 24 at 40, 43. The State also adduced testimony that Batiste had advised his brother on what
kind of tattoos to get, including ones signifying gang membership. Tr. Vol. 24 at 46-47. In other
41
letters, Batiste was disrespectful to women when asking his brother to send contraband nude
photographs and when describing sexual interaction with a jail nurse. Tr. Vol. 24 at 47-49, 53-54.
Some letters confirmed Batiste’s bad behavior during pretrial detention. The State’s crossexamination of Micaela Lara discussed correspondence in which Batiste claimed to have “beat[en]
up a white guy from the military” because “[h]e hung up [his] phone call . . . .” Tr. Vol. 24 at 69.
Batiste also wrote about making alcohol in prison. Tr. Vol. 24 at 70. In that same letter, he used
spelling characteristic of a Crips gang member. Tr. Vol. 70-71.
Batiste’s own testimony allowed extensive discussion of his jailhouse letters. The State
repeatedly cross-examined Batiste about his own words, and particularly rap lyrics portraying
himself as a remorseless, heartless, violent, sexist gang member. The letters described Batiste’s
fights while incarcerated pending trial. Batiste described wanting to shoot someone. Tr. Vol. 24 at
184. Batiste admitted that he glorified violence in some lyrics. Tr. Vol. 24 at 185. The State’s
questioning emphasized that Batiste’s writings showed no remorse. Tr. Vol. 24 at 187-89.
Batiste explained away his lyrics as “just hypermusic sometimes.” Tr. Vol. 24 at 186.
Batiste said that the rap lyrics were “just hype.” Tr. Vol. 24 at 182.
At the close of testimony, the prosecution moved without objection to place letters into
evidence. Tr. Vol. 23 at 174. Trial counsel later submitted 225 pages of letters into evidence. Tr.
Vol. 25 at 10-11; Vol. 33 at 43-281. The defense’s closing arguments told jurors that, while they
would find “foul language and disgusting street stuff” in the letters, Batiste also talked “about what
he did to himself.” Trial counsel urged that the letters would help a person “motivated by love,
compassion, and understanding.” Tr. Vol. 25 at 20-21.
42
On state habeas review, Batiste argued that trial counsel should have had expert witness
Rotramel deaden the impact of his violent and lawless language by explaining that he only engaged
in hyperbole. Also, Batiste argued that trial counsel should have prepared witnesses to discuss the
letters better. Trial counsel’s affidavit explained the defense’s approach to the letters:
Even though I told my client as I tell every one of my clients in person and in writing
not to ever discuss the case with any person by phone or mail or in any manner unless
I approve it he did not follow my advice. He was not even close to following my
advice. He had it from me in writing and in person every single time I met with him
but he did not follow it. But having said all of that he did as good a job of explaining
the lyrics to the jury as any expert could have or any one else for that matter.
Unfortunately there existed no explanation that would overcome the effect of those
lyrics. No argument. No expert witness testimony. Nothing. As a matter of trial
strategy in my opinion the best treatment of that part of the case was to leave it alone.
S.H.R. at 819.
The state habeas court found that “trial counsel made a strategic decision to enter over 200
pages of [Batiste’s] letters into evidence at the close of punishment; that the letters contained ‘flags’
placed by the State and defense to highlight certain portions, including passages positive” to Batiste.
S.H.R. at 964. The state habeas court found that the rap lyrics “constituted a small portion of the
trial proceedings.” S.H.R. at 965. Also, Rotramel’s affidavit was “unpersuasive to demonstrate that
an expert was necessary to assist the trier of fact to understand [Batiste’s] rap lyrics when [Batiste]
explained that the lyrics were largely ‘hype.’ Further, the fact that music lyrics are often expressive,
grandiose, and a vehicle to express emotions is not a concept alien to the typical lay person on a
jury.” S.H.R. at 965. In sum, “counsel made reasonable trial strategy decisions in countering the
State’s presentation of [Batiste’s] letters and rap lyrics, and [Batiste] does not establish trial
counsels’ deficient performance, much less harm, on the basis urged in the instant ground for relief.”
S.H.R. at 965.
43
Batiste has not shown that the state habeas court’s decision was unreasonable. Batiste has
not indicated how the defense could prevent his jailhouse correspondence from being admitted into
evidence. Batiste did not heed counsel’s directive not to discuss his case, and he created writings
the prosecution would later use against him. Trial counsel chose to let Batiste explain his own
words. The Court has already found that trial counsel did not otherwise provide ineffective
representation in not calling Rotramel as a witness. Batiste has also not shown that trial counsel
needed expert testimony to show effectively why Batiste wrote what he did. With the prejudicial
language Batiste put to paper, trial counsel had to decide the least prejudicial manner in which it
could come before jurors. Batiste has not shown that the concept that Batiste’s writings exhibited
hyperbole was beyond the jury’s lay understanding.
Batiste has not shown that additional preparation of the recipients of his letters would have
dampened the effect of his words. Perhaps other attorneys may have used a different approach to
the letters, but Batiste has not overcome the state habeas court’s finding that trial counsel made a
reasonable strategic decision in how best to do so in this case. Further, Batiste has not shown that,
had the defense acted as he argues on state habeas review, that there would have been a reasonable
probability of a different result, particularly in light of the other aggravating evidence at trial. Batiste
has not shown that the state habeas decision was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of,
federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
7.
Cumulative Prejudice
Batiste argues that the Court should consider the cumulative effect of all trial counsel’s
alleged deficiencies. Batiste asserts that the jury would have responded to the special issues
differently had trial counsel presented evidence of organic brain damage, refuted testimony about
44
his gang membership, amplified the mitigating evidence and cast it into a different form, asked his
future-dangerousness expert different questions, prepared Batiste for what would assuredly be a
blistering cross-examination, and otherwise performed differently. For the reasons discussed with
regard to each allegation of Strickland error, it is not reasonably probable that the cumulative effect
of different representation would have brought about a different result. Many of the differences
between the case put on by counsel and that developed on habeas are differences in detail, not
mitigating thrust. Some information may have refined and possibly broadened the mitigation
evidence, but it would not have changed how jurors approached the special issues. Some habeas
evidence, such as greater emphasis on gang affiliation and his pre-trial incarceration, was double
edged and could have made jurors more disposed toward a death sentence. Even considering the full
effect of Batiste’s Strickland claim, the evidence of guilt was overwhelming. The State presented
a solid case for a death sentence. Batiste lived a violent, lawless life. Despite his recent claims to
minor gang affiliation, Batiste demonstrated his gang devotion though numerous Crips tattoos,
including on his face. Even while holding down jobs, Batiste lived in a lawless world of stealing
cars and selling stolen property. He used drugs. He committed aggravated robberies. Incarceration
did not reform Batiste’s character; he left each period of custody more violent than before. Batiste
committed the instant murder in a brutal manner, possibly endangering the lives of many as he fired
into the victim’s car on the freeway, all for his own profit. Batiste did not need to shoot the victim
as he pleaded for his life on the ground, but after weighing out his options, Batiste decided to kill
anyway. The victim’s body bore fifteen gunshot wounds. Crucially, the State presented the “the
most powerful imaginable aggravating evidence”: Batiste “had committed another murder.” Wong
v. Belmontes, 558 U.S. 15, 28 (2009). Whether considering each Strickland argument individually
45
or collectively, Batiste has not shown a reasonable probability that the jury would have responded
to the special issues differently had counsel performed differently. The Court will deny Batiste’s
effective-assistance-of-counsel claims.
B.
Disclosure of Impeachment Evidence
In his second ground for relief, Batiste claims that the State failed to turn over important
impeachment evidence relating to trial witness Anthony Moore. Moore was asleep inside the Black
Widow tattoo parlor when Batiste and his friends entered to rob the shop. The State called Moore
in the penalty phase to describe the subsequent crime, particularly emphasizing Batiste’s role in
directing the robbery and in shooting the shop owner. Batiste claims that the State violated his
constitutional rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963) by failing to disclose that
Moore had previous felony convictions and had absconded from a probated sentence in Michigan.
“There are three components to a Brady violation. First, the evidence must be favorable to
the accused, a standard that includes impeachment evidence. Second, the State must have
suppressed the evidence. Third, the defendant must have been prejudiced.” United States v. Hughes,
230 F.3d 815, 819 (5th Cir. 2000). Cases often add a fourth requirement: “nondiscovery of the
allegedly favorable evidence was not the result of a lack of due diligence.” United States v. Walters,
351 F.3d 159, 169 (5th Cir. 2003); see also Graves v. Cockrell, 351 F.3d 143, 153–54 (5th Cir.
2003). “When evidence is equally available to both the defense and the prosecution, the defendant
must bear the responsibility for failing to conduct a diligent investigation.” Kutzner v. Cockrell, 303
F.3d 333, 336 (5th Cir. 2002).
Batiste has not shown that the State possessed undisclosed information that was unavailable
to his attorneys. In rejecting this claim, the state habeas court found that the prosecutor did not know
46
about Moore’s criminal history at the time of trial. The prosecutor provided an affidavit on state
habeas review stating that “Moore’s Michigan criminal history was not reflected on NCIC/TCIC
when she generated his criminal history report on June 1, 2011. Had [the prosecutor] known of
Moore’s criminal history, she would have disclosed this information to trial counsel.” S.H.R. at 966.
According to an affidavit provided by an investigator for the State, the “the discrepancy in Moore’s
NCIC/TCIC criminal history report was the result of Moore’s FBI number not being electronically
linked to his State of Texas Identification number in the NCIC/TCIC system.” S.H.R. at 966. On
that basis, the state habeas court found that “the State did not possess knowledge of Moore’s out-ofstate criminal history at the time of [Batiste’s] capital murder trial; therefore, knowledge of Moore’s
Michigan criminal history cannot be imputed to the prosecutors who tried [his] case.” S.H.R. at 966.
Batiste has not refuted the state habeas findings that the State did not know about Moore’s
criminal history. Batiste has not shown that the government has a constitutional obligation to
divulge information it does not possess. See United States v. Cutno, 431 F. App’x 275, 278-79 (5th
Cir. 2011) (finding no Brady violation when a witness’ criminal history did not appear in a NCIC
report). Additionally, Batiste has not shown that a Brady violation occurs when allegedly suppressed
evidence is equally available to the defense. Batiste concedes that “[m]odern technology has made
access to information easy and inexpensive. Moore’s criminal record was public and discoverable
through a simple computer search.” Dkt. 9 at 89 n. 56. “When information is fully available to a
defendant at the time of trial and his only reason for not obtaining and presenting the evidence to the
Court is his lack of reasonable diligence, the defendant has no Brady claim.” United States v.
Brown, 628 F.2d 471, 473 (5th Cir. 1980); see also Woodford v. Cain, 609 F.3d 774, 803 (5th Cir.
47
2010) (“[T]his court has previously recognized that there can be no viable Brady claim when
allegedly suppressed evidence was available to the defendant through his own efforts.”).26
Even if the State had withheld otherwise-unavailable evidence, Batiste has not shown that
he has met Brady’s materiality prong. “The materiality of Brady material depends almost entirely
on the value of the evidence relative to the other evidence mustered by the state.” Edmond v.
Collins, 8 F.3d 290 (5th Cir. 1993). The state habeas court observed that “[I]n addition to Anthony
Moore, two other witnesses, Christie Moore and Joshua Norsworthy, positively identified the
[Batiste] as the shooter in the capital murder of Steve Robbins and provided in-court identifications
of [him].” S.H.R. at 866. In fact, “[a]t punishment, [Batiste] acknowledged that he led and planned
the Black Widow capital murder and admitted that he shot [the victim].” S.H.R. at 866. With that
context, the state habeas court found that Batiste “does not establish materiality – by a reasonable
probability that the result of the punishment proceeding would have been different had [he] been able
to impeach Moore with his Michigan criminal history.” S.H.R. at 867.
“[W]hen the testimony of a witness who might have been impeached by undisclosed
evidence is strongly corroborated by additional evidence, the undisclosed evidence generally is not
found to be material.” Wilson v. Whitley, 28 F.3d 433, 439 (5th Cir. 1994). With the other evidence
showing Batiste’s leadership role in the Black Widow tattoo parlor robbery and murder, including
26
Batiste summarily argues in a footnote that “[t]o the extent that trial counsel failed to conduct a
comprehensive background and criminal history check of all witnesses testifying for the State, Batiste was denied the
effective assistance of counsel.” Dkt. 9 at 189 n.56. Respondent persuasively argues that any intended Strickland claim
on that basis is “conclusory and subject to dismissal as such.” Dkt. 22 at 152 n.37. Additionally, Batiste has not shown
Strickland prejudice in light of the Brady materiality discussion that follows above. See United States v. Bagley, 473
U.S. 667, 682 (1985) ( adopting the “prejudice” prong of the Strickland as the appropriate standard for determining
“materiality” under Brady).
48
Batiste’s own confession to the crime, the state habeas court reasonably found that Batiste did not
meet Brady’s materiality prong.
Batiste has not shown that the State withheld evidence of Moore’s criminal history or that
any Brady violation was material. Accordingly, the state habeas court’s adjudication of this claim
was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
C.
Juror Misconduct
Batiste claims that external factors influenced jurors’ deliberations.
Batiste’s juror-
misconduct claim arises out of one juror’s concern after an incident occurred in the courthouse
contemporaneous to trial. During the second day of the penalty phase, jurors Cathy Upshaw and
Robert Coleman both rode in an elevator on their way to the courtroom. As the crowded elevator
emptied, a man remained uncomfortably close to juror Upshaw. Juror Upshaw described him as
having “two big, fat braids,” “a gun tattoo like behind both ears and some initials.” The man turned
around, “looked at [her] juror badge and said: You okay?” Tr. Vol. 19 at 3. When the jurors exited
the elevator, juror Coleman asked juror Upshaw if she was alright, to which she responded: “Yeah.
Now I can breathe. I couldn’t breathe.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 4. The two jurors told the others about the
incident. The jurors discussed possible ways to maintain their safety, such as using a separate
elevator and moving about in groups. Tr. Vol. 19 at 5. The jury foreman told the bailiff what had
happened.
Even though the trial court “discovered that those people [on the elevator] are not a part of
this case at all,” Tr. Vol. 19 at 5, the trial court questioned jurors Upshaw and Coleman about the
elevator episode. Juror Upshaw described how she “went into shock,” but that she “was just being
paranoid.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 4. Even though she found the incident “a little bit intimidating,” juror
49
Upshaw affirmed that the experience would not prejudice her against Batiste. Tr. Vol. 19 at 4. Juror
Upshaw also avowed that she could decide the case based on the evidence alone. Tr. Vol. 19 at 4-5.
Juror Coleman explained that juror Upshaw “seemed uncomfortable” in the elevator. Tr.
Vol. 19 at 7. Juror Coleman also said that “[t]here’s some concern in the jury room over – especially
among the women, but I think everyone felt pretty – I think the – I think the people are trying to calm
each other down, not that they’re overly excited or anything like that.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 7. Juror
Coleman stated that it would not change how he would rule in this case. Tr. Vol. 19 at 7.
The parties and the trial court discussed how to handle the situation. Trial counsel did not
request a mistrial, but only requested that the trial court ask each juror if the incident would affect
their verdict. Tr. Vol. 19 at 9-10. Rather than “leave it up to the writ lawyer” to find out if the
incident made a difference, trial counsel asked the trial court to interview jurors one by one. Tr. Vol.
19 at 11, 13. Each juror affirmed that they could be impartial and that they would decide the case
based on the evidence alone. Tr. Vol. 19 at 14-27
Batiste argues that “[j]urors in [his] trial committed misconduct when they impermissibly
discussed issues fundamental to the case prior to the full presentation of evidence and the court’s
instructions.” Dkt. 9 at 198. The defense’s concern in the trial court, however, was not that jurors
discussed the case, but that the incident “would affect their verdict.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 10. Batiste
contends that “juror Upshaw violated the court’s orders” not to discuss the case with anyone “when
she told the rest of the jury about the confrontation in the elevator.” Dkt. 9 at 193.27
27
Batiste also argues that appellate counsel provided ineffective representation for not advancing this
issue on direct appeal. The state habeas court found that “appellate counsel was not ineffective for not raising on direct
appeal the meritless claim of juror misconduct.” S.H.R. at 969. The state habeas court’s decision was not unreasonable
for the same reasons described above. See Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 103 (1983) (finding that appellate counsel
not ineffective for choosing not to advance meritless appellate claim).
50
The state habeas court found that “Upshaw’s elevator incident and subsequent discussion
with fellow jurors does not establish the existence of an outside influence under Texas caselaw.”
S.H.R. at 968. The state habeas court’s resolution of his issue was not unreasonable. The Sixth
Amendment guarantees a “trial by an impartial jury.” Exposure to outside influences during jury
deliberations may violate a defendant’s rights. See Parker v. Gladden, 385 U.S. 363, 364-65 (1966);
Oliver v. Quaterman, 541 F.3d 329, 334-36 (5th Cir. 2008). A reviewing court, however, will only
grant relief if the outside influence affected the jury’s verdict. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S.
725, 739 (1993).
Here, the record does not suggest that the incident caused jurors to
“impermissibl[y] discuss[] issues fundamental case prior to the full presentation of evidence . . . .”
Dkt. 9 at 198. Respondent persuasively argues that “Batiste presents no evidence that the jury
discussed his case at all prior to deliberations, much less that the jury discussed the incident
involving the juror as it might have related to Batiste’s case.” Dkt. 22, p. 169.
The trial court reassured jurors that the elevator incident was unrelated to the trial. Jurors
said that they discussed the incident but did not say that they specifically related it to the evidence
in Batiste’s case. Even if the incident made some jurors wary, subjective fears or concerns, rather
than actual external influences, are not a basis for impeaching a jury’s verdict. See United States v.
Ahee, 5 F. App’x 342 (6th Cir. 2001), Peterson v. Chrans, 921 F.3d 278 (7th Cir. 1990); United
States v. Krall, 835 F.2d 711, 715-16 (8th Cir. 1987).
Alternatively, the state habeas court found that “juror misconduct, if any, was resolved
through the trial court’s curative instructions.” S.H.R. at 969. The trial court took steps to remedy
any concerns raised by the incident. The state habeas court found that, “[u]pon learning of juror
Upshaw’s elevator incident, the trial court questioned each juror individually about what had
51
transpired, and each juror assured the Court that the situation would not affect their decision making
in [Batiste’s] trial. S.H.R. at 967; see also Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 215 (1982) (“This Court
has long held that the remedy for allegations of juror partiality is a hearing in which the defendant
has the opportunity to prove actual bias.”); United States v. Martinez-Moncivais, 14 F3d 1030, 1036
(5th Cir. 1994) (“[A] trial court must hold an evidentiary hearing when a defendant shows that
external influence.”). Each juror affirmed that they would impartially consider the evidence. After
that, “the trial court regularly admonished the jurors that they were not to discuss the case among
themselves.” S.H.R. at 968. The trial court repeatedly instructed jurors only to consider only the
evidence, which presumably cures any error. See Zafiro v. United States, 506 U.S. 534, 540 (1993).
Batiste has not shown that the state habeas court was unreasonable in finding that one juror’s
subjective concern, based on what likely was an innocuous incident, amounts to an outside influence
on jury deliberations. Further, Batiste has not shown that the state court unreasonably found that the
trial court’s efforts and instructions were insufficient to cure any error. The Court, therefore, will
deny Batiste’s jury misconduct claim.
D.
Objecting During the Cross-Examination of Defense Witnesses
Batiste faults trial counsel for not making numerous objections during the State’s cross-
examination of defense witnesses. Batiste argues: “During the cross-examination of the defense’s
eleven penalty phase witnesses, the State asked numerous impermissible questions that called for
hearsay, improperly impeached witnesses, or related to irrelevant events. Despite this, trial counsel
objected only twice, ignoring at least fifty other plausible objections.” Dkt. 9 at 199 (footnotes
omitted). As he did in his state habeas application, footnotes in Batiste’s federal petition cite pages
in the record which he argues trial counsel should have made “twenty-three different hearsay
52
objections,” “twenty-two different character or impeachment objections,” and ten different relevance
based objections.” Dkt. 9 at 199; S.H.R. at 192. Batiste, however, only provides significant
discussion regarding a few of the unobjected-to questions.
The state habeas court found that Batiste had not adequately briefed most of his allegations
of error. Batiste’s habeas briefing cited record pages without identifying the particular statements
to which trial counsel should have objected. The state habeas court found that, because Batiste did
not identify “when an objection should have been made,” much of this claim was “vague and
inadequately briefed.” S.H.R. at 969. Accordingly, the state habeas court found that Batiste had
procedurally defaulted consideration of any inadequately briefed objections. The same default
results in a procedural bar of federal review. See Roberts v. Thaler, 681 F.3d 597, 607-08 (5th Cir.
2012).28 The Court, therefore, will only consider the eight objections which the state habeas court
adjudicated. S.H.R. at 970.
The state habeas court considered only whether trial counsel should have objected during the
State’s cross-examination of witnesses Kevin Noel Jr. and Stephanie Soliz. Batiste complains that
trial counsel should have objected when the State asked questions about those witnesses’ bad acts,
including Noel’s gang membership, Soliz’s participation in stealing cars with Batiste, and both of
their drug use with Batiste. Tr. Vol. 23 at 168-69, 171; Tr. Vol. 24 at 3, 16, 23, 38, 44-45, 159.
Batiste argued that his trial attorney’s failure to object “tarnished the credibility of [the defense’s]
own witnesses, diminished the strength of the mitigating evidence these witnesses attempted to
28
Batiste’s failure to provide any greater specificity regarding those allegations leaves the related portions
of his federal claim subject to denial as conclusory and inadequately briefed. See Dowthitt v. Johnson, 230 F.3d 733,
752 (5th Cir. 2000) (“[Petitioner] does not provide further detail (beyond his assertion) as to why the failure to object
rose to the level of a Sixth Amendment violation. Because this issue is inadequately briefed, we do not consider it on
appeal.”). Batiste’s cursory federal briefing on these arguments also precludes finding that any of his prior attorneys
provided deficient performance relating to these claims.
53
share, and crippled trial counsel’s effort to make a compelling case for Batiste’s life.” S.H.R. at
215.29
Batiste based his state habeas claim on Rule 608 of the Texas Rules of Evidence which
provides that “[s]pecific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the purpose of attacking or
supporting the witness’ credibility, other than conviction of crime . . ., may not be inquired into on
cross-examination of the witness nor proved by extrinsic evidence.” Under this rule, the parties may
not attack a witness’ character for truthfulness by offering extrinsic evidence concerning specific
prior instances of untruthfulness. See Hammer v. State, 296 S.W.3d 555, 563 (Tex. Crim. App.
2009). Respondent argues that the State did not ask the indicated cross-examination questions in
an effort to impeach the witness’ credibility. Respondent argues that the witness’ answers were
relevant, offered in rebuttal to testimony on direct, or otherwise permissible under Texas law. For
example, the state habeas court found that Noel’s gang membership was relevant because it related
to gang references in Batiste’s correspondence with him. S.H.R. at 970. Also, Batiste’s drug use
with the two witnesses was relevant because Batiste had already “acknowledged on crossexamination that he would regularly spend $150 per week on marihuana for his home.” S.H.R. at
970.
Even if trial counsel should have objected in those instances, however, the state habeas court
found that “questions regarding Noel’s and Soliz’s bad acts in these eight specific areas of the record
did not ‘undermine’ or ‘cripple’ [Batiste’s] mitigation case” when “both witnesses provided evidence
favorable to [Batiste] regarding his love for his children and the positive role he played in his
29
Trial counsel’s state habeas affidavit responded to this claim: “I made the trial objections I felt were
necessary and helpful to [Batiste]. If I failed to object to some piece of evidence or testimony it was because I either felt
it was actually admissible or would come in another way, or I felt it was helpful to the defense.” S.H.R. at 819.
54
children’s lives.” S.H.R. at 970. The state habeas court found that trial counsel’s failure to object
did not harm the defense.
Batiste has not shown that the state habeas decision was unreasonable, particularly because
much of the unobjected-to testimony came before jurors in a different form or had negligible effect
on the trial. Even if trial counsel did not ask Noel about his gang membership, Batiste’s
correspondence alluded to that fact. Batiste himself described marijuana use in his home, and the
testimony of the indicated witnesses was not so harmful either to eviscerate the force of their
testimony or influence the punishment phase as a whole. Batiste has not shown that the jury’s
verdict would have been different if trial counsel made the indicated objections. Batiste has not met
his burden of showing that the state court judgment was contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
E.
Compensation of Trial Counsel
Batiste complains that the trial court violated federal and state law by compensating his trial
attorneys through a flat fee arrangement. The trial court “grant[ed] a $70,000 flat fee to each trial
counsel for their representation of [Batiste].” S.H.R. at 970. The state court observed that Texas law
does not define what compensation for capital representation is “reasonable,” nor does it expressly
preclude compensation through a flat fee. S.H.R. at 971. In fact, at the time of trial “a flat fee for
counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a Harris County death capital represented a prevailing
professional norm.” S.H.R. at 971. The state habeas court found that Batiste did not provide any
“legal authority to support his claim that the [trial court] committed fundamental and structural error
by granting trial counsel a flat fee for their representation in [his] capital murder trial.” S.H.R. at
972.
55
Despite providing political and policy reasons for which a flat fee may not be the best way
to ensure effective legal representation, Batiste has not identified any clearly established federal law
requiring the States to adopt one method of compensating capital counsel. Accordingly, Batiste has
not shown constitutional error in his conviction and sentence due to counsel’s compensation, and
finding otherwise would require the creation of new federal law in violation of the non-retroactivity
doctrine announced in Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288 (1989). The Court summarily denies Batiste’s
compensation-of-counsel claim.
F.
Texas’ Administration of the Death Penalty
Batiste complains that his death sentence is unconstitutional because he received it in Harris
County, rather than in another location. According to Batiste, “geographic and racial disparities in
Texas have created a system of capital punishment . . . that punishes, not based on the heinousness
of a defendant’s crime, but on the irrelevant factors of where he lives and what races were involved
in the crime.” Dkt. 9 at 220. Batiste argues that Texas arbitrarily and capriciously imposes death
sentences because: (1) most capital convictions arise from only a few counties and (2) racial
considerations taint capital prosecution and sentencing.
Batiste has not shown that a constitutional violation occurred because of where he received
his death sentence. Constitutional law, particularly in the jurisprudence flowing from Gregg v.
Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976) and Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972), emphasizes
“eliminating total arbitrariness and capriciousness in” imposing the death penalty. Proffitt v.
Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 258 (1976). The Constitution, however, does not require complete
uniformity throughout the entire death penalty process. Discretion permeates capital punishment at
various stages: “the prosecutor’s decision whether to charge a capital offense in the first place, his
56
decision whether to accept a plea to a lesser offense, the jury’s consideration of lesser included
offenses, and, after conviction and unsuccessful appeal, the Executive’s decision whether to
commute a death sentence.” Id. at 254. The existence of discretion alone does not “render[] the
capital sentences imposed arbitrary and capricious.” McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 307 (1987)
(quoting Gregg, 428 U.S. at 199); see also Spinkellink v. Wainwright, 578 F.2d 582, 608 (5th Cir.
1978); Proffitt, 428 U.S. at 254. The Constitution only limits prosecutorial discretion in charging
capital crimes when “deliberately based upon an unjustifiable standard such as race, religion, or other
arbitrary classification[.]” Wayte v. United States, 470 U.S. 598, 608 (1985) (quotations omitted);
see also United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456, 465 (1996).
Batiste’s briefing says that differences in death sentence throughout Texas occur because
larger counties, such as Harris County, can allocate greater resources to capital prosecutions. The
Supreme Court has not required uniformity in prosecutorial considerations made by state entities
with different resources. Other courts have traditionally recognized “the amount of resources
required to convict a defendant” and “the extent of prosecutorial resources” as “legitimate
prosecutorial factors that would justify” the use of prosecutorial discretion. United States v. Lightly,
616 F.3d 321, 370 (4th Cir. 2010); see also Jennings v. City of Stillwater, 383 F.3d 1199, 1214 (10th
Cir. 2004) (noting “the optimal deployment of prosecutorial resources” among the permissible “host
of variables” in deciding to prosecute). Constitutionally prohibited arbitrariness does not occur
merely because “[t]he capability of the responsible law enforcement agency can vary widely.”
McCleskey, 481 U.S. at 307 n.28. The Fifth Circuit has similarly observed in another context that
the Constitution does not prohibit
simply failing to prosecute all known lawbreakers, whether because of ineptitude or
(more commonly) because of lack of adequate resources. The resulting pattern of
57
nonenforcement may be random, or an effort may be made to get the most bang for
the prosecutorial buck by concentrating on the most newsworthy lawbreakers, but in
either case the result is that people who are equally guilty of crimes or other
violations receive unequal treatment, with some being punished and others getting
off scot-free. That form of selective prosecution, although it involves dramatically
unequal legal treatment, has no standing in equal protection law.
Parude v. City of Natchez, 72 F. App’x 102, 105 (5th Cir. 2003) (quotation omitted). Batiste has not
pointed to any case finding that different prosecutorial decisions in different counties violates the
Equal Protection Clause.
In particular, Batiste has not shown that any unlawful considerations drive the State’s choice
to prosecute his as a capital crime. See Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Comm., 525
U.S. 471, 489 (1999) (requiring “a criminal defendant to introduce ‘clear evidence’ displacing the
presumption that a prosecutor has acted lawfully.”). Batiste’s crime facially fit the statutory
requirements for capital murder. Nothing suggests that the prosecutor in this case considered
anything other than the severity of Batiste’s crime in asking for a severe punishment. Batiste can
only speculate that Harris County’s resources made his a capital prosecution when another county
would have sought a lesser penalty. In short, federal habeas relief is not available because “no
Supreme Court case has held that the Constitution prohibits geographically disparate application of
the death penalty due to varying resources across jurisdictions.” Allen v. Stephens, 805 F.3d 617,
629 (5th Cir. 2015).
Batiste has also not shown that racial discrimination played any part in his conviction or
sentence. Batiste relies on studies which concluded that certain racial groups are more likely than
others to be sentenced to death. “[T]o prevail under the Equal Protection Clause, [Batiste] must
prove that the decisionmakers in his case acted with discriminatory purpose.” McCleskey v. Kemp,
481 U.S. 279, 292-93 (1987) (emphasis added). Batiste “offers no evidence specific to his own case
58
that would support an inference that racial considerations played a part in his sentence.” McCleskey,
481 U.S. at 292-93. Batiste has not shown that racism, rather than a permissible exercise of
prosecutorial discretion, was the motivating factor in the State’s decision to seek a sentence of death.
The state court’s rejection of this claim was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of,
federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
G.
Effect of a Single Juror’s Vote
Consistent with article 37.071, § 2, of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the trial court
told jurors that their votes for a death sentence must be unanimous, but that ten or more jurors could
return an answer resulting in a life sentence. C.R. at 1708. Courts generally label this instruction
the “12-10 Rule.” Batiste contends that, by not informing the jury of the effect of a single dissenting
vote or of a single hold-out juror, the instructions predisposed the jurors to impose a death sentence,
thus violating the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Batiste specifically argues that the
trial court’s punishment-phase instructions violated Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367 (1988), by
failing to adequately inform the jury on the effect of hold-out jurors.
In Mills, the Supreme Court “held invalid capital sentencing schemes that require juries to
disregard mitigating factors not found unanimously.” Beard v. Banks, 542 U.S. 406, 408 (2004)
(emphasis added); see also Smith v. Spisak, 558 U.S. 139, 148 (2010); McKoy v. North Carolina,
494 U.S. 433, 439-40 (1990). Because the Constitution mandates that jurors be able to consider
mitigating evidence, see Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 604 (1978), Mills prohibits sentencing
instructions that preclude jurors “from considering any mitigating evidence unless all 12 jurors
agreed on the existence of a particular such circumstance.” Mills, 486 U.S. at 384 (emphasis added).
Batiste argues that the 12-10 Rule instruction gave jurors the mistaken impression that they did not
59
have an individual ability to prevent a death sentence, thus precluding them from considering
mitigating evidence.
The Fifth Circuit has held that Texas’s 12-10 Rule instruction “is wholly dissimilar to that
involved in Mills,” Woods v. Johnson, 75 F.3d 1017, 1036 (5th Cir. 1996), because “all jurors can
take into account any mitigating circumstance.” Jacobs, 31 F.3d at 1329. Unlike in Mills, “the
instructions did not say that the jury must determine the existence of each individual mitigating
factor unanimously.” Spisak, 558 U.S. at 148. On that basis, the Fifth Circuit has repeatedly denied
12-10 Rule claims. See Allen v. Stephens, 805 F.3d 617, 632 (5th Cir. 2015); Holiday v. Stephens,
587 F. App’x 767, 789 (5th Cir. 2014); Reed v. Stephens, 739 F.3d 753, 779 (5th Cir. 2014); Parr
v. Thaler, 481 F. App’x 872, 878 (5th Cir. 2012); Druery v. Thaler, 647 F.3d 535, 542–43 (5th Cir.
2011); Greer v. Thaler, 380 F. App’x 373, 389 (5th Cir. 2010). The Fifth Circuit also has held that
any extension of Mills to Texas’s penalty-phase instructions would violate Teague v. Lane’s
prohibition on habeas courts from creating new constitutional law. See Druery, 647 F.3d at 542–43
(5th Cir. 2011). This Court concludes that Batiste has not shown entitlement to habeas relief based
on the trial court’s 12-10 Rule instruction to the jury.30
H.
Preserving the Record
The trial court held twenty-seven off-the-record discussions throughout trial. Batiste
complains that trial counsel should have asked for the court reporter to record all discussions.
On state habeas review, trial counsel averred that “[a]nything said by any one that could
possibly adversely effect [Batiste’s] right to a fair trial and due process was on the record.” S.H.R.
at 820. The state habeas court, presided over by the same judge who presided over trial, found
30
Batiste’s challenge to the 12-10 Rule also fails in light of the AEDPA standards of review.
60
“[b]ased on the record and personal recollection,” that the hearings involved “administrative matters”
and other unimportant issues such as “whether the jury should be given a break.” S.H.R. at 875. The
state habeas court simply found that Batiste did not “demonstrate any alleged deficiency regarding
the court reporter’s record,” S.H.R. at 876, because: “(1) the trial record is voluminous; (2) there
are no missing sections of an entire phase of the trial; (3) counsel’s efforts to build and protect the
record allowed appellate counsel to raise twenty-two (22) points of error on direct appeal; and (4)
the context of several of the conferences indicate that the topics being discussed were
administrative.” S.H.R. at 992.
Trial counsel averred that the off-the-record discussions did not involve Batiste’s substantive
rights. The state habeas court did not remember any issue missing from the record. Batiste has not
countered those recollections with any verifiable showing that the court reporter omitted crucial
matters from the trial record. See Green v. Johnson, 160 F.3d 1029, 1043-44 (5th Cir. 1998)
(rejecting a similar claim when the petitioner offered “only the conclusory allegation that ‘significant
proceedings affecting substantial rights of the accused have been lost forever”). Batiste, therefore,
has not shown that the state habeas court’s judgment was contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
I.
Jury Instruction on Mitigating Evidence
Batiste’s tenth claim complains that the trial court denied his Eighth Amendment rights by
providing the jurors a definition of mitigating evidence that restricted their consideration of his
punishment-phase evidence. The trial court gave the commonly used Texas instruction: “[Y]ou shall
consider mitigating evidence to be evidence that a juror might regard as reducing the defendant’s
moral blameworthiness, including evidence of the defendant’s background, character, record,
61
emotional instability, intelligence, or the circumstances of the offense that mitigates against the
imposition of the death penalty.” C.R. at 1709; see also TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art. 37.071 § 2(g)
(describing mitigating evidence as “evidence that a juror might regard as reducing the defendant’s
moral blameworthiness.”). Even though the instruction given by the trial court informs jurors to
consider broad factors such as a defendant’s background and character, Batiste argues that the
instructions confined the jury to considering only matters relating to his “personal culpability”
because of the term “moral blameworthiness.” C.R. at 435.
Batiste raised this claim on state habeas review. The state habeas court found that the Court
of Criminal Appeals had “previously rejected the argument that TEX. CRIM. PRO. CODE art. 37.071
unconstitutionally narrows a jury’s discretion to consider as mitigating only those factors concerning
moral blameworthiness.” S.H.R. at 977 (citing Shannon v. State, 942 S.W.2d 591 (Tex. Crim. App.
1996)). The state habeas court found that “the punishment instructions . . . allowed the jury to
consider all submitted evidence in answering the special issues” and “did not restrict the jury to
consider as mitigating only evidence that reduced [Batiste’s] moral blameworthiness.” S.H.R. at
977.
The law is clear that Texas’ mitigation special issue provides a constitutionally acceptable
vehicle to consider mitigating evidence. In fact, the Fifth Circuit has “rejected similar arguments
multiple times.” Rockwell v. Davis, 853 F.3d 758, 763 (5th Cir. 2017); see also Blue v. Thaler, 665
F.3d 647, 665-66 (5th Cir. 2011); Robles v. Thaler, 344 F. App’x 60, 63-64 (5th Cir. 2009); Cantu
v. Quarterman, 341 F. App’x 55, 60-61 (5th Cir. 2009); Roach v. Quarterman, 220 F. App’x 270,
277 (5th Cir. 2007); Jackson v. Dretke, 181 F. App’x 400, 413-14 (5th Cir. 2006); O’Brien v. Dretke,
156 F. App’x 724, 735-36 (5th Cir. 2005); Beazley, 242 F.3d at 260. Accordingly, Batiste has not
62
shown that the state court’s decision regarding his challenge to the trial court’s mitigation instruction
was contrary to or an unreasonable application of federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).31
J.
Selection of Grounds for Relief
Batiste claims for the first time on federal review that his appellate and habeas attorneys
should have challenged Texas’ capital punishment scheme under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S.
466 (2000) and its progeny. Batiste’s failure to exhaust this claim makes it subject to dismissal, but
it also lacks merit. Inmates have repeatedly challenged Apprendi’s application to Texas. Here,
Batiste argues that his former attorneys should have argued that Apprendi requires that the
indictment include findings on the future-dangerous special issue. The Court of Criminal Appeals,
however, has rejected any application of Apprendi to a grand jury indictment. See Velez v. State,
2012 WL 2130890, at *34 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012); Thompson v. State, 2007 WL 3208755 (Tex.
Crim. App. 2007); Roberts v. State, 220 S.W.3d 521, 535 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); Renteria v. State,
206 S.W.3d 689, 709 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006); Russeau v. State, 171 S.W.3d 871, 886 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2005); see also Bigby v. Stephens, 595 F. App’x 350, 354 (5th Cir. 2014).32 An appellate or
habeas attorney cannot provide ineffective assistance by, and no prejudice can result from, not
raising a legal claim repeatedly rejected by the federal and state courts. This claim is without merit.
31
Batiste also claims that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by not requesting a jury instruction
that clarified with the term “mitigating evidence.” The state habeas court found that “the punishment charge submitted
to the jury comported with TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 37.071 therefore trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to
object to the charge on the basis urged in the instant ground for relief.” S.H.R. at 977. In light of the discussion above,
Batiste has not shown that the state habeas court’s decision was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal
law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
32
The Supreme Court has never held that the indictment provisions of the Fifth Amendment apply to
the States through the Fourteenth Amendment. See, e.g., Branzburg v. Haynes, 408 U.S. 665, 686-88 n.25 (1972) (noting
that “indictment by grand jury is not part of the due process of law guaranteed to state criminal defendants by the
Fourteenth Amendment”); see also Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 477 n.3 (declining to discuss the implications of that decision
on the sufficiency of an indictment).
63
K.
First Amendment
Batiste was wearing a blue necklace when the police arrested him for murdering Horace
Holiday.33 Clint Ponder, a Houston Police Department gang officer, provided the only testimony
about the necklace. When the State introduced the blue necklace into evidence, the parties
approached the bench and trial counsel objected on relevance grounds. Tr. Vol. 18 at 173. The trial
court identified the necklace as “a scapular,” to which the prosecutor responded: “it’s very similar
to a scapular, but it’s actually – instead of a Catholic saint, that it’s what would be known in English
as Saint Death. . . . They’re commonly worn, especially in Hispanic gangs more often in the drug
cartels. Before they go and commit crimes, they wear them as a form of protection from the police.”
Tr. Vol. 18 at 174.34 Trial counsel unsuccessfully renewed his objection to the necklace, and
testimony about it, on grounds of “relevance, [and] lack of foundation on the part of the witness. Not
that they didn’t try to get it in. And a [Rule] 403 objection.” Tr. Vol. 18 at 174.
Officer Ponder then provided the jury a brief description of the necklace as being blue, a
color worn by Crips gang members, with a “grim reaper” figure attached. Tr. Vol. 18 at 175, 177.
Officer Ponder identified the necklace as a “Santa Muerte necklace” and explained its significance:
Santa Muerte is a saint that a lot of guys will worship to ward off the police or . . .
different people worship it for different things, but in a criminal world, you see a lot
of guys wearing these, drug traffickers wear necklaces or detailed [on] the back of
their car or shrines in their apartment. And they pray to the saint for various reasons,
but in the criminal world, it’s to keep the cops away. If you’re making a big drug run
33
A police officer remarked earlier at trial that Batiste wore a “blue necklace that was around his neck”
when arrested. Tr. vol. 14 at 184. The Court of Criminal Appeals observed that “[n]either the necklace, nor a
photograph of it, is in the appellate record.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 8.
34
The prosecution explained that Batiste wore the necklace because “he’s married to a Hispanic person.”
Tr. Vol. 18 at 174.
64
across the state, a big package of marijuana from one state to the next, you wear this
in hopes that you get to your destination without the cops stopping you, but it’s – in
the criminal world, it’s worn for that, to keep the police away and hope your criminal
endeavor goes okay.
Tr. Vol. 18 at 175. Officer Ponder affirmed that “non-gang members, non-criminals, also have items
that might have Santa Muerte on them” and “[n]ot everybody wearing a Santa Muerte is a criminal.”
Tr. Vol. 18 at 176. Officer Ponder also agreed that “somebody who was going to commit a crime
might wear” a Santa Muerte necklace. Tr. Vol. 18 at 176.35
Officer Ponder then gave extensive testimony about Batiste’s various gang-related tattoos.
Tr. Vol. 18 at 177-195. The prosecution also set the stage for later discussion of Batiste’s prison
letters by discussing with Officer Ponder idiosyncratic features in writing and clothing by Crips
members. Tr. Vol. 195-200. Trial counsel did not ask Officer Ponder any questions.
Batiste raised several complaints about the necklace and related testimony on direct appeal,
including that it “(1) violated his right to the free exercise of religion under the federal and Texas
constitutions, (2) was irrelevant under Article 37.071, (3) should have been excluded under Rule
403, and (4) was not properly authenticated.” On federal review, Batiste argues that the trial court
violated his First Amendment rights by commenting on his religious background and practices.36
Batiste also claims that trial counsel should have raised a First Amendment objection.
35
Cases have linked the image of Santa Muerte to drug trafficking or criminal activity. See United States
v. Guerrero, 768 F.3d 351, 356 (5th Cir. 2014); United States v. Beltran-Aguilar, 412 F. App’x 171 (10th Cir. 2011);
United States v. Pena Ponce, 588 F.3d 579 (8th Cir. 2009).
36
The First Amendment protects an individual’s right to associate with others who hold similar beliefs.
Dawson v. Delaware, 503 U.S. 159, 164 (1992). However, the Constitution does not prohibit the admission of evidence
concerning an individual’s beliefs and associations at sentencing “simply because those beliefs and associations are
protected by the First Amendment.” Id. at 165; see also Fuller v. Johnson, 114 F.3d 491, 498 (5th Cir. 1997) (“The fact
that Fuller was within his rights in joining the gang does not bar the use of relevant evidence at trial.”). Evidence
concerning Batiste’s gang membership was admissible because testimony showed he was a member of a gang that
committed unlawful and violent acts.
65
Batiste, however, does not present his First Amendment arguments in a procedural actionable
manner. Trial counsel did not object based on the First Amendment. Relying on TEX. R. APP. P.
33.1(a)(1)(A), the Court of Criminal Appeals held that Batiste “failed to preserve . . . any First
Amendment or religious issue.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 9. In other words, the appellate court
relied on Texas’ contemporaneous-objection rule to preclude consideration of any First Amendment
issue. See Evans v. Cockrell, 285 F.3d 370, 373 (5th Cir. 2002) (linking TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 and
Texas’ judicial contemporaneous-objection rule). “The ‘Texas contemporaneous objection rule
constitutes an adequate and independent state ground that procedurally bars federal habeas review
of a petitioner’s claims.’” Styron v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 436, 453 (5th Cir. 2001) (quoting Jackson
v. Johnson, 194 F.3d 641, 652 (5th Cir. 1999). The First Amendment portions of this claim are
procedurally barred.
The Court of Criminal Appeals discussed the Santa Muerte necklace’s religious implications
in a footnote. The Court of Criminal Appeals observed that “[a]t no time did the prosecutor or the
gang expert suggest that Batiste’s necklace had any significance to the exercise of a bona fide
religion.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 9, n.6. After reviewing state and federal cases addressing
the relationship between Santa Muerte worship and drug trafficking, the Court of Criminal Appeals
observed that “Officer Ponder never referred to [Batiste’s] religious beliefs or affiliations; he simply
stated that the Crips gang uses the color blue as was used in the necklace and that the ‘grim reaper’
pendant is used by criminal gangs. The logical connection to be made is between ‘Santa Muerte’
necklace and gang membership and criminal activities, not between wearing a ‘Santa Muerte’
necklace and being religious or being Catholic.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 9, n.6.
66
The state habeas court’s reasoning traveled a similar path in finding that trial counsel did not
provide ineffective representation by not lodging an objection on First Amendment grounds. The
state habeas court held that such an objection would have been meritless because “the State did not
introduce into evidence that the scapular had any significance to the exercise of religion.” S.H.R.
at 990. Also, no prejudice resulted because “the evidence of [Batiste’s] two capital murders, an
aggravated robbery, and multiple bad acts was particularly strong.” S.H.R. at 990. Appellate
counsel also did not provide ineffective assistance by not raising trial counsel’s effectiveness in that
regard because Batiste did “not demonstrate that he would have prevailed on appeal” and because
“appellate counsel chose to raise other claims on direct appeal regarding the Santa Muerte scapular.”
S.H.R. at 990.
The state court’s rejection of any First Amendment claims was not unreasonable. This is not
a case where, as Batiste alleges, “the State repeatedly injected the issue of religion.” Dkt. 9 at 279.
The State focused its references to the medallion on the gang and criminal, not religious,
implications of wearing it. Interestingly, Batiste has never presented any evidence, through affidavit
or otherwise, to establish what the Santa Muerte necklace meant to him. Batiste’s briefing presumes
that, because the medallion can have a religious meaning, it did to him. The record, however, does
not provide any indication of whether Batiste wore the medallion for religious worship, as protection
in the drug trade as suggested by the prosecution, or for some unrelated reason.37 Batiste’s claim
presumes that he intended the medallion to be a manifestation of sincerely held religious conviction,
though the record is entirely silent on that point.
37
The defense, in fact, seemed to question whether Batiste even knew that the necklace represented Santa
Muerte. Tr. Vol. 18 at 173.
67
Even so, Batiste has not identified any case law precluding a trial discussion of a Santa
Muerte symbol on First Amendment grounds. Federal courts often cite testimony about the use of
Santa Muerte by drug traffickers or other criminals without expressing any constitutional concern.
See United States v. Garcia-Coronado, 657 F. App’x 648, 649 (9th Cir. 2016); United State v.
Zaragoza-Moreira, 780 F.3d 971, 976 (9th Cir. 2015); United States v. Guerrero, 768 F.3d 351, 356
(5th Cir. 2014); but see United States v. Medina-Copete, 757 F.3d 1092, 1095 (10th Cir. 2014)
(avoiding any constitutional question because trial discussion of Santa Muerte came through the
testimony of a witnesses improperly qualified as an expert). Nevertheless, Officer Ponder’s
testimony did not necessarily link the Santa Muerte necklace to religious beliefs or practices, but
instead observed its common use among some criminals. Officer Ponder also explained the
distinctiveness of the necklace in this instance where it, contrary to other practices, contained colors
associated with the Crips gang. Batiste has not shown any violation of his First Amendment rights
at trial.
Batiste has not shown that the presentation and discussion of the Santa Muerte necklace
prejudiced the defense. Whether Batiste casts his claim in a First Amendment, Strickland, or other
framework, federal relief only becomes available after some showing of harm. Batiste has not shown
that the necklace had any measurable effect on the jury’s consideration of the special issue questions.
The discussion of the necklace was brief. Officer Ponder explained why some people may wear such
a necklace, but did not provide the jury with any definitive description of why Batiste chose to do
so.
Even then, the necklace’s “probative value concerning [Batiste’s] character and gang
membership was not particularly compelling—not nearly as compelling as the myriad gang tattoos
on his body . . . .” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 13. The discussion of the necklace was the prelude
68
to a lengthy and detailed discussion, comprising numerous pages of transcript, of how Batiste
adorned himself with other signs of violence and lawlessness. The abundant and detailed testimony
about Batiste’s numerous gang-related tattoos would eclipse any short mention of the Santa Muerte
necklace, particularly given the fact that the State did not return to discuss the necklace in closing
arguments but amply addressed his gang tattoos. Nothing else in the record suggested that, as Batiste
committed the repeated and extremely violent acts upon which the State premised its punishment
case, he relied on divine or talismanic protection. When properly placed in the detailed landscape
of the punishment phase, the necklace was of only incidental importance. Whether assessing the trial
under a reasonable-probability, harmlessness, or other standard, Batiste has not shown that the
admission of, and testimony about, the necklace prejudiced the defense. See United States v.
Esquivel-Rios, 725 F.3d 1231, 1241 (10th Cir. 2013) (finding any error harmless when a government
agent identified a Santa Muerte tattoo).
For the same reasons as discussed above, and in light of the fact that the state habeas court
found that the “trial court would not have abused his discretion in overruling a First Amendment
objection,” Batiste has not shown that trial counsel should have objected to the necklace on First
Amendment grounds. S.H.R. at 990. The Court denies Batiste’s claims relating to his Santa Muerte
necklace.
L.
Spectator Outbursts and Victim-Impact Testimony
Batiste argues that the trial court violated Texas evidentiary law by allowing victim-impact
testimony (claim eighteen) and that courtroom disruptions violated his due process rights (claim
nineteen). Batiste’s claims arise from three concerns: the trial court (1) did not prevent emotional
outbursts by people observing the trial; (2) allowed family members to testify constructively through
69
emotional outbursts and (3) permitted one victim’s mother to relate hearsay statements. Federal
procedural and substantive law preclude habeas relief on these claims.
Batiste first argues that outbursts during trial violated his right to confront witnesses and to
due process. The record indicates that some family members present in the courtroom reacted
emotionally to trial testimony. The State requested that the trial court allow Horace Holiday’s
mother, grandmother, and uncle to be present in the courtroom during trial. Tr. Vol. 13 at 3. The
trial court overruled the defense’s objection that family members should be excluded from the
courtroom for fear that they would become emotional.
As an assistant medical examiner testified about Mr. Holiday’s death, the trial court requested
a bench conference because Mr. Holiday’s family was “all crying over there.” Tr. Vol. 16 at 20-21.
The prosecutor opined that she had heard some “sniffling,” but had not heard any crying. Tr. Vol.
16 at 22. Trial counsel did not want to draw attention to the crying by asking for a jury instruction,
but instead unsuccessfully requested a mistrial. Tr. Vol. 16 at 23.
In another incident, an unidentified spectator loudly said “Amen” when the prosecutor
questioned Batiste “[i]f you were scared [during the Black Widow robbery] why did you do this
robbery in the first place?” Tr. Vol. 24 at 208. Batiste attributes the outburst to the victim’s uncle.
Trial counsel did not object to the outburst. The trial court later made the following statement to
courtroom spectators outside the jury’s presence:
I wanted to tell the rest of you, we had a little bit of an outburst out there. I’m asking
you again if you feel like you can’t be quiet while you’re sitting there as a spectator
in this trial, don’t come in because it is – we still have a lot of testimony to go on and
we don’t want anything to jeopardize the jury. And I would remind you that I would
have to use whatever contempt powers I have.
So, please do not say anything while you’re sitting out there.
70
Tr. Vol. 24 at 230. Batiste complains that these audible outbursts deprived him of a fair trial.
On direct appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals observed that emotional outbursts by
grieving family members is “one potential hazard in a society that cherishes the right to a public
trial.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 21. The Court of Criminal Appeals continued: “The defendant
in a criminal trial has the constitutional right to a trial that is open to the public; and the public –
including both the defendant’s and victim’s family members – also has a right to attend criminal
trials.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 21 (footnotes omitted). The Court of Criminal Appeals’ review
of the record led it to conclude:
The mere fact that, at a couple of points during gruesome testimony, one or more of
Mr. Holiday’s family members were crying or sniffling does not show that the trial
judge abused his discretion or that [Batiste] was denied a fair trial. Even a disruptive
outburst by a witness or other bystander “which interferes with the normal
proceedings of a trial will not result in reversible error unless the defendant shows
a reasonable probability that the conduct interfered with the jury’s verdict.”
Opinion on Direct Appeal at 23-24 (quoting Gamboa v. State, 296 S.W.3d 574, 580 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2009)). The Court of Criminal Appeals did not find any error because “[n]othing in this record
suggests that the jury could not (1) ignore those occasions when Mr. Holiday’s family members
showed some emotion or (2) fairly examine the evidence in arriving at a verdict.” Opinion on Direct
Appeal at 24. Batiste’s briefing does not show that the state court’s assessment of those outbursts
was unreasonable.
Batiste also complains that outbursts by Mr. Holiday’s uncle (who was never called to the
stand) was the equivalent of actual testimony, subject to confrontation and cross-examination under
Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53-54 (2004). The Court of Criminal Appeals, however,
correctly observed that Crawford “applies only to those who offer testimony or testimonial
statements.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 20, n.36. The Court of Criminal Appeals explained that
71
“Mr. Holiday’s uncle cannot be said to have ‘testified’ against the defendant by sitting in the
courtroom during public proceedings, even when he may have exhibited some emotion.” Opinion
on Direct Appeal at 20, n. 36.38 Batiste has not shown any federal law extending Crawford to an
outburst by someone who is not testifying. See Turner v. Johnson, 2017 WL 2819039 (C.D. Cal.
Mar. 29, 2017) (“Petitioner’s right of confrontation was not implicated here because the spectator
was not a witness against Petitioner and his comments were not offered as testimony at trial.”).
Without clearly established federal law extending Crawford in the same manner as in Batiste’s
claim, and with Teague’s limitation on the creation of new law, habeas relief is not available on this
argument.
Finally, Batiste complains because the trial court allowed Holiday’s mother to relate hearsay
statements. During her trial testimony, Mr. Holiday’s mother mentioned that he had saved his
money to buy the wheel rims for his Cadillac. Batiste complains that the contrast between the
victim’s hard work and his own robbery to obtain the rims was “a contrast that rises to the level of
an impermissible use of victim impact evidence to compare the value of the complainant to other
members of society.” Dkt. 9 at 287. The Court of Criminal Appeals refused to consider this
argument under TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 because trial counsel did not make a hearsay objection, a
holding that likewise bars federal habeas review. The Court of Criminal Appeals also found that
state law did not forbid that “type of comparison” and that any error was harmless. Opinion on
38
Because Batiste “cite[d] no legal authority for his suggestion that ‘the presence and actions’ of Mr.
Holiday’s uncle in the courtroom ‘were effectively testimonial’” and the Court of Criminal Appeals was “also unable
to find any,” this “aspect of [Batiste’s] claim” was procedurally defaulted as “[in]adequately briefed and present[ing]
nothing for review.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 20, n.36 (citing TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(I)). Texas’ briefing requirements
“constitute[] an independent and adequate state ground for denial of relief that procedurally bars federal habeas review.”
Roberts v. Thaler, 681 F.3d 597, 608 (5th Cir. 2012). As Batiste has not shown cause or prejudice to overcome the
procedural bar, this Court cannot grant relief on his aspect of his federal claim.
72
Direct Appeal at 21, n.36. Because no clearly established federal law prohibits the testimony about
Mr. Holiday’s efforts to obtain the rims, and the testimony played only a minor role at trial, the state
habeas court was not unreasonable in denying this aspect of Batiste’s claim.
M.
Execution-Impact Testimony
Batiste claims that the trial court should have allowed testimony on how his execution would
impact his family members.39 Batiste draws comparison to the Supreme Court’s holding in Payne
v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808 (1991), which held that the constitution permits the prosecution to
present victim-impact evidence. The Supreme Court, however, has not included execution-impact
testimony within the category of mitigating evidence that must be allowed to come before jurors.
See United States v. Snarr, 704 F.3d 368, 401-02 (5th Cir. 2013); United States v. Jackson, 549 F.3d
963, 969 n.3 (5th Cir. 2008); Jackson v. Dretke, 450 F.3d 614, 618 (5th Cir. 2006). The Fifth Circuit
has observed that execution-impact claims
ignore the reasoning behind the Court's holding in Payne. Because victim impact
evidence relates to the harm caused by the defendant, Payne held that it is relevant
to the jury’s assessment of ‘the defendant’s moral culpability and blameworthiness.’
In this respect, victim-impact evidence fundamentally differs from execution impact
evidence, which in no way reflects on the defendant’s culpability.
Snarr, 704 F.3d at 401-02 (quoting Payne, 501 U.S. at 825); see also Jackson, 450 F.3d at 618. For
those reasons, the Court of Criminal Appeals rejection of this claim was not contrary to, or an
unreasonable application of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
39
Trial counsel filed a pre-trial Motion to Introduce the Testimony of Defendant’s Family and Friends
Regarding their Feelings on the Prospect of a Death Sentence. C.R. at 1742. The trial court summarily denied that
motion. Batiste argues that the trial court should have allowed the testimony from his family members.
73
N.
Dismissal for Cause
Batiste claims that the trial court violated his constitutional rights by granting the State’s
motion to dismiss prospective juror Alexandria Dunwood for cause. As will be discussed below,
the trial court excused Ms. Dunwood because she repeatedly said that she could not return a death
sentence in this case. Exclusion of prospective jurors “hesitant in their ability to sentence a
defendant to death” without any limitations violates the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments.
Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S. 719, 732 (1992); see also Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 45 (1980);
Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 521-22 (1968). The State must demonstrate through
questioning that the potential juror it seeks to exclude lacks impartiality, and the judge must then
determine whether the state’s challenge is proper. See Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 423 (1985).
Thus, the key issue is “whether the juror’s views would ‘prevent or substantially impair the
performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.’” Id. at 424
(quoting Adams, 448 U.S. at 45).
The exclusion of potential jurors is a question of fact. See McCoy v. Lynaugh, 874 F.2d 954,
960 (5th Cir. 1989); Patton v. Yount, 467 U.S. 1025, 1036 (1984). The factual determinations of the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals are presumed to be correct, and the petitioner has the burden of
rebutting these determinations by clear and convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). This
Court can grant federal habeas relief only if the state court decision “was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.” 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2); see also Fuller v. Johnson, 114 F.3d 491, 500-01 (5th Cir. 1997) (holding that
a trial court’s finding of juror bias is entitled to a presumption of correctness)
74
The prosecution questioned Alexandria Dunwood first. After a few preliminary inquires
regarding her responses on the jury questionnaire about capital punishment, the prosecutor observed
that Ms. Dunwood had not answered the question of whether she had any moral, religious, or
personal beliefs that would prevent her from rendering a verdict that would result in execution. Tr.
Vol. 8 at 103. Ms. Dunwood said that she did not answer the question because she “really [didn’t]
know what [her] answer would be to that question.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 103. Throughout the remainder
of the State’s questioning, Ms. Dunwood consistently expressed that she could not return a verdict
resulting in a death sentence. Tr. Vol. 8 at 104-05. After repeated questions resulting in similar
answers, the State said that it “has a motion.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 105. While the State did not elaborate
that it intended to challenge Ms. Dunwood for cause, the defense’s subsequent questioning shows
that the parties understood that was the State’s intention and that the for-cause challenge related to
her inability to return a death sentence.
The defense asked several questions, and Ms. Dunwood repeatedly answered that she could
not render a death sentence. Ms Dunwood affirmed that she could not do so “no matter what” and
without regard to “how bad the case was.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 107. Ms. Dunwood’s answer to the final
question put to her, however, gives rise to the instant claim:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
Let me see if I hear what you’re saying. Are you saying that you might could
find someone guilty of capital murder, but you would never be able to give
him the death sentence?
Yes.
No matter what the answers to the questions ought to be, you wouldn't be
able to answer them because you could not ever participate in giving someone
the death penalty?
True.
No matter what they did?
Uh-huh.
No matter how bad it was?
75
A:
It depends on what actually happened during the case to me.
Tr. Vol. 8 at 107 (emphasis added). The State then objected to “any further questioning” because
“She’s already made herself clear. And further battering by the defense counsel I don’t think we
should get her – make her change her answer to that question.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 107. The trial court
sustained that objection and granted the State’s challenge for cause. Trial counsel, however, had Ms.
Dunwood clarify that the defense was not battering her. Tr. Vol. at 8 at 108.
After the trial court excused Ms. Dunwood, the defense objected that her last answer
indicated an ability to serve “depend[ing] on what the evidence was.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 108. The State
responded by asking the trial court to “make a finding on the record as to what her demeanor was
and the way she answered the questions . . . .” Tr. Vol. 8 at 109. The trial court stated that “[s]he
obviously, obviously said that she could not do it. And I believe that any further questioning would
be fruitless.” Tr. Vol. 8 at 109.
Batiste challenged the dismissal of Ms. Dunwood on direct appeal. Under Texas law,
appellate courts review the State’s for-cause challenge with “considerable deference” because the
trial court is in the best position to evaluate a prospective juror’s demeanor and responses.
Hernandez v. State, 390 S.W.3d 310, 317 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). Texas appellate courts pay
particular deference when a prospective juror’s answers are vacillating, unclear, or contradictory.
Id. A federal habeas court’s respect for such a finding “certainly should be no less.” Ortiz v.
Quarterman, 504 F.3d 492, 502 (5th Cir. 2007).
Here, the Court of Criminal Appeals found no error in the dismissal of Ms. Dunwood for
cause:
Ms. Dunwood’s final statement was the only response indicating that she might be
open to considering a death sentence. Viewed in context, that one statement does not
76
convince us that she was an impartial juror. More importantly, it did not convince
the trial judge, to whom we owe great deference. First, Ms. Dunwood had not
answered any capital-punishment questions on the questionnaire. When asked why,
she explained that initially she was unsure, but, after thinking about it, voting to
impose a death sentence was “probably not something [she] could do.” Second, Ms.
Dunwood agreed that (1) she “could not sit on a jury where the [State] is seeking the
death penalty,” (2) “it would do violence to [her] conscience to have to answer
questions in a way that could cause the defendant to be executed,” and (3) she had
“conscientious scruples in regard to the infliction of the punishment of death[.]” This
is not the mind set of an impartial juror willing to consider both a life and a death
sentence.
During defense questioning, Ms. Dunwood continued to answer in the same vein,
noting that she “could find someone guilty of capital murder, but [she] would never
be able to give him the death sentence.” She agreed that “no matter what the answers
to the questions ought to be, [she] wouldn't be able to answer them because [she]
could not ever participate in giving somebody the death penalty.” It was only after
all of this questioning, that Ms. Dunwood said that her decision to impose capital
punishment “depends on what actually happened during the case.”
At best, Ms. Dunwood was a “vacillating juror,” but even that is dubious. Only after
unequivocally saying that she could not be impartial eight different times, did Ms.
Dunwood say that her decision would “depend on the facts of the case.” This single
response does not establish her ability to follow the law; her answer may have been
a concession to stop a seemingly endless barrage of questions. The significance of
her answer, taking into account her accompanying tone and demeanor, was a factual
determination for the trial judge.
Opinion on Direct Appeal at 34-35.
In all of the repeated questioning, Ms. Dunwood only possibly wavered in one instance.
Notwithstanding that answer, the trial court did not hesitate to find that Ms. Dunwood’s personal
opinions would prevent her from following the law. The “predominant function in determining juror
bias involves credibility findings whose basis cannot be easily discerned from the appellate record.”
Id. at 429. Indeed,
[d]espite this lack of clarity [regarding a prospective juror’s bias] in the printed record,
however, there will be situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that
a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law . . . [T]his is
why deference must be paid the trial judge who sees and hears the juror.
77
Witt, 469 U.S. at 425-26. Despite her single statement during the defense examination, the trial court
could reasonably conclude that Ms. Dunwod would “frustrate the State’s legitimate interest in
administering constitutional capital sentencing schemes by not following [her] oath[].” Witt, 469
U.S. at 423. As the trial court clearly could have been “left with the definite impression that [Ms.
Dunwood] would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law,” Witt, 469 U.S. at 426, the
trial court had a reasonable basis for granting the State’s challenge for cause. Batiste, therefore, has
not met his AEDPA burden of overcoming the state court’s factual determination regarding her
answers and demeanor.
O.
Statements to Police Officers
Batiste made several incriminating statements to police officers after the murder.
Immediately after being pulled over, Batiste responded to questions about whether he had been shot.
Batiste also confessed to the murder for which he was convicted, and other crimes, during a
subsequent police interrogation. After hearing testimony in a suppression hearing, the trial court
allowed Batiste’s statements to come before the jury.40 The trial court issued findings and
conclusions determining that Batiste’s statements were voluntary. C.R. at 1801-05. In claims
twenty-five and twenty-six, Batiste complains that the trial court should have suppressed his first
statement as it resulted from a custodial interrogation without the safeguards of Miranda v. Arizona,
384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966). In claims twenty-seven through twenty-nine, Batiste contends that the
trial court should have suppressed his statements during a later police interrogation because he had
already made an inadmissible statement. Batiste must show that the state courts were unreasonable
in finding that his statements were admissible.
40
The record contains Batiste’s statement to Officer Miller at Tr. Vol. 35, Exhibit DX-1.
78
1.
Initial Comments
Batiste repeatedly shot the victim as he drove down the freeway. Blood covered the inside
of the victim’s car when Batiste drove it away from the scene of the murder. Police officers knew
that Batiste had fired shots when the Cadillac had stopped at the gas station; they did not know the
whole series of events that led to Batiste stealing the car. Tr. Vol. 13 at 91. Batiste eluded police
officers for some time until spike strips blew out the Cadillac’s tires. Police officers, including
Harris County Sheriff Officer Christopher Gore, took Batiste into custody. Officers handcuffed
Batiste and put him in the back of a police car.
At that point, Officer Gore went to “clear[] the vehicle and ma[ke] sure it was safe.” Tr. Vol.
13 at 79. Officer Gore then noticed “blood spatter throughout the interior of the vehicle and another
small caliber handgun in the front seat.” Tr. Vol. 13 at 80. “With the amount of blood that [he]
saw,” Officer Gore told another officer: “I wonder if this guy’s been shot, there’s blood everywhere.”
Tr. Vol. 13 at 81. The other officer said: “Go check on him, make sure he’s not injured. That way
if he is we can get him medical attention.” Tr. Vol. 13 at 82.
Officer Gore then approached Batiste who was still sitting in a patrol car, under arrest.
Officer Gore saw blood on Batiste. Officer Gore asked “if he had been shot.” Tr. Vol. 13 at 82. The
conversation that gives rise to the instant claim then took place:
Batiste:
Officer Gore:
Batiste:
Officer Gore:
Batiste:
No, I’m fine.
Well, you’ve got blood all over you.
That’s not mine. That’s the driver’s.
Well, you were driving.
No. It belongs to the guy I took the car from.
79
Tr. Vol. 13 at 82-83. Batiste argues that Officer Gore subjected him to a custodial interrogation and,
because he did not receive his Miranda warnings, the trial court should not have allowed Officer
Gore to tell jurors how Batiste had responded to his questions.
In Miranda, the Supreme Court held that “the prosecution may not use statements, whether
exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it
demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against
self-incrimination.” 384 U.S. at 444. Custodial interrogation consists of questioning by law
enforcement agents “after a person has been taken into custody.” Id. The “term ‘interrogation’
under Miranda refers not only to express questioning, but also to any words or actions on the part
of the police . . . that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response
from the suspect.” Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 300-301 (1980). An incriminating response
is “any statement – whether inculpatory or exculpatory – that the prosecution may seek to introduce
at trial.” Id. at 301 n. 5.
The State conceded that Batiste was in custody when Officer Gore asked if he had been shot,
but argued that Officer Gore did not interrogate him. Tr. Vol. 13 at 87-88. The Court of Criminal
Appeals found that “[i]t is undisputed that [Batiste] was in custody,” leaving only “the legal question
[of] whether Sgt. Gore ‘interrogated’ [him] for the purposes of Miranda.” Opinion on Direct Appeal
at 37. Interrogation includes “words or actions on the part of the police (other than those normally
attendant to arrest and custody) that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an
incriminating response from the suspect.” Innis, 446 U.S. at 301. Certain questions “normally
attendant to arrest and custody” such as those concerning a suspect’s “name, address, height, weight,
eye color, date of birth, and current age” are not an interrogation. See Pennsylvania v. Muniz, 496
80
U.S. 582 (1990). The State argued that Officer Gore’s questions were not the functional equivalent
of an interrogation because he “had a responsibility to make certain [Batiste] was not injured.” Tr.
Vol. 13 at 88.
Here, Officer Gore’s question about whether Batiste was injured was not “reasonably likely
to elicit an incriminating response.” Innis, 446 U.S. at 301. On direct appeal, the Court of Criminal
Appeals could not “say that Sgt. Gore was acting under the guise of inquiring about [Batiste’s]
medical condition, but actually hoping to elicit an incriminating response.” Opinion on Direct
Appeal at 39.41 Officer Gore “repeatedly explained that his sole purpose in questioning was to
‘check on his medical condition.’” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 39. The Court of Criminal Appeals
observed that “police officers are under a general duty to ensure that, if a suspect is injured, he is
provided proper medical attention. The question Sgt. Gore asked [Batiste] was in furtherance of this
duty. Once Sgt. Gore was assured that [Batiste] did not need immediate medical attention, he ceased
questioning.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 40. Even looking at the question “from a suspect’s point
of view,” the question posed “was not one likely to elicit an incriminating response,” because it only
required a yes or no answer, neither of which “would have been incriminating.” Opinion on Direct
Appeal at 40. Officer Gore made “an inquiry that was appropriate under the circumstances and one
that did not raise any concern of coerciveness or compulsion.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 41.
41
The Court of Criminal Appeals “review[s] a trial judge’s denial of a Miranda-violation claim under
a bifurcated standard.” When the trial judge has made factual findings, the Court of Criminal Appeals “afford[s] almost
total deference . . . to fact rulings that turn on credibility and demeanor.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 39. “When there
is no factual dispute as to whether Miranda warnings were given, what questions the officer asked, or what answers the
defendant gave, the question of whether the defendant was subjected to ‘interrogation’ is a mixed question of fact and
law reviewed de novo because there are no disputed issues of fact that depend upon credibility or demeanor.” Opinion
on Direct Appeal at 39.
81
Batiste has not shown that general on-the-scene questioning which enables an officer to determine
if a suspect as been injured is an interrogation under Miranda.
Batiste provided a confusing answer to Officer Gore’s initial question. He told Officer Gore
that the driver had been shot, but without more-detailed information about the circumstances leading
up to the chase, Officer Gore would not know that Batiste meant the victim. As the Court of
Criminal Appeals observed, Batiste “responded with an answer to that question [which] was
confusing and required some follow-up to ensure that (1) [he] was not actually suffering from a
serious wound or trauma but was too confused or delusional to relay the correct information to the
officer, or (2) there was not another person—perhaps the driver—who had been in the car with him,
who may have left the scene, and was either a security threat or in need of immediate medical
attention.” Opinion on Direct Appeal at 41. “In sum, Sgt. Gore’s questions neither presented
[Batiste] with the ‘psychological intimidation’ associated with a police interrogation nor was it an
underhanded way of bypassing Miranda and eliciting an incriminating response.” Opinion on Direct
Appeal at 41. Batiste’s answer that the blood belonged to “the driver” confused the officers who
had just seen him drive the car. Tr. Vol. 13 at 82-85, 92-93. Because Officer Gore’s follow-up
question was not reasonably likely to evoke an incriminating response, but only clarified who had
been the driver that had left so much blood in the car, it does not constitute interrogation. See Innis,
446 U.S. 291 at 301. The state habeas court’s rejection of Batiste’s challenge to his initial statements
was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
2.
Police Statements
Batiste made several incriminating statements after the police transported him to the police
station. Batiste first gave a recorded statement in which he confessed to the murder for which he was
82
eventually convicted. Tr. Vol. 14 at 138-48. About twelve hours later, a police officer interrogated
Batiste about the murder he committed at the Black Widow tattoo parlor. The police officer taking
that statement said that he delivered the Miranda warnings before speaking to Batiste. Tr. Vol. 11
at 59. Batiste gave an initial unrecorded confession to the crime, followed by a recorded statement
reconfirming his guilt. A different officer later took a recorded statement in which Batiste confessed
to robbing the Phat Kats tattoo parlor.
The trial court found that the police properly warned Batiste prior to each interview and
statement. C.R. at 1800-04. Batiste presents no evidence to rebut the state court’s findings. Batiste
nonetheless claims that the trial court should have suppressed all these statements because they
violated the rule set forth in Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004).
In Seibert, the police diluted the effect of Miranda warnings through a two-step strategy: a
detective exhaustively questioned the suspect until securing a confession and then, after a brief
break, delivered the Miranda warnings and had the suspect repeat the earlier confession. Seibert
addressed a specific concern: “the strategy of withholding Miranda warnings until after interrogating
and drawing out a confession.” 542 U.S. at 609; see also United States v. Montalvo-Rangel, 437 F.
App’x 316, 319 (5th Cir. 2011) (stating that Seibert condemned a “question first” police tactic, “a
strategy by which officials interrogate an individual without administering a Miranda warning,
obtain an admission, administer a Miranda warning, and then obtain the same admission again”).
Batiste claims that Officer Gore intentionally interrogated Batiste and, once he inculpated himself,
only then warned him of his constitutional rights in the subsequent questioning.
On direct appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals found that Batiste had procedurally defaulted
consideration of this claim by not making an argument for their suppression under Seibert. Opinion
83
on Direct Appeal at 44. Because Batiste has not shown cause or prejudice to overcome that state-law
ruling, a procedural bar precludes federal consideration of this claim.
In the alternative, the Court of Criminal Appeals found that Batiste’s Seibert claim lacked
merit:
Even if [Batiste] had preserved this issue for appeal, his claim is without merit. As
we have previously concluded, [Batiste’s] roadside statement to Sgt. Gore was not
the product of custodial interrogation, and therefore Sgt. Gore was not required to
give [him] any Miranda warnings before [his] responses were admissible at trial.
Because [Batiste’s] first statement was not the product of custodial interrogation,
Seibert is inapplicable as the “question first, warn later” situation arises only when
both the unwarned and warned statements are the product of custodial interrogation.
Furthermore, there is no suggestion that the three officers who obtained station house
confessions ever mentioned any statement that [Batiste] had already made to Sgt.
Gore, or that Sgt. Gore’s inquiry had been part of a deliberate two-step interrogation.
Opinion on Direct Appeal at 44-45. Batiste’s federal Seibert claim is also wholly dependant on the
presence of constitutional error in his statement to Officer Gore. Because Batiste has not shown that
Officer Gore violated his constitutional rights through the same “question first, warn later” procedure
condemned in Seibert, he has also not demonstrated any constitutional violation. Batiste has not
shown that the state court adjudication was unreasonable, and accordingly has not shown that he
merits habeas relief.
IV. CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
Under AEDPA, a prisoner cannot seek appellate review from a lower court’s judgment
without receiving a Certificate of Appealability (“COA”). See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). Batiste has not
yet requested that this Court grant him a COA, though this Court can consider the issue sua sponte.
See Alexander v. Johnson, 211 F.3d 895, 898 (5th Cir. 2000). “The COA statute establishes
procedural rules and requires a threshold inquiry into whether the circuit court may entertain an
appeal.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 482 (2000). A court may only issue a COA when “the
84
applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 2253(c)(2).
The Fifth Circuit holds that the severity of an inmate’s punishment, even a sentence of death,
“does not, in and of itself, require the issuance of a COA.” Clark v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 760, 764 (5th
Cir. 2000). The Fifth Circuit, however, anticipates that a court will resolve any questions about a
COA in the death-row inmate’s favor. See Hernandez v. Johnson, 213 F.3d 243, 248 (5th Cir. 2000).
The Supreme Court has explained the standard for evaluating the propriety of granting a COA on
claims rejected on their merits as follows: “Where a district court has rejected the constitutional
claims on the merits, the showing required to satisfy §2253(c) is straightforward: The petitioner must
demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional
claims debatable or wrong.” Slack, 529 U.S. at 484; Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 336-38. On the other
hand, a district court that has denied habeas relief on procedural grounds should issue a COA “when
the prisoner shows, at least, that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states
a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable
whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling. Slack, 529 U.S. at 484; Miller-El, 537
U.S. at 336-38. Unless the prisoner meets the COA standard, “no appeal would be warranted.”
Slack, 529 U.S. at 484.
Batiste’s petition raises issues worthy of judicial review. Nevertheless, having considered
the merits of Batiste’s petition, and in light of AEDPA’s standards and controlling precedent, this
Court determines that a COA should not issue on any claim.
85
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons described above, the Court GRANTS Respondent’s motion for summary
judgment, DENIES Batiste’s petition, and DISMISSES this case WITH PREJUDICE. All other
requests for relief are DENIED. The Court will not certify any issue for appellate review.
Signed at Houston, Texas on September 19, 2017.
Gray H. Miller
United States District Judge
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