Ramey v. Stephens
Filing
58
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying Ramey's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus with prejudice; granting 40 Respondent's MOTION for Summary Judgment. All outstanding motions are otherwise DENIED. A Certificate of Appealability is DENIED with respect to all claims. (Signed by Judge Kenneth M Hoyt) Parties notified.(chorace)
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
VICTORIA DIVISION
KER’SEAN OLAJUWA RAMEY,
Petitioner,
VS.
LORIE DAVIS,
Respondent.
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July 11, 2018
David J. Bradley, Clerk
CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:13-CV-43
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING RAMEY’S
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
Ker’sean Olajuwa Ramey, a Texas inmate incarcerated under a capital conviction
and death sentence, filed a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus on November 13,
2013. (Dkt. No. 7). Ramey alleges that constitutional error infected his trial with
unfairness. Having considered Ramey’s claims, the state court record, the pleadings, the
evidence, and the applicable law, the Court now finds that Ramey is not entitled to
federal habeas relief for the reasons provided herein.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On December 17, 2005, the State of Texas indicted Ramey for the offense of
capital murder in the 24th Judicial District Court of Jackson County Texas. The fourcount indictment charged Ramey for his role in the murders of Sam Roberts, Tiffany
Peacock, and Celso Lopez. After a change of venue, Ramey stood trial in Victoria
County, Texas.
The State based its case against Ramey on testimony from those to whom he
admitted involvement in the murders, as well as his co-defendant LeJames Norman’s
account of the crime. On direct appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals summarized
the trial testimony:
The bodies of Celso Lopez, Tiffany Peacock, and Sam Roberts were found
in Roberts’s residence by his parents on August 25, 2005. Lopez had been
shot four times: once in the cheek and three times in the back of the head.
Peacock was shot twice in the head. Roberts was shot five times: once in
the chest, once in the neck, and three times in the back of the head. They
had been killed on or about August 24.
Stacy Johnson, [Ramey’s] former girlfriend, testified that he called her at
12:29 a.m. and 12:59 a.m. on August 25. He went to her house after their
conversation, and slept there until shortly before 6 a.m. She said that he
seemed “distant.”
Two days later, Johnson accompanied [Ramey] to his house where he dug
up “something” from his backyard. Johnson drove him to a dam. While
Johnson was driving, [Ramey] called his former step-father, Lonny Lyte.
(Both Johnson and Lyte testified about this conversation.) [Ramey] asked
Lyte, “If you was to kill somebody, what would you do with the guns?”
Lyte responded by saying that he would throw them in the river.
When they reached the dam, Johnson saw [Ramey] throw two pistols into
the water. She later returned to the dam with the police and pointed out to
the dive team the place where she remembered him throwing the pistols.
They were found in the approximate location she indicated.
After he threw the pistols in the water, [Ramey] admitted to Johnson that he
had committed a murder. He first said, “You know what this is about,” to
which she responded in the affirmative. When they returned to her house,
he admitted to everything in detail, and he threatened to kill her if she told
anyone.
A firearms examiner from the Department of Public Safety testified that
markings on the bullets that were recovered from the victims’ bodies were
consistent with the bullets having been fired from the pistols that were
recovered from the water at the dam.
The pistols had been stolen from [the Nairn family] residence on August
19, 2005. The owner of the pistols identified them, and one of the pistols
was further identified by records of registration. Gerald Manzanalez and
Christopher Times testified that, on August 19, they and [Ramey] had
broken into a residence where they stole the pistols and some other
firearms.
LeJames Norman testified that, on August 24, he and [Ramey] had gone to
the scene of the murders, Sam Roberts’s residence. Their objective was to
steal 100 kilograms of cocaine they believed to be inside.
He said that he and [Ramey] prepared by stealing masks from a discount
store. The jury saw the store’s surveillance videotape which showed them
stealing the masks at 9:22 p.m. on August 24.
Norman testified that they also prepared by wrapping tape around their
shoes so as not to leave a trail. They donned their masks and cocked their
guns before entering the house. They knocked on the door. Celso Lopez
answered, and the two men forced their way inside. Norman held a gun on
Lopez, while [Ramey] ran to the rear of the home, where he hoped to find
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the cocaine. As [Ramey] searched for the drugs, Norman accidentally shot
Lopez in the cheek. [Ramey] quickly returned to the front room and forced
Lopez, bleeding and begging for help, to move to a bedroom and lie on the
floor.
At that point Roberts came home, accompanied by Peacock (his girlfriend).
When she saw what was happening, Peacock panicked and tried to run
away. Norman grabbed her and forced her to her knees inside the house,
near the front door. As she was bending down, he shot her in the back of
the head. Seeing his girlfriend fall limp to the floor, Roberts attacked
Norman. The two men “tussled” in the kitchen until [Ramey] shot Roberts,
freeing Norman who immediately shot Roberts several more times while he
lay on the floor. [Ramey] then returned to the bedroom and shot Lopez in
the back of the head as he lay on the floor.
[Ramey] and Norman left the house. As they walked away, Norman
realized that he had left his police scanner inside the house. [Ramey]
quickly returned to retrieve the scanner. While inside, he shot the victims
several more times to ensure that they were dead.
[Ramey] and Norman did not find any cocaine.
Eight other witnesses testified that [Ramey] had admitted to them that he
had participated in the murders.
Ramey v. State, 2009 WL 335276, at *3-5 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
The defense rested without calling any guilt/innocence witnesses or presenting any
evidence.1 The jury instructions authorized Ramey’s conviction: (1) for “caus[ing] the
death of Sam Roberts and/or Tiffan[y] Peacock and/or Celso Lopez by shooting them
with a firearm” in the course of a robbery or burglary or (2) for assisting Norman in the
murders under Texas’ law of parties.2 Clerk’s Record at 172-73. The jury found Ramey
1
Ramey retained Joseph R. Willie II to represent him at trial. Willie is also a licenced dentist and the record
often refers to him as Dr. Willie. James D. Evans III served as second chair counsel. Unless necessary to identify
one attorney, the Court will refer to Ramey’s defense attorneys collectively as “trial counsel.”
2
Texas’ law-of-parties allows for a defendant’s conviction “if . . . acting with intent to promote or assist the
commission of the offense, he solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid the other person to commit the
offense . . . .” TEX. PENAL CODE § 7.02(a)(2).
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guilty of capital murder. The verdict form specified that the jury found Ramey guilty as
the principal actor in the crime. Clerk’s Record at 175.
A Texas jury decides a capital defendant’s sentence by answering special-issue
questions. In this case, the special issues asked: (1) will the defendant be a future danger
to society; and (2) do sufficient circumstances mitigate against a death sentence? See
TEX. CRIM.CODE art. 37.071 § 2(b); Clerk’s Record at 193-94. The State based its
punishment-phase case on Ramey’s escalating violent actions.
The State presented
testimony and evidence that, when Ramey stood trial at age twenty-one, he had already
amassed a significant criminal history. Ramey began acting out in school at a young age.
His first interaction with the legal system occurred when at age sixteen he coerced a
seven-year-old boy into performing oral sex on him. Originally charged with aggravated
sexual assault, the charge was reduced to assault and the court sentenced him to juvenile
probation for one year.
At age seventeen, Ramey pleaded guilty to criminal mischief for breaking into a
vending machine at his high school. Less than six months later, Ramey and another
friend, broke into his alternative learning school and ransacked the principal’s office. His
probation for the two offenses was eventually revoked for failing to pay fees, perform his
community service hours, and report to his probation officer. Ramey’s subsequent stay
in the county jail did not squelch his lawlessness.
Jurors found out that Ramey had actually burglarized the Nairn residence three
times. The State also presented evidence that, after burglarizing a different location,
Ramey attempted to run over the homeowner with his car. Witnesses testified that
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Ramey had planned other burglaries. Additionally, Ramey told friends that he had
carried out various crimes for which he was never charged. Importantly, Ramey bragged
that he had committed other murders.
Ramey’s behavior did not improve while incarcerated before trial. He armed
himself with weapons, created disturbances, and threatened guards.
The State’s final witness was Dr. Richard Coons, a psychologist. Dr. Coons did
not examine Ramey, but his review of relevant records led him to opine that an offender
like Ramey would “commit criminal acts of violence in the future which would constitute
a continuing threat to society.” Tr. Vol. 38 at 81.
The defense only called two witnesses in the penalty phase. Ramey’s mother, Ms.
Terral Stevens, provided an overview of Ramey’s life.
Ms. Stevens told jurors of
Ramey’s early emotional and mental problems, including a diagnosis of dyslexia and
ADHD at age four. Early evaluations revealed emotional disturbances and a lack of
social skills. Ramey told evaluators that his step-father had abused him. Ramey’s
mother, however, failed to seek the necessary help for her son’s problems.
Dr. Mark Kunick, a psychiatrist, based his testimony on an interview with Ramey
and Ramey’s mother, his review of records, and his understanding of the facts of the case.
Dr. Kunick opined that Ramey’s nonviolence since incarceration, his close-knit family,
and his lack of mental illness would make it unlikely that Ramey would be a future
danger.
The jury answered Texas’ special issues in a manner requiring the imposition of a
death sentence.
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Trial counsel represented Ramey on direct appeal. On February 11, 2009, the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Ramey’s conviction and sentence in an
unpublished opinion. Ramey v. State, No. AP-75,678, 2009 WL 335276 (Tex. Crim.
App. 2009).
During the pendency of his state appeal, Ramey filed a state application for a writ
of habeas corpus. The same judge who presided over Ramey’s trial adjudicated his state
habeas application.
After the submission of proposed factual findings and legal
conclusions, the trial-level court entered an order recommending that the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals deny habeas relief. State Habeas Record at 145-61. The Court of
Criminal Appeals filed Ramey’s case and set it for submission. Ex parte Ramey, No. AP76,533, 2011 WL 1288284, at *1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). After additional briefing by
the parties, the Court of Criminal Appeals entered an order denying relief on November
7, 2012. Ex parte Ramey, 382 S.W.3d 396, 398 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). The Court of
Criminal Appeals issued a mandate on December 4, 2012.
On November 14, 2013, Ramey filed a skeletal federal petition for a writ of habeas
corpus raising five claims. Ramey, however, did not provide any extensive legal or
factual discussion of the issues raised by his petition. Instead, Ramey provided the
following brief list of claims:
1.
2.
Ramey is innocent of capital murder.
3.
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The State violated Ramey’s constitutional rights by failing to
disclose favorable evidence.
Trial counsel provided ineffective
guilt/innocence phase of trial.
representation
in
the
4.
Trial counsel provided ineffective representation in the penalty
phase of trial.
(Dkt. No. 7). Ramey also informed the Court that he “incorporates into his claims for
relief the claims filed in his direct appeal brief and in his state habeas application . . . .”
(Dkt. No. 7 at 4, n.1).
Ramey’s attorneys believed that they had filed their petition outside the AntiTerrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act’s (“AEDPA”) limitations period. The Court
appointed new counsel to represent Ramey throughout federal review. (Dkt. No. 11).
Ramey amended his habeas petition on December 15, 2015. Ramey’s amended petition
raised eleven claims:
1.
2.
Trial counsel provided ineffective representation during jury
selection.
3.
Ramey was denied a trial by an impartial jury when a juror was
excluded for expressing reservations about the death penalty.
4.
The State violated Ramey’s rights by knowingly presenting false
testimony.
5.
The State deliberately elicited information from Ramey in violation
of Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964).
6.
Trial counsel provided ineffective assistance during pre-trial
investigation and in the guilt phase.
7.
Trial counsel provided ineffective representation in the penalty
phase.
8.
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The State violated Ramey’s right to equal protection by
systematically excluding jurors based on their race.
The cumulative effect of counsel’s errors violated Ramey’s
constitutional rights.
9.
The admission of unreliable testimony by an expert witness violated
Ramey’s rights.
10.
Appellate counsel was constitutionally inadequate.
11.
Ineffective assistance of trial, appellate, and state habeas counsel
forgive the default of any procedurally deficient claims.
Respondent moves for summary judgment. (Dkt. No. 40). Respondent argues that
(1) Ramey’s skeletal petition was not timely; (2) any new claims in his amended petition
are also not timely; (3) Ramey presents several claims in a procedurally inadequate
manner; and (4) all claims lack merit. Ramey has filed a reply. (Dkt. No. 49). This
matter is ripe for adjudication. Before turning to Ramey’s habeas claims, the Court must
determine whether he filed his initial petition in a timely manner.
TIMELINESS OF RAMEY’S PETITION
AND ISSUES AVAILABLE FOR FEDERAL REVIEW
All federal habeas corpus petitions filed after April 24, 1996, are subject to a oneyear limitations period. The Court must first decide whether Ramey filed his skeletal
petition in a timely manner. The Court will then decide whether any claims first raised in
Ramey’s amended petition are timely.
I.
Timeliness of the Skeletal Petition
The AEDPA “enacted a one-year period of limitation for federal habeas
proceedings that runs, unless tolled, from the date on which the petitioner’s conviction
became final at the conclusion of direct review . . . .” Cantu-Tzin v. Johnson, 162 F.3d
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295, 298 (5th Cir. 1998). Ramey’s conviction became final when the Supreme Court
denied his petition for certiorari from direct appeal on October 5, 2009.3
A “pending” application for state post-conviction relief tolls the one-year
limitations period. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2). State post-conviction habeas proceedings in
capital cases run concurrently to the direct appeal. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art.
11.071, § 4(a). Ramey filed a state habeas application during the pendency of direct
appeal. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals set his case for submission and eventually
denied state habeas relief on November 7, 2012.
The Court of Criminal Appeals does not issue a mandate in every habeas case. A
mandate only issues in cases where the matter is “set for submission” by the Court of
Criminal Appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals issued the mandate on December 4,
2012.
In the standard state habeas case, no mandate issues and a decision by the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeal ends state habeas review. See Ott v. Johnson, 192 F.3d 510,
513 (5th Cir. 1999) (stating that a habeas “application becomes final after a decision by
the state’s high court”). The specific question before the Court is whether, in a capital
case set for submission, the Court of Criminal Appeals decision or its mandate is a final
judgment that ends state review. The answer turns on whether the habeas action is
“pending” under section 2244(d)(2) between the issuance of the appellate court’s
decision and its mandate. Because Ramey filed his initial federal petition on November
3
The Court emphasizes that the issue in this case involves “interpreting the AEDPA’s tolling provision, §
2244(d)(2), not its triggering provision, § 2244(d)(1).” Gonzalez v. Thaler, 623 F.3d 222, 225 (5th Cir. 2010). The
discussion that follows above does not relate on when a conviction is “final” under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1).
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14, 2013, his pleading was timely only if state habeas review was tolled until the mandate
issued.
The federal courts have not rendered a one-size-fits-all standard for when a state
habeas case is no longer “pending,” but rather look to the “state post-conviction
procedures to determine . . . when state review ended . . . .” Watts v. Brewer, 416 F.
App’x 425, 428 (5th Cir. 2011) (quotation omitted); see also Carey v. Saffold, 536 U.S.
214, 219 (2002) (refusing to establish a “uniform national rule” governing when a habeas
case is pending). The Supreme Court has loosely said that a case is pending until “the
state courts have finally resolved an application for state postconviction relief” which
generally is when, “[a]fter the State’s highest court has issued its mandate or denied
review, no other state avenues for relief remain open.” Lawrence v. Florida, 549 U.S.
327, 332 (2007); see also Saffold, 536 U.S. at 220.4 The Supreme Court has instructed to
look at “[w]hen the state courts have issued a final judgment on a state application” to
decide if “it is no longer pending.” Lawrence, 549 U.S. at 334 (emphasis added).
The Fifth Circuit has not yet decided when a Texas habeas case stops “pending”
after being set for submission.5 Respondent argues that, without exception, a state habeas
action concludes and tolling ends when the Court of Criminal Appeals issues its decision
denying relief. Respondent cites cases for the proposition that “[t]he Fifth Circuit has
plainly stated that a Texas habeas ‘application becomes final after a decision by the
4
The Supreme Court has looked to the dictionary use of the word pending: “The dictionary defines
‘pending’ (when used as an adjective) as ‘in continuance’ or ‘not yet decided.’ It similarly defines the term (when
used as a preposition) as ‘through the period of continuance . . . of,’ ‘until the . . . completion of.’” Saffold, 536 U.S.
at 220 (quoting Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 1669 (1993)).
5
The Fifth Circuit has held that a habeas case in Mississippi is pending until the mandate issues. Watts v.
Brewer, 416 F. App’x 425, 430 (5th Cir. 2011).
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state’s high court.’” (Dkt. No. 54 at 3 (quoting Ott, 192 F.3d at 513). While true as far as
it goes, the Fifth Circuit’s language is limited because the federal courts in those cases
did not face the unique issue before this Court – no mandate had issued because the state
courts did not set the cited cases for submission.
Respondent also argues that “the mandate in Texas habeas procedure serves no
real function affecting the state or federal habeas process.”
(Dkt. No. 54 at 7).
Respondent argues that the federal courts should not consider that state habeas review
remains pending “for what is simply a ministerial act: issuing the mandate.” (Dkt. No. 54
at 3). The Court of Criminal Appeals has refused to characterize the mandate as merely
“ministerial.” Ex parte Webb, 270 S.W.3d 108, 111 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Instead,
Texas treats a mandate as “an appellate court’s official notice, directed to the court
below, advising it of the appellate court’s decision and directing it to have the appellate
court’s judgment duly recognized, obeyed, and executed.” Id. at 9 n.2. The Texas courts
do not intend the mandate to be a mere formality, but an indication that “the judgment
was final.” Hartfield v. Thaler, 403 S.W.3d 234, 239 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see also
Brown v. Thaler, 455 F. App’x 401, 406 (5th Cir. 2011) (stating that “Texas law is
unambiguous” that collateral review is final when the mandate issues).
The Texas legislature has structured capital habeas procedure in a manner that
presupposes that the mandate is the point of final resolution for cases set for submission.
For example, the convicting court may usually set an execution date when “the court of
criminal appeals denies relief.” TEX CODE CRIM. PRO. art. 43.141(a)(1). If the case is
“filed and set for submission,” however, statutory law prohibits the lower court from
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setting an execution date until “the court of criminal appeals issues a mandate.” TEX
CODE CRIM. PRO. art. 43.141(a)(2). Similarly, the mandate serves as the defining point at
which jurisdiction can transfer from the state to the federal courts. The Texas statutes
recognize that, in a case set for submission, inmates should not avail themselves of
federal jurisdiction until the mandate issues.
See TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art.
11.071(2)(e).
Both of those statutes cited above presuppose that Texas considers a case pending
until the mandate has issued.6 In fact, the Court of Criminal Appeals itself has said in a
different context that “[a] cause is pending until mandate is issued from this Court.”
Cuellar v. State, 521 S.W.2d 277, 280 (Tex. Crim. App. 1975) (direct appeal); see also
Stevenson v. State, 499 S.W.3d 842, 849 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016) (“[A] conviction with a
pending appeal is not final until the appellate court affirms the conviction and issues its
mandate.”).
With that understanding of state law, the Court holds that, in a capital habeas case
set for submission, a case is pending for the purposes of section 2244(2) until the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals issues an mandate. The Court emphasizes that this holding is
limited to capital habeas cases set for submission and does not apply to traditional habeas
actions.
6
Respondent correctly observes that Texas law does not permit the filing of a motion for rehearing or other
similar pleading after the habeas court issues a decision. TEX. R. APP. P. Rule 79.2(d). The Fifth Circuit has held,
however, that filing a motion for reconsideration tolls the limitations period. Lookingbill v. Cockrell, 293 F.3d 256,
261 (5th Cir. 2002); Emerson v. Johnson, 243 F.3d 931, 934 (5th Cir. 2001). The decision of the Court of Criminal
Appeals cannot be the unwaivering point of finality if a disallowed subsequent motion for reconsideration tolls the
federal limitations period.
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Here, the Court of Criminal Appeals set Ramey’s case for submission and, after
rendering a decision, issued a mandate on December 4, 2012. Ramey filed his skeletal
petition within a year afterward. Ramey’s skeletal habeas petition was timely.
II.
Timely Claims in Amended Petition
Even though Ramey’s initial petition was timely, he raised new claims in his
amended petition. Respondent argues that only claims four, six, and seven were included
in the skeletal petition. Respondent says that the Court cannot reach the remaining
claims in Ramey’s amended petition because they do not “relate back” to his initial
arguments.
Under Rule 15(c)(1)(B), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, an amended pleading
relates back to the date of the original pleading when “the amendment asserts a claim or
defense that arose out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set out – or attempted to
be set out – in the original pleading.” The Supreme Court has construed this provision
narrowly when applied to federal habeas corpus cases. Only those claims in an amended
petition filed after the AEDPA deadline that are tied to “a common core of operative
facts” will relate back to the original petition and will be considered timely filed. Mayle
v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644, 664 (2005). Habeas claims do not relate back “when [they]
assert[] a new ground for relief supported by facts that differ in both time and type from
those the original pleading set forth.” Id. at 650.
As previously noted, Respondent concedes that claims four, six, and seven relate
back to the skeletal petition. The remaining claims fall into two categories. First, the
amended petition contains several claims that Ramey did not raise in state court or in his
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skeletal petition. Specifically, Ramey did not exhaust portions of claim two and all of
claims five, eight, ten, and eleven in state court. Those claims do not share a common
core of operative facts with the skeletal petition. Ramey did not file them in a timely
manner.
Second, Ramey’s amended petition contains some claims that he exhausted in
state court (part of claim two and claims one, three, and nine). Ramey’s initial petition
mentioned in a footnote that he intended to “incorporate[ ]into his claims for relief the
claims filed in his direct appeal brief and in his state habeas application . . . .” (Dkt. No.
7 at 4, n.1). The most generous reading of Ramey’s petition allows for federal review of
those claims.
Claims one, two, three, four, six, seven, and nine are timely.
III.
Equitable Tolling of Claims That Do Not Relate Back
Claims five, eight, ten, and eleven do not relate back to his initial petition. The
Court can only reach the merits of those claims if Ramey can show equitable tolling
forgives a strict application of the AEDPA limitations period. “Equitable tolling is
permissible only in ‘rare and exceptional circumstances.’” United States v. Wynn, 292
F.3d 226, 230 (5th Cir. 2002) (quoting Davis v. Johnson, 158 F.3d 806, 811 (5th Cir.
1998)). “To obtain the benefit of equitable tolling, [an inmate] must establish that (1) he
pursued habeas relief with ‘reasonable diligence’, and (2) some ‘extraordinary
circumstances’ stood in his way and ‘prevented’ timely filing.” Palacios v. Stephens, 723
F.3d 600, 604 (5th Cir. 2013) (quoting Manning v. Epps, 688 F.3d 177, 183 (5th Cir.
2012)); see also Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 649 (2010) (quoting Pace v.
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DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 418 (2005)). Both criteria must be satisfied, and a petitioner
seeking application of the doctrine bears the burden of showing that it should apply to
him. See Lawrence, 549 U.S. at 336.
Ramey argues that his initial federal attorneys’ representation should allow
equitable tolling of the limitations period. “[P]rofessional misconduct” by an attorney
may constitute an extraordinary circumstance warranting equitable tolling if the
misconduct is not a “garden variety claim of excusable neglect,” but rather is such that it
is “egregious behavior” equivalent to abandonment. See Holland, 560 U.S. at 649-53;
see also Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S. 266, 283 (2012).
The Court has reviewed Ramey’s extensive evidence and argument about the
representation of his initial set of federal habeas attorneys.7 To summarize, the federal
attorneys originally concluded that a federal petition was due on November 7, 2013. As
that date neared, Ramey claims that they abandoned him. The evidence, however, shows
that they became confused and assumed that the AEDPA deadline would include any
time from which Ramey could have sought Supreme Court review of his state habeas
action. See Lawrence, 549 U.S. at 332 (holding that the time to file a certiorari petition
from state habeas review does not toll the limitations period). When the attorneys
realized their mistake, they acted quickly and a skeletal petition was filed. The initial
attorneys also moved to withdraw. The skeletal petition that was filed, however, did not
include all the claims Ramey’s new attorneys later put in the amended petition.
7
The Court observes that Ramey lost months of the limitations period because federal habeas resource
counsel sought to secure representation without filing a federal motion for the appointment of counsel (as required
by state law). Ramey does not argue that the delay in filing a federal motion should toll the limitations period.
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Despite Ramey’s arguments, he has not shown that his federal attorneys left him
effectively without counsel.
They incorrectly assessed the filing date.
Simply
miscalculating a deadline is not grounds for equitable tolling. See Maples, 565 U.S. at
282; Holland, 560 U.S. at 651-52; Lawrence, 549 U.S. at 336. The record otherwise
shows that the initial attorneys made efforts to meet with their client, research the record,
and develop a federal petition consistent on a timeline based on their miscalculation. At
best, this is a case of garden variety negligence or error, not abandonment.
Importantly, Ramey’s arguments do not explain why anything but negligence
accounts for the fact that his attorneys did not include his new claims in the skeletal
petition. The omission of those claims is not “egregious” or “extraordinary” conduct that
would equitably toll the limitations period.
Holland, 560 U.S. at 649-50.
After
considering all of Ramey’s argument and evidence, the Court finds that he has not shown
a basis for equitable tolling. Claims five, eight, ten, and eleven are time barred.
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). How an inmate litigates his claims
determines the course of federal habeas adjudication. The exhaustion doctrine precludes
federal consideration of any claim raised for the first time in federal court. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(b)(1).8 As a corollary to exhaustion, the procedural-bar doctrine requires inmates
8
Ramey asks the Court to stay this case to raise any unexhausted claim in state court. Ramey has not shown
that a stay is proper under Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (2005), or that an avenue for state review is open to him.
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to litigate their claims in compliance with state procedural law. See Dretke v. Haley, 541
U.S. 386, 392 (2004); Lambrix v. Singletary, 520 U.S. 518, 523 (1997); Coleman v.
Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 729 (1991).
A federal court may review an inmate’s
unexhausted or procedurally barred claims only if he shows: (1) cause and actual
prejudice; or (2) that “a constitutional violation has ‘probably resulted’ in the conviction
of one who is ‘actually innocent[.]’” Haley, 541 U.S. at 393 (quoting Murray v. Carrier,
477 U.S. 478, 496 (1986)).
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. 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). “[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
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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) (Miller-El I). “[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).
Federal courts 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).
The Court of Criminal Appeals
summarily denied habeas relief on all but one claim. In evaluating Ramey’s claims under
AEDPA, the federal courts will “look through” the “summary denial of [Ramey’s state
habeas application] and evaluate the state trial court’s reasoned decision.” Brumfield v.
Cain, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2276 (2015) (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S.
797, 806 (1991)). 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.
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Thaler, 399 F. App’x. 884, 891 (5th Cir. 2010); Clark v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 760, 764 (5th
Cir. 2000).9
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, as the non-retroactivity principle of Teague v. Lane, 489
U.S. 288 (1989) that prevents habeas courts from creating new constitutional law.
ANALYSIS
I.
The State Violated Ramey’s Right to Equal Protection by Systematically
Excluding Jurors Based on Their Race. (Claim One)
Ramey’s first claim alleges that the prosecutor systematically excluded African-
Americans from serving on his jury. The jury selection process in this case involved the
questioning of individual jurors from two jury panels. The 135-member initial venire
dire contained seven African-American individuals. Five of those potential jurors were
dismissed for cause, and two were excused because they were distant relatives of Ramey.
The parties did not select any African-American jurors from the first panel. When the
trial court called a second panel, eight jurors were already seated. Of the forty-nine
member second panel, six were African-American.
9
Section 2254(e)(2) authorizes evidentiary hearings under narrow conditions. No evidentiary hearing is
necessary to adjudicate Ramey’s petition.
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When members of the second panel assembled in the courtroom, four AfricanAmerican potential jurors sat toward the front of the courtroom.
The prosecutor
requested a jury shuffle,10 which left only two African-American prospective jurors
among those who would eventually be questioned before the jury was selected. After the
jury shuffle, African-American veniremember Cheryl Steadham-Scott was the second
juror questioned. The State removed Ms. Steadham-Scott by peremptory strike. The
next juror questioned was also African-American but she was dismissed for cause.
No African-American jurors served at trial.
Ramey contends that the State
systematically excluded jurors based on their race in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476
U.S. 79 (1986).
Under Batson, the prosecution violates the equal protection clause by striking
potential jurors based on race. Batson jurisprudence has established a three-step burden
shifting scheme to ascertain the State’s intent when striking members of a protected
category:
First, the trial court must determine whether the defendant has made a
prima facie showing that the prosecutor exercised a peremptory challenge
on the basis of race. Second, if the showing is made, the burden shifts to
the prosecutor to present a race-neutral explanation for striking the juror in
question. Although the prosecutor must present a comprehensible reason,
the second step of this process does not demand an explanation that is
persuasive, or even plausible; so long as the reason is not inherently
discriminatory, it suffices. Third, the court must then determine whether
the defendant has carried his burden of proving purposeful discrimination.
This final step involves evaluating the persuasiveness of the justification
proffered by the prosecutor, but the ultimate burden of persuasion regarding
10
Texas provides that either party, based solely upon visual inspection of the venire, may request the court to
shuffle or randomly reseat the entire panel. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art. 35.11. Both the State and the defendant
have the absolute right to one jury shuffle. Smith v. State, 648 S.W.2d 695, 696 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983).
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racial motivation rests with, and never shifts from, the opponent of the
strike.
Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338 (2006) (quotations and citations omitted); see also
Johnson v. California, 545 U.S. 162, 168 (2005); Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 25152 (2005) (Miller-El II).
While Ramey contends that racism permeated jury selection, he only points to one
African-American prospective juror, Ms. Steadham-Scott, against whom the State used a
peremptory strike. Ramey challenged her strike in the appellate and habeas proceedings.
On appeal, Ramey claimed that the trial court did not properly engage in the Batson
procedure and that the prosecution shuffled the jury for racial purposes. Ramey’s habeas
application faulted the State for not coming forward with a sufficient race-neutral
explanation for striking Ms. Steadham-Scott.
Ramey raises a robust Batson claim in federal court. Ramey contends that he can
show purposeful discrimination in the State’s exercise of peremptory strikes. Relying
primarily on inferences, Ramey (1) disputes the State’s reason for striking Ms. SteadhamScott; (2) argues that the prosecution used a jury shuffle to lessen the chance of receiving
an African-American juror; (3) points to a purported history of discrimination in Jackson
County criminal trials; and (4) asserts that the State questioned the African-American
jurors differently. Ramey, however, only gave the state courts an opportunity to consider
the first two arguments.
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A.
The Questioning of Ms. Steadham-Scott
The prosecution used a peremptory strike against one black potential juror, Ms.
Steadham-Scott. After extensive questioning, the prosecution concluded by asking her
whether she could, as required by the future-dangerousness special issue, impose a death
sentence when “the only evidence was that it would be slightly more likely than not” that
“he will be dangerous in the future.” Tr. Vol. 29 at 77-78. Ms. Steadham-Scott said that
she would “need much more of a burden.” Tr. Vol. 29 at 78. The State then passed her.
Trial counsel began the defense’s question by “go[ing] over this last issue” with
her. Tr. Vol. 29 at 78. At that point, the prosecutor interrupted and said that he “was not
going to challenge [Ms. Steadham-Scott ] for cause.” Tr. Vol. 29 at 78. Trial counsel
then passed her without asking any additional questions. Tr. Vol. 29 at 79.
The prosecutor subsequently exercised a peremptory challenge against Ms.
Steadham-Scott without explanation. Tr. Vol. 29 at 79. The defense did not raise a
Batson objection then, but asked for the trial court to include her questionnaire in the
record. The trial court excused her.
Three weeks later, and after the jury had been selected but not yet sworn in, trial
counsel told the court:
just for a housekeeping matter, when we were doing the voir dire on the
jury and the supplemental panel, juror number two, which is Cheryl
Steadham-Scott, was peremptorily struck by the prosecution and we were
just wanting to note that the prosecution did not give any race neutral
explanations for that . . . .
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Tr. Vol. 30 at 9.11 The prosecutor then said:
it was my understanding that if I would have continued to pursue the line of
questioning, that juror would most likely been challengeable for cause, but
I didn’t do it because her questionnaire clearly indicated that she could not
impose the death penalty and there were many other racially neutral reasons
and, if the Court wants, I can try to go back and resurrect those notes.
Tr. Vol. 30 at 10. In short, the prosecution provided two race-neutral reasons: (1)
continuing the last line of questioning would have shown her to be challengeable for
cause and (2) she was not strong on the death penalty. The trial court said that it “was
comfortable with the record reflecting what it did with respect to that juror” and the
defense did not make any further objection. Tr. Vol. 30 at 10.
Because the prosecutor explained the peremptory strike of Ms. Steadham-Scott by
providing reasons that were not inherently discriminatory, the state courts found that this
process sufficiently complied with required Batson procedure.12 Ramey now argues that
the prosecutor’s explanation was a pretext for purposeful discrimination.
11
Ramey made his observation only minutes before the jury was sworn. Tr. Vol. 30 at 12. Under Texas law,
a Batson challenge is not timely if made after the jury is selected and sworn. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art.
35.261(a); Hill v. State, 827 S.W.2d 860, 864 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992). As explained by the Court of Criminal
Appeals, “[d]uring the discussion which followed, the State declared that it was unprepared for a Batson motion
since one was never requested, but claimed that Steadham-Scott’s answers to the prosecutor’s questions as well as
her juror questionnaire led to racially-neutral reasons for a peremptory strike, such as her ambivalence regarding
inflicting the death penalty.” Ramey, 2009 WL 335276, at *3.
12
The state habeas court, presided over by the same judge who oversaw the trial, made the following factual
findings relating to Ms. Steadham-Scott’s individual voir dire:
[T]he petitioner voiced no objection and raised no issue as to whether or not the State improperly
exercised a peremptory challenge. Twenty-one days after this prospective juror was peremptorily
struck by the prosecutor petitioners attorney pointed out that at the time of the exercise of this
peremptory challenge the prosecution did not give a race-neutral explanation for the challenge and
petitioner wanted that for the record. Since no objection was made at the time of the challenge of
this prospective juror and no Batson claim had been made the State did not have its notes and was
not prepared to address the race-neutral reasons for the strike because of the delay. However the
court recalled that there were issues which the State went into in the examination of this
prospective juror which would give rise to a peremptory strike and was comfortable with the
record showing that the strike was made for those purposes and not based upon any racial reason.
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This Court’s review “turns on factual determinations, and, in the absence of
exceptional circumstances, [courts] defer to state court factual findings unless we
conclude that they are clearly erroneous.” Synder, 552 U.S. at 477 (quotation omitted).
Ramey assumes that, because of racial bias, the prosecutor framed his questioning in a
way to disqualify Steadham-Scott from service. The state courts, however, found that
Ms. Steadham-Scott “was repeatedly unable to answer the State’s questions regarding her
ability to adjudge the death penalty, both in her jury questionnaire and during voir dire”:
When asked whether she understood the death penalty or whether she
would change it, she replied, “Yea. I don’t know how I would change it, but
– I don’t know how I would change it.” When asked if she believed in the
death penalty, she responded, “I mean, you’re asking me stuff like do I
believe in the death penalty. I don’t know if I believe in it, you know.” On
the jury questionnaire, she left blank the question, “Have you ever been
opposed to the death penalty?” and responded in another section on the
questionnaire that she was “not opposed or . . . in favor of it.”
Ramey, 2009 WL 335276, at *3.
The state habeas court also found that “Steadham-Scott’s standing on the death
penalty was very questionable and the peremptory challenge by the State was based upon
her inconclusive opinions on the death penalty and not upon her do identity as an
African-American.” State Habeas Record at 152. On that basis, the state habeas court
found that “the use of the State’s peremptory challenge was not based on racial
motivations.” State Habeas Record at 152.13 In fact, the state habeas court commented
State Habeas Record at 152. Ramey does not renew his state habeas challenge that the trial court did not sufficiently
perform the required Batson inquiry.
13
As the Court of Criminal Appeals observed on direct review, the “there was a brief allusion to race in the
jury questionnaire and then on [Ms. Steadham-Scott’s] individual voir dire . . . .” Ramey, 2009 WL 335276, at *3.
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that there was a “complete failure to show that there was any basis for a claim that the
challenge was racially motivated.” State Habeas Record at 152.
This is not a case where jury selection involved a definitive pattern of the
prosecution striking black jurors. Of the nine African-Americans identified on the jury
panels, six were dismissed for cause and two because they were relatives of Ramey. The
record does not demonstrate a stark disparity in the percentage of blacks peremptorily
struck as opposed to whites. The prosecutor provided race-neutral reasons for striking
Ms. Steadham-Smith.
On their face, the State’s reasons for dismissing Ms. Steadham-Smith are race
neutral. See Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 360. First, questioning immediately before the
peremptory strike raised serious concerns about Ms. Steadham-Smith’s ability to impose
the correct burden on the future-dangerousness issue. See Muniz v. State, 851 S.W.2d
238, 250 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (requiring the State only to prove that the defendant
“would, more likely than not, commit violent criminal acts in the future”). Second, some
of Ms. Steadham-Scott’s answers supported the prosecutor’s belief that “she could not
impose the death penalty”: she did not know if she believed in the death penalty, she was
ambivalent toward capital punishment, and was neither opposed to or in favor of it. Tr.
Vol. 29 at 64-66. She also did not answer questions such as whether she had previously
been opposed to the death penalty. Tr. Vol. 29 at 66. While elsewhere she said that she
Ramey argues that the prosecutor asked questions about capital punishment and then “abruptly shifted course and
began asking her about her experience as an African American.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 45). In reality, the prosecutor was
reviewing Ms. Steadham-Scott’s jury questionnaire and, moving from the pages talking about capital punishment,
came to the section where she had answered that she had “feelings about African Americans being treated fairly.”
Tr. Vol. 29 at 69. The prosecution then engaged her in questioning that allowed her to explain her answer,
particularly because she specified that she “[ran] into issues like that all the time at work.” Tr. Vol. 29 at 69-70.
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would “have to be fair and open” about reaching a decision, Tr. Vol. 29 at 65, the record
reasonably supports the prosecution’s belief that she would not be favorable to
considering a death sentence.
Even though the record does not strongly question the State’s motives here, courts
may consider relevant facts and circumstantial evidence to assess possible discriminatory
intent. Ramey relies on other inferences to prove that the State engaged in purposeful
discrimination: the use of a jury shuffle, an alleged history of discrimination in Jackson
County, and disparate questioning.
B.
The Jury Shuffle
Ramey argues that the State’s use of the jury shuffle shows that it intended to keep
African-Americans off the jury. A jury shuffle may suggest discrimination. See Snyder
v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472, 478 (2008); Miller-El II, 545 U.S. at 254-55. Ramey argues
that the State used a jury shuffle on the second panel because “most of the African
American veniremembers were seated towards the front of the panel.” (Dkt. No. 30 at
52).
Ramey argued to the state courts that the jury shuffle itself amounted to a Batson
violation.
Trial counsel asked for a race-neutral explanation when the prosecutor
requested a jury shuffle. While Ramey did not make a classic Batson challenge, the trial
court nonetheless required the prosecution to explain why it had asked for a jury shuffle.
The prosecutor told the court:
I have individuals here in Victoria who have assisted me in going through
the list and given me information about the prospective jurors . . . . I have
gotten that information from a number of different individuals. And in
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doing that I looked at this list and the overwhelming majority of the folks
that they had suggested would be good State’s jurors were towards the back
of the panel. And so in light of that I requested a shuffle . . . . I will tell the
Court as an officer of the Court that those individuals, probably 75–80
percent of the ones they had told me would be good State’s jurors were
towards the back. And so that’s why I asked for a shuffle.
Tr. Vol. 21 at 20. The defense did not make any other argument, and the trial court
recessed without making an express ruling.
The Court of Criminal Appeals found that the trial counsel “implicitly denied
[Ramey] relief” on his jury selection complaint which means that it believed that “[t]he
explanation proffered by the State” was “sufficiently race-neutral.” Ramey, 2009 WL
335276, at *2. Ramey has not shown clear and convincing evidence to rebut the state
court’s finding that the State did not use the jury shuffle for racial reasons. See Young v.
Dretke, 356 F.3d 616, 629 (5th Cir. 2004) (“As a federal habeas court, we are bound by
the state habeas court’s factual findings, both implicit and explicit.”).
C.
History of Exclusion and Comparative Juror Analysis
For the first time in federal court, Ramey also asks the Court to consider other
factors to show that the State exercised its peremptory strike against Ms. Steadham-Scott
on the basis of race. Ramey particularly emphasizes historical discrimination in Jackson
County and disparate questioning of African-American potential jurors by the prosecutor.
Ramey’s failure to raise these issues previously deprived the state courts from the
opportunity to consider his arguments.
In arguing that prosecutors in Jackson county have historically excluded AfricanAmerican jurors, Ramey relies heavily on Hernandez v. State, 347 U.S. 475 (1954), a
28 / 77
case in which the Supreme Court found that had been a systematic exclusion from jury
service in Jackson County. Ramey also says “[u]pon information and belief, the racial
discrimination present in this case is not an isolated incident and [the District Attorney]
has employed similar discriminatory tactics throughout his tenure . . . .” (Dkt. No. 30 at
57). Ramey, however, has not provided any evidence of a systematic racism in jury
selection by the prosecutor’s office in recent years. Ramey’s reliance on case from more
than sixty years ago and his bare supposition about current racism cannot overcome the
deference paid to state court adjudications.
Without any other basis to support his Batson claim, Ramey tries to show “a
comparative analysis of the jurors – that is, ‘side-by-side comparisons of some black
venire panelists who were struck and white panelists allowed to serve.” United States v.
Minor, 698 F. App’x 765, 768 (5th Cir. 2017) (quoting Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231,
241 (2005) (“Miller-El II”)). If the government’s explanation “for striking a black
panelist applies just as well to an otherwise-similar nonblack who is permitted to serve,
that is evidence tending to prove purposeful discrimination to be considered at Batson’s
third step.” Miller-El II, 545 U.S. at 241.
Ramey has not identified any jurors from his trial who, like Ms. Steadham-Smith,
displayed difficulty with imposing the burden for the future-dangerousness issue.
Instead, Ramey’s argument tries to show that the prosecution treated African-American
jurors differently during questioning about the death penalty. In particular, Ramey points
to two white jurors, Marjorie Jean and Carol Laza, who were selected to serve despite
leaving some answers blank on their questionnaire and expressing that they did not
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understand the death penalty. (Dkt. No. 30 at 44-45). Despite some similarities in how
they answered the jury questionnaire, questioning of both Jurors Jean and Laza confirmed
that they would be able to return a death sentence. Tr. Vol. 29 at 90-120; Tr. 29 at 15058. Even after questioning, Ms. Steadham-Smith could not say that she believed in
capital punishment. Tr. Vol. 29 at 64-66. Ramey has not identified jurors who gave such
ambivalent responses during questioning. Although he attempts to point out discrepancies
in the State’s questioning, his arguments about disparate questioning are not compelling.
Ramey has simply not shown that the prosecutor’s proffered reason for striking Ms.
Steadham-Smith “applies just as well to an otherwise-similar nonblack [panelist] who is
permitted to serve, [thus] . . . tending to prove purposeful discrimination.” Miller-El II,
545 U.S. at 241.
D.
Conclusion of the Batson Claim
This Court’s role is “to determine whether the trial court’s determination of the
prosecutor’s neutrality with respect to race was objectively unreasonable and has been
rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.” Miller-El I, 537 U.S. at 341.
State court review centered on the integrity of the prosecutor’s reason for striking Ms.
Steadham-Scott, and to a lesser extent whether the jury shuffle showed racism. With the
record and argument in state court, significant and binding state factual findings found no
impropriety in the prosecutor’s peremptory removal of jurors, and particularly the
peremptory strike against Ms. Steadham-Scott.
Ramey’s more extensive briefing on federal review does not make a stronger case
of purposeful discrimination by the State. Taken as a whole, Ramey has not made a
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persuasive argument that the State struck Ms. Steadham-Scott, or otherwise treated
potential jurors differently, because of race.
Ramey has not provided clear and
convincing evidence that the state court factfindings were incorrect, 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(e)(1), nor shown that its decision was unreasonable, 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2). See
Davis v. Ayala, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 2187, 2199 (2015) (emphasizing AEDPA’s
impact on Batson claims).
II.
Trial Counsel Provided Ineffective Representation During Jury Selection.
(Claim Two)
In his second claim, Ramey argues that trial counsel provided deficient
representation during jury selection in four ways. First, Ramey claims that trial counsel
did not ask potential jurors the right questions. Second, Ramey argues that his attorneys
should not have agreed to dismiss many venire members without questioning. Third,
Ramey claims that trial counsel ineffectively questioned one specific potential juror.
Finally, Ramey argued that trial counsel did not object when the State misstated the law.
Respondent argues that Ramey did not exhaust the third argument in state court.
A.
Strickland Standard
Courts evaluate an attorney’s efforts under the standard from Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (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).
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A court’s review “of counsel’s performance must be highly deferential,” and made
without “the distorting effects of hindsight.”
Id. at 689.
Courts assess counsel’s
“challenged conduct on the facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s
conduct[,]” because otherwise “[i]t is all too tempting for a defendant to second-guess
counsel’s assistance . . . .” Id. The law honors an attorney’s “conscious and informed
decision on trial tactics and strategy,” allowing for federal relief only when “it is so ill
chosen that it permeates the entire trial with obvious unfairness.” Cotton v. Cockrell, 343
F.3d 746, 752-53 (5th Cir. 2003). The prejudice element requires the movant to show
that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. “A
reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.” Id.
The state courts rejected many of Ramey’s Strickland claims.
While
“[s]urmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an easy task,” a habeas petitioner’s duty to
“[e]stablish[] that a state court’s application of Strickland was unreasonable under §
2254(d) is all the more difficult.” Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 371 (2010). “The
standards created by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both highly deferential, . . . and when
the two apply in tandem, review is doubly so.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 105 (citation
omitted); see also Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111, 123 (2009).
B.
Questioning about Bias
Ramey argues that trial counsel “(1) failed to ask life-qualifying questions and
assert cause challenges for jurors who demonstrated obvious bias and inability to follow
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the law, and (2) failed to rehabilitate and agreed to excuse jurors who expressed a
reservation to the death penalty, without any voir dire.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 66). Despite
making general allegations about deficiencies during voir dire, Ramey only provides
briefing on the questioning of four jurors (Craig Ullmann, Jose Loredo, Sharon Reynolds,
and Nancy Wind).
Respondent contends that much of Ramey’s second claim involves “nitpicking” of
trial counsel’s questioning. (Dkt. No. 40 at 121). Ramey challenged trial counsel’s voir
dire questioning on state habeas review. The state habeas court found that his arguments
“are simply based upon tactics expressed with generality and with no specific allegation
of specific conduct which constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. In regard to these
claims the court finds that the record simply does not support [Ramey’s] allegations of
ineffective assistance of counsel.” State Habeas Record at 155.
While “[v]oir dire plays a critical function in assuring the criminal defendant that
his constitutional right to an impartial jury will be honored,” Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S.
719, 729 (1992) (quotation omitted), “no hard-and-fast formula dictates the necessary
depth or breadth of voir dire.” Skilling v. United States, 561 U.S. 358, 362 (2010). Not
every attorney will conduct voir dire in the same manner. The mere fact that another
attorney might have asked different questions will not support a finding of ineffective
assistance. See Garza v. Stephens, 738 F.3d 669, 676 (5th Cir. 2013) (“Moreover, Garza
cites no authority, and we have found none, that would require a defense attorney to ask
specific questions at voir dire.”). Indeed, a defense attorney’s method of voir dire is
strategic, and thus it “cannot be the basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
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unless counsel’s tactics are shown to be so ill chosen that it permeates the entire trial with
obvious unfairness.” Teague v. Scott, 60 F.3d 1167, 1172 (5th Cir. 1995) (quotation
omitted). Further, a petitioner “alleging deficient performance during jury selection must
identify any particular juror who was in fact prejudiced and must establish that had
counsel’s questioning focused on a specific area of bias, the bias would have been
found.” Villanueva v. Stephens, 555 F. App’x 300, 306 (5th Cir. 2014). This Court’s
review will center on whether additional questioning by counsel would have made the
four jurors subject to removal by cause.
1.
Ullman
Ramey argues that two jurors (Ullman and Loredo) were biased because they
would “automatically impose” a death sentence. (Dkt. No. 30 at 67). The prosecution
engaged Ullman in wide-ranging questioning. When the prosecutor passed Ullman, trial
counsel only asked for clarification on his jury questionnaire response that he was “in
favor in [sic] capital punishment except in a few cases where it may not be appropriate.”
Tr. Vol. 9 at 213.
Ullman said: “I would say that that would play towards the
circumstances involved around the case. How could I be more specific? Cases where the
person may have been legally insane or not mentally capable of knowing what they were
doing.” Tr. Vol. 9 at 213. Afterwards, trial counsel told the trial court that “after
consultation with the client, . . . the Defense accepts this juror.” Tr. Vol. 9 at 214.
Ramey faults trial counsel for not asking Ullman more questions.
Ramey,
however, does not acknowledge the State’s earlier questioning that explored Ullman’s
opinions and ability to serve as a juror in a capital case. Ullman said that he would
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consider all of the evidence before deciding whether a death sentence was appropriate.
Tr. Vol. 9 at 183. His answers showed that he understood the presumption of innocence
and reasonable-doubt standard. Tr. Vol. 9 at 191-95 Nothing in Ullman’s questioning by
the State would give rise to a challenge for cause.
2.
Loredo
Trial counsel engaged Juror Loredo in much longer questioning. A full review of
the defense questioning, however, shows that he was not necessarily an unfavorable
juror. Pursuant to trial counsel’s questions, Loredo said he was “conservative” on some
issues and “liberal on some issues” such as being “pro choice.” Tr. Vol. 17 at 68.
Loredo explained that he had a friend accused of a killing and the thought of being a
witness in that case made him worry that he could not deal with being the one whose
testimony “is what actually sends him to prison.” Tr. Vol. 17 at 71. Loredo told trial
counsel that, on a scale of one to ten with one being against capital punishment and ten
being positively in favor of it, he was a “seven.” Tr. Vol. 17 at 76.
Ramey emphasizes an answer in which Loredo said he would “favor” the death
penalty. Tr. Vol. 17 at 80. Even when Loredo said he “favored” the death penalty, he
clarified that he only meant that he “believed in it” and his opinion on the death penalty
would not affect his ability to consider the evidence. Tr. Vol. 17 at 80. Loredo, in fact,
expressed a willingness to impose a life sentence “if a single mitigating factor were
presented to [him].” Tr. Vol. 17 at 81. Given the exhaustive questioning by the defense,
Ramey’s emphasis on one answer misrepresents trial counsel’s efforts and
mischaracterizes the juror’s ability to be impartial.
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3.
Reynolds
Similarly, Ramey picks out some elements from Juror Reynolds’ questioning that
he says made her biased toward law enforcement. For instance, Juror Reynolds said that
her favorite television program was “Law & Order” and that she worked as a 911
dispatcher. Juror Reynold’s discussion about her favorite television program did not
reveal any pro-prosecution bias. Tr. Vol. 13 at 103. Trial counsel’s questioning, also,
revealed that her experiences through her employment would help her “be a fair juror to
both sides, you know, to listen to all that is said and see that everything that’s being said.”
Tr. Vol. 13 at 100-01.14
Ramey somewhat misconstrues Ms. Reynolds’ answers to questions about the
death penalty. For instance, he criticizes trial counsel for not striking for her “pro death
penalty ideation” based on a statement that “inmates are on death row for too long,” but
does not quote her actual statement which reflected compassion for the inmates: “it’s, I
would think, a very hard place to be, never knowing . . . how long you’re going to be
there or . . . if you’re going to make it to your actual execution date . . . for being in the
system. You hear of . . . people not actually making it to the execution date, you know.
You live with that stuff every day.”
Tr. Vol. 13 at 99.
Ms. Reynolds signaled
compassion that a reasonable attorney could see as helping the defense. Ms. Reynolds’
14
Ramey relies on a post-judgment affidavit from Ms. Reynolds in which she expresses surprise at her
selection as a juror. Respondent argues that the Court cannot consider the affidavit under Rule 606(b) of the Federal
Rules of Evidence which specifically limits the admissibility of juror testimony during an inquiry into the validity of
a verdict. Here, however, the affidavit does not expressly fall within Rule 606(b)’s prohibition because it relates to
voir dire, not the juror’s statements, impressions, or reaction to outside factors directly impacting the “validity of a
verdict.” See Austin v. Davis, 647 F. App’x 477, 493 (5th Cir. 2016); see also Hatten v. Quarterman, 570 F.3d 595,
602-03 (5th Cir. 2009). The affidavit, however, is not useful because Ms. Reynolds does not express any actual
bias.
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jury questionnaire showed that she was “right in the middle” and able “to consider all the
choices, albeit life or death, and let the facts of the case and the facts of the defendant
decide it.” Tr. Vol. 13 at 69. Ramey has not shown that counsel needed to ask any
additional questions of Ms. Reynolds about the death penalty.
4.
Wind
Finally, Ramey contends that Juror Wind could not be impartial because of
knowing information about the case. Juror Wind said she had close ties with Edna,
Texas, the location of the murders. She read things in the paper about the case. She had
discussed the murders with others. Tr. Vol. 24 at 36. Trial counsel did not ask Juror
Wind if she had any bias, likely because Juror Wind had already told the prosecutor that
her true knowledge of the murders was spotty and that she had not formed an opinion
about the case. Tr. Vol. 24 at 33-34. Ramey has not shown that a reasonable attorney
should have asked her more questions.
In the end, Ramey has not shown that any of the challenged jurors harbored views
that would have resulted in dismissal for cause.
As the state habeas court found,
Ramey’s complaint “simply reveals claims that [his] trial counsel did not conduct the voir
dire in a manner in which [his] present counsel would conduct voir dire. . . . [A]ll of
these claims are simply based upon tactics . . . .” State Habeas Record at 155. Ramey
has not shown that trial counsel provided deficient performance, or that actual prejudice
resulted, from the questions he asked on voir dire.
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C.
Agreement to Excuse by Consent
The parties agreed to dismiss thirty-nine veniremembers based on their answers to
the written juror questionnaire, without any individual voir dire.15 Without identifying
which jurors he refers to, Ramey contends that “[a]t least 15 of those prospective jurors
who were ‘excused by agreement’ were clearly not challengeable for cause based on their
answers to the questionnaire.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 75). Ramey contends that trial counsel’s
failure to require adequate questioning of those jurors violated his rights.
No authority requires all potential jurors to be questioned. Texas law allows
excusal by the consent of parties. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PRO. art. 35.05. Here, Ramey
does not allege that the summary excusals were based on race or any impermissible factor
other than individual feelings about the death penalty. Ramey does not specify which
potential jurors were removed by consent, but could have been rehabilitated with
additional questioning. Even if trial counsel agreed to remove all jurors unequivocally
opposed to or in favor of a death sentence, such an approach falls within an area reserved
traditionally for strategic decision making. See Teague, 60 F.3d at 1172. Ramey has not
shown Strickland deficient performance or prejudice with regard to this claim.
15
It does not appear that Ramey exhausted this portion of his claim in state court. Respondent, however, does
not move for dismissal of the claim on that basis.
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D.
Dismissal of Mary Natividad
Ramey argues that trial counsel allowed potential juror Mary Natividad to be
excused without any voir dire. The parties agreed to dismiss Ms. Natividad based only
on her questionnaire showing general opposition to the death penalty. Tr. Vol. 16 at 21.
When the State observed that Ms. Natividad answered that “she not only has been
opposed to the death penalty now, but she has been opposed in the past,” trial counsel
responded, “[a]s much as I would like for her to be here, she is really on absolutes.” Tr.
Vol. 16 at 21.
Because Ramey did not exhaust this portion of his claim in state court, it is
procedurally barred. The Court, however, alternatively finds that Ramey’s briefing on
this matter does not strongly show deficient performance or prejudice in trial counsel’s
choice to allow dismissal of Ms. Natividad. Trial counsel could tactically agree to her
excusal for various reasons, none of which would questionably result from deficient legal
performance. Ramey has not shown that he can overcome the procedural bar or that this
argument merits relief.
E.
The Prosecutor’s Alleged Misstatements of Law
Finally, Ramey contends that trial counsel provided deficient performance by not
objecting when the prosecutor misstated the law.16 The prosecutor repeatedly told jurors
that the mitigation special issue was the only opportunity to give mitigating evidence any
effect. Under Texas law, however, a jury can consider and give effect to some mitigating
16
Again, it is not clear that Ramey exhausted this portion of his claim. Respondent, however, does not ask
for dismissal on exhaustion grounds.
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evidence through the future dangerousness special issue. See Scheanette v. Quarterman,
482 F.3d 815, 826 n.64 (5th Cir. 2007) (listing several categories of evidence that jurors
can consider under the future-dangerousness issue). Ramey has shown that trial counsel
probably missed a viable objection and an opportunity to provide jurors a correct
understanding of the law.
Even if the prosecution misstated the law, a great deal of time had passed and
much had happened before the jury deliberated Ramey’s punishment. The jury had heard
significant evidence and argument in both phases of trial, making it unlikely they
remembered the complained-of statements. The Court is “skeptical that, by the time their
. . . deliberations began, the jurors would have remembered the explanations given during
voir dire, much less taken them as a binding statement of the law.” Penry v. Johnson, 532
U.S. 782, 801 (2001).
Jurors had a full ability to give effect his evidence under the mitigation special
issue which ameliorated any harm from the prosecutor’s misstatement. At any rate,
before deliberations began, the trial court correctly instructed jurors on how to consider
the evidence in answering the special issues. Because courts presume that juries will
follow their instructions, see Zafiro v. United States, 506 U.S. 534, 540 (1993);
Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 209 (1987), the jury charge cured any error during
voir dire. See Styron v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 438, 454 (5th Cir. 2001) (finding that, despite
prosecutor’s misstatement of the law during voir dire, there was no constitutional error
because the court properly instructed the jury in accordance with law).
Given the
significant amount of time, evidence, and testimony that the jury had to consider after
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hearing the prosecutor’s statements, and in light of the correct jury instructions, “[t]he
comments of . . . counsel during voir dire were surely a distant and convoluted memory
by the time the jurors began their deliberations on . . . [Ramey’s] sentence.” Penry, 532
U.S. at 802. Ramey has not shown Strickland error with regard to this portion of claim
two.
In sum, Ramey has not shown any constitutional error with regard to claim two,
much less that the state court’s adjudication of his claim was unreasonable.
III.
Juror Excluded for Expressing Reservations about the Death Penalty. (Claim
Three)
Ramey contends that his constitutional rights were violated “because
veniremember Laurilyn F. Warren was excluded from the jury simply because she
expressed reservations about the death penalty.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 80). 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). 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 state habeas court issued explicit
factual findings relating to Ms. Warren’s dismissal. This Court can grant federal habeas
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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).
While Ramey contends that Ms. Warren was dismissed “simply for expressing a
reservation about the death penalty” (Dkt. No. 30 at 80), the record reveals her concerns
about the death penalty were not the only, or even most important, reason the trial court
removed her for cause. At the beginning of her questioning, Ms. Warren said that she
was “definitely more opposed” to the death penalty than for it. Tr. Vol. 22 at 279, 290.
In subsequent questioning she said “depending on the circumstances [she] could vote for
a death penalty.” Tr. Vol. 22 at 291. “[B]ecause of [her] answers to the opposition to the
death penalty,” the prosecution then engaged Ms. Warren in questions about her ability to
consider the evidence under the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard.
Ms. Warren
subsequently provided waffling opinions about how she would consider evidence in a
capital case.
Ms. Warren told the prosecutor that she would hold the State to a higher standard
in a death case. Tr. Vol. 22 at 299. After trial counsel’s questioning rehabilitated her, Tr.
Vol. 22 at 301, Ms. Warren again said she would require a “greater quantum of proof” in
a capital case than another criminal action.
Tr. Vol. 22 at 309.
Trial counsel’s
subsequent questioning extracted that Ms. Warren “hope[d] that she could follow what
the Judge tells her to do” regarding the reasonable-doubt standard. Tr. Vol. 22 at 310.
The prosecution then challenged Ms. Warren for cause:
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The State:
Now this is the classic vacillating juror. She has
vacillated but she has clearly stated on at least two if
not three occasions that she would require a greater
burden of proof than beyond a reasonable doubt which
she would establish, and based on that the State would
challenge for cause.
Trial counsel:
Your Honor, I think in all due respect I think
that the prosecution tried to testify for the witness. The
witness said she could follow the standards. This is not
one that’s challengeable for cause, and if they want to
exercise a peremptory strike that’s fine, but this one’s
not challengeable for cause. This juror says she can
follow the law.
The Court:
Well, just in the interest of time if – would the State
want to proceed with more examination of the
witness?
The State:
Oh, absolutely, Judge
The Court:
Yeah.
The State:
There’s many other issues that I don’t think she would be able
to – I think she would probably fall on, but whatever.
The Court:
All right. The challenge is granted.
Tr. Vol. 22 at 310–311.
Here, Ramey contends that the trial court dismissed Warren because of her
opposition to the death penalty, but in reality her vacillation on the beyond-a-reasonabledoubt standard precluded her jury service. With regard to her dismissal on that ground,
the state habeas court found no error because “she would impose a greater burden of
proof upon the State in a capital murder case than in other cases.” State Habeas Record
at 148. Even though “upon questioning by [Ramey’s] trial counsel she testified she
would follow the law and the evidence,” after “further questioning by the State the
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venireperson again stated she would require a greater burden of proof in a death penalty
case.” State Habeas Record at 148. The state habeas court found that Warren “was the
classic vacillating juror and the State’s challenge for cause was granted because she had a
bias against a rule of law the State was entitled to rely upon in the trial of this cause.”
State Habeas Record at 148.
Here, the trial court could reasonably conclude that Warren would “frustrate the
State’s legitimate interest in administering constitutional capital sentencing schemes by
not following [her] oath[.]” Witt, 469 U.S. at 423. Ms. Warren went back-and-forth in
her answers, yet the best she could say is that she
“hope[d]” to apply the reasonable-doubt standard correctly. Tr. Vol. 20 at 309-10. As
the trial court clearly could have been “left with the definite impression that [Ms.
Warren] 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.
See Drew v. Collins, 964 F.2d 411, 417 (5th Cir. 1992) (finding no error in dismissing
juror who on occasions indicated that he would hold the State to a higher burden of proof
in a death case). The state habeas court’s rejection of this claim was not an unreasonable
determination of the facts. The Court will deny this claim.
IV.
Knowingly Presenting False Testimony and Suppressing Evidence. (Claim
Four)
Ramey’s fourth ground for relief raises three arguments: (1) the State presented
false testimony through trial witnesses Otis Santellana and Gerald Manzanalez; (2) the
State suppressed evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 82 (1963) relating
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to plea deals, pending charges, prior statements, and plea agreements for numerous
witnesses; and (3) the State violated Ramey’s constitutional rights by delaying the
signing of a witness’ plea agreement until after trial. Ramey did not exhaust any of these
arguments in state court. The unexhausted nature of these issues bars federal review
unless Ramey can show cause and prejudice. See Dretke v. Haley, 541 U.S. 386, 393
(2004).
Ramey summarily argues that “[t]he State’s misconduct, combined with the
ineffectiveness of Dr. Willie for failing to conduct an adequate pretrial investigation and
object to the testimony described below at trial, and the ineffectiveness of state appellate
counsel and state habeas counsel for failing to later raise these issues, all serve as the
‘cause and prejudice’ of any potential procedural default.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 88). In
reality, Ramey for the most part bases his procedural arguments on the merits of his
claims. Before turning to his arguments, and alternatively the merits, the Court makes
the following observations about Ramey’s cause-and-prejudice briefing.
First, ineffective assistance by his prior attorneys cannot forgive the procedural bar
of these issues. Ramey alleges that all his prior attorneys were ineffective for not raising
the barred claims, but does not provide specific briefing on how their efforts did not
comply with the deficient performance and actual prejudice prongs in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Ramey has not shown that his prior attorneys can
even serve as cause in this case. Appellate counsel cannot raise extra-record claims on
direct appeal. See Whitehead v. State, 130 S.W.3d 866, 872 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
The Supreme Court has said that ineffective assistance of habeas counsel can only
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forgive Strickland claims involving trial counsel’s representation. See Davila v. Davis,
___ U.S. ___, 137 S. Ct. 2058 (2017). Ramey cannot show cause by blaming his prior
attorneys for not raising these arguments.
Second, Ramey largely briefs the “cause” component without providing any
briefing specifically addressing the “actual prejudice” requirement.
In this circuit,
“actual prejudice” requires the petitioner to “establish not merely that the errors at his
trial created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his actual and substantial
disadvantage, infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional dimensions.” Moore v.
Quarterman, 534 F.3d 454, 463 (5th Cir. 2008); see also Hernandez v. Stephens, 537 F.
App’x 531, 542 (5th Cir. 2013); Barrientes v. Johnson, 221 F.3d 741, 769 (5th Cir.
2000). Ramey simply assumes that the merits of the claim justifies finding cause and
prejudice. Ramey, however, does not provide specific briefing on actual prejudice.
The Court will review whether Ramey has otherwise overcome the procedural bar
or, alternatively, whether this claim has merit.
A.
False Testimony
Ramey argues that the prosecution presented false evidence at trial. In Napue v.
Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269 (1959), the Supreme Court explained that the prohibition
against false testimony is “implicit in any concept of ordered liberty.” See also Giglio v.
United States, 405 U.S. 150, 154 (1972). “In order to establish a Napue violation, the
defendant must show (1) the statements in question are actually false; (2) the prosecution
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knew that the statements were false; and (3) the statements were material.” United States
v. Haese, 162 F.3d 359, 365 (5th Cir. 1998). Ramey argues that “[t]he State knowingly
presented false testimony from several witnesses,” (Dkt. No. 30 at 87), but only provides
argument concerning witnesses Gerald Manzanalez and Otis Santellana.
1.
Manzanalez
Manzanalez testified that he helped Ramey and Christopher Times break into
Kenneth Nairn’s residence and steal firearms. After the murder, Ramey told Manzanalez
that he threw two of the stolen pistols “off the dam.” Tr. Vol. 31 at 31. The State used
Manzanalez’s testimony, along with that from Times, to tie Ramey to the murder
weapons.
During his trial testimony, the prosecution asked Manzanalez if he had “any kind
of deal, or anything worked out as far as you getting something for your testimony
today?” Tr. Vol. 31 at 17. Manzanalez answered, “No.” Tr. Vol. 31 at 17. Ramey
argues that “Manzanalez was less than forthcoming” because “[d]uring a 2014 interview
with Petitioner’s investigator, Mr. Manzanalez stated that he was aware that the State had
offered a lenient disposition of his pending burglary charges, in exchange for his
testimony – before he testified at Mr. Ramey’s trial.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 90).
Ramey claims that the prosecution should have corrected Manzanalez’s testimony.
“The prosecution must . . . reveal the contents of plea agreements with key government
witnesses.” California v. Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 485 (1984) (citing Giglio v. United
States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)).
Ramey has developed evidence suggesting that
Manzanalez had received a plea offer from the State, though he had not yet formalized
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the deal. Manzanalez has provided an affidavit in which he says that the State made him
a plea offer for the charges stemming from his involvement in the Nairn robbery. (Dkt.
No. 30, Ex. 65). He was “sure that [he] knew” of the deal before testifying or, in his
words, “I would not have testified against [Ramey] had I not understood that I would get
a deal.” (Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 65).
Ramey supports this argument with criminal history records showing that the State
indicted Manzanalez for several charges before trial, but he pleaded guilty fifty-one days
after trial with a recommendation if he agreed “to testify truthfully against co-defendants
including . . . Ramey at any of Ramey’s trials, including capital murder trial.” (Dkt. No.
30, Ex. 62). Also, time records from Manzanalez’s attorneys show they had engaged in
plea negotiations six months before trial, though no contact with the prosecution resumed
until Manzanalez pleaded guilty.
As an initial matter, Ramey has not shown cause or prejudice to overcome the
procedural bar of this portion of his claim. Cause “constitut[es] something external to the
petitioner, something that cannot fairly be attributed to him, that impeded compliance
with the State’s procedural rule.” Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S. 266, 293 (2012). Ramey
contends that the State’s misconduct, ostensibly in suppressing evidence of the plea deal,
and ineffective representation by his former attorneys forgives his failure to raise this
claim. (Dkt. No. 30 at 88). The record, however, does not contain any evidence that the
State suppressed the information serving as a basis for this claim.
A diligent
investigation could have uncovered Manzanalez’s plea agreement, his attorneys’ time
records, and, presumably, his testimony as recorded in his affidavit. The record does not
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suggest that Ramey’s prior attorneys could not have uncovered the material his current
ones have discovered.
He has also not shown actual prejudice. Manzanalez’s testimony was important to
connect Ramey to the murder weapons. But it was not the only testimony that did so.
Norman and Times likewise testified about the robbery of the Nairn residence that put the
murder weapon in Ramey’s possession.17 Ramey told Bradford Butler that he stole guns
from the Nairn residence.
Other witnesses testified about Ramey’s disposal of the
weapon after the murders, including the individual who led the police to the weapon.
And, importantly, Ramey repeatedly told other people about his involvement in the
crime. Ramey has not shown that any failure to disclose the pending plea deal harmed
the defense. Ramey’s Napue claim relating to Manzanalez’s testimony is procedurally
barred.
Even if the Court could reach the merits of this issue, the Court would
alternatively deny relief because Ramey has not shown that any false testimony from
Manzanalez was material. Testimony is material if “in any reasonable likelihood [it
could] have affected the judgment of the jury.” Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154; see also Wearry
v. Cain, ___ U.S. ___, 136 S.Ct. 1002, 1006 (2016). The evidence supporting Ramey’s
conviction was solid. Manzanalez provided incriminating details, but significant other
testimony connected Ramey to the Nairn robbery and subsequent murders. Even if the
existence of a deal may have allowed jurors to view Manzanalez’s testimony with
skepticism, trial counsel told jurors that Manzanalez’s testimony “has no bearing on the
17
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The prosecutor referred to Manzanalez and Times together in closing arguments. Tr. Vol. 35 at 27, 73-76.
guilt or innocence on Mr. Ramey as to whether or not he committed the offense of capital
murder.” Tr. Vol. 35 at 29. Any false testimony about Manzanalez’s plea agreement was
not material to trial.
2.
Santellana
Ramey also contends that Otis Santellana testified falsely.
Santellana was
incarcerated in a cell near Ramey before trial. Santellana testified that Ramey disclosed
several details about the crime, including that Ramey shot one of the victims. Ramey
argues that Santellana provided false testimony when he said that law enforcement
officers did not ask him to talk to Ramey. Also, Ramey argues that the State fed
Santellana details about the crime.
As an initial matter, Ramey has also not overcome the procedural bar of this issue.
In addition to not showing any external impediment that would amount to cause, Ramey
has not shown actual prejudice. Santellana was one of a parade of witnesses who
described Ramey’s incriminating admissions.
Ramey told other witnesses, such as
Stacey Johnson, about the murders in much greater detail than he did Santellana.
Norman provided extensive testimony about Ramey’s role in the killings. Ramey has not
shown cause or actual prejudice to forgive the procedural bar of this portion of claim
four.
The Court observes, alternatively, that Ramey does not support his arguments
relating to Santellana with competent evidence. Ramey relies on two documents to
support this claim. First, Ramey relies on a document allegedly containing Santellana’s
account of jailors instructing him to secure information about the murders from Ramey.
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Ramey’s federal habeas investigator apparently drafted the document as an affidavit, but
Santellana would not sign it. (Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 69). While Ramey provides an affidavit
from his investigator vouching for the contents of the document, the unsigned document
still is not competent evidence.
Second, Ramey provides an affidavit from a jailor explaining events that happened
soon after Ramey was incarcerated. The jailor saw Santellana, who had a reputation for
being a “snitch,” in a long meeting with other jailors. Afterwards, “it was obvious what
was going on” because Santellana was heard asking Ramey questions about the murders.
(Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 67). The jailor’s affidavit, however, demonstrates that she lacks
personal knowledge about any agreement. The jailor’s statement that it was “completely
obvious . . . that [Santellana] was asked to get certain information from Ramey during
that meeting,” shows that she bases her opinion in conjecture, not knowledge.
Ramey, therefore, provides no competent evidence to substantiate his claim that
Santellana was an agent of the State when Ramey divulged details about the murder to
him. Without anything more than his own speculation, Ramey cannot show cause or
actual prejudice to overcome the procedural bar of this claim.
Alternatively, even considering his evidence, Ramey has failed to show that any
falsity in Santellana’s testimony was material. Ramey agues that “Santellana’s testimony
provided details that supported the State’s theory of the case, and was one of the few
coherent hearsay narratives.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 93). Santellana’s testimony was not the
only, and far from the most detailed, account of the crime. Ramey confessed to other
witnesses in jail. Ramey detailed various elements of his role in the crime to others
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before his incarceration. And Norman provided a complete description of the killings.
Even if he could show that the prosecution knowingly adduced false testimony from
Santellana, Ramey has not shown that it was material.
B.
Brady
Ramey argues that the prosecution violated his due process rights by suppressing
evidence. Specifically, Ramey argues that the prosecution suppressed: (1) prior criminal
offenses committed by witnesses Christopher Times, Kevin Childs, Otis Santellana,
Myron Hardaway, Jonathan Snyder, and LeJames Norman; (2) outstanding criminal
charges against Childs; (3) a prior statement that Santellana gave to investigators but was
turned over to the defense three days after his trial testimony; and (4) the fact that the
prosecution coerced Norman into testifying against Ramey by threatening to prosecute
his mother for aiding in his flight from prosecution.18
“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
18
Ramey also alleges that the prosecution suppressed the evidence discussed above. The Court’s discussion
relating to the false-evidence claim applies with equal force to any related Brady claim.
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bear the responsibility for failing to conduct a diligent investigation.”
Kutzner v.
Cockrell, 303 F.3d 333, 336 (5th Cir. 2002).
Ramey first contends that the State did not turn over information about various
witnesses’ prior criminal offenses and pending criminal charges. Ramey, however, does
not have any affirmative proof that the prosecution withheld information about witnesses’
prior crimes. Ramey has not secured any affidavit in which trial counsel expresses
surprise at the witnesses’ criminal convictions and other information that was not
discussed at trial. Instead, Ramey says that he reviewed trial and habeas counsel’s
records and did not find any information about the criminal convictions.
The State had an open file policy in this case. Tr. Vol. 3 at 14. The State sent the
defense a great deal of information, but also allowed the defense to visit and review the
prosecutor’s files. Tr. Vol. 4 at 4. Ramey has not shown that the prosecution kept
information about criminal histories secret. Ramey’s speculation does not give rise to a
Brady claim.
Moreover, the criminal convictions and charges at issue were matters of public
record. “Brady rights are not denied where the information was fully available to the
defendant and his reason for not obtaining and presenting such information was his lack
of reasonable diligence.” United States v. Dean, 722 F.2d 92, 95 (5th Cir. 1983); see also
United States v. Infante, 404 F.3d 376 387 (5th Cir. 2005) (holding no Brady violation
occurs where the complained of evidence is a matter of public record, obtainable upon
request). The fact that the witnesses were all currently jail inmates or had participated in
criminal acts with Ramey would have alerted the defense to research their criminal
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histories.19 The State, in fact, referred to some of the allegedly undisclosed offenses
during the inmates’ testimony. Tr. Vol. 34 at 93, 143-44, 190. For those reasons, Ramey
has not shown a Brady violation regarding the witnesses’ criminal records.
Next, Ramey argues that the police did not turn over a statement that Santellana
gave until three days after his trial testimony. Santellana gave the police voluntary
statements on December 13 and December 15, 2005. The defense had a copy of the
second statement, but did not receive the first until after Santellana had been returned to
TDCJ custody.
Ramey, however, has not shown that the failure to turn over the
December 13, 2005 statement was material. The parties discussed the issue and trial
counsel said that, even though the defense did not have the statement, the prosecution had
allowed the defense to review the notes an investigator had taken of the statement. (Dkt.
No. 30, Ex. 16 at 5). Trial counsel also said:
I have looked at that statement, and everything else. There are some
discrepancies between the first and the second statement of which, if we
decide that there’s enough of a discrepancy, we will address it with the
Court in a motion for new trial, if we feel that there is enough of a
discrepancy. If there’s not enough of a discrepancy, there will be no issue
with it at all.
(Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 16 at 4-5). Trial counsel did not file a motion for new trial or otherwise
describe what discrepancies exist between Santellana’s statements.
19
The record contains a defense exhibit labeled “trial witnesses” in which the defense noted that Norman and
Childs were in jail. Tr. Vol. 43, DX-4. Hardaway testified that he was in prison for burglary of a habitation. Tr.
Vol. 34 at 190. Snyder testified that he was in the Jackson County jail for a parole violation. Santellana testified
that he in TDCJ custody for escape, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a
felon. Only Times was not currently incarcerated, but was under deferred adjudication for his role in the Nairn
robbery. Tr. Vol. 31 at 48. Jurors could visibly see from their handcuffs and jail attire that the other witnesses had
committed crimes, and further details about those crimes would have taken little away from what credibility they
had.
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Likewise, Ramey makes no effort to show what differences exist between
Santellana’s statement and the trial testimony. Indeed, the best Ramey can say is that
“the suppressed statement may constitute impeachment evidence.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 102).
Ramey, however, provides no description of the alleged differences, much less briefing
on how that would have affected the fairness of his trial. Ramey has not sufficiently
briefed a Brady claim regarding Santellana’s prior police statements.
Finally, Ramey argues that the prosecution should have divulged that fact that it
coerced Norman into testifying against Ramey by threatening to prosecute his mother for
aiding in his escape. During his flight before arrest, Norman’s mother traveled to “the
U.S. and Mexico border to get [Norman] to return to Edna, Texas.” (Dkt. No. 30, Ex.
72). The district attorney later spoke with Norman’s mother and, she recounts: “I may
also have been told that I might be in trouble for my trip to the border.” (Dkt. No. 30, Ex.
72). Norman’s mother then avers:
Soon after the meeting with [the prosecutor] Mr. Bell and those other
people, I went to see my son LeJames in the Jackson County jail. LeJames
told me that Bobby Bell told him that he was going to put me, his mama, in
prison for 10 years for that trip to the border if LeJames didn’t cooperate
and testify in the capital cases that LeJames and Ker’Sean Ramey were
charged with.
(Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 72) (emphasis added). Respondent points out that Norman’s mother
provides only a hearsay recitation of the purported reason for which Norman chose to
testify. Such hearsay is an insufficient basis to craft a Brady claim.20 In this case,
20
In his own trial, Norman explained why he testified against Ramey. At no point in his testimony did he
suggest that he felt any degree of coercion from the State to do so. Norman v. Davis, No. V-012-cv-54, DE 10, Tr.
Vol. 95 at 108-163.
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Norman’s own testimony does not suggest that he testified from coercion, and the
hearsay laden affidavit is insufficient to show that prosecutorial coercion forced his
cooperation. Ramey has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural bar.
Alternately, this claim lacks merit.
C.
Delayed Signing of Santellana’s Plea Deal and the Confrontation
Clause
Ramey finally argues that the State violated the Confrontation Clause when it
“delayed the signing of Gerald Manzanalez’s plea agreement until after [his] trial had
concluded.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 110). Ramey contends that not disclosing the proposed plea
deal denied him the opportunity to cross-examine Manzanalez about its contents. This
argument lacks a sturdy factual or legal foundation. Ramey builds this claim on an
unproven factual premise, that the State intentionally halted Santellana’s plea
negotiations and then hid any information about them. The record instead suggests that
Santellana had not yet agreed to the terms of that deal when he testified. Ramey also
bases his argument on a false legal premise. Ramey concedes that “a plurality of the
Supreme Court has opined that the Confrontation Clause does not extend to a state’s
nondisclosure of evidence before trial.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 110, n.41); see Pennsylvania v.
Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 53 (1987). Federal habeas review is not the forum for the creation
of new constitutional law. Ramey’s proposed Confrontation Clause claim violates the
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non-retroactivity doctrine of Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, 301 (1989). Without a legal
or factual foundation, Ramey’s Confrontation Clause claim cannot overcome the
procedural bar or command habeas relief.
D.
Conclusion
This Court’s review of Ramey’s unexhausted arguments shows that (1) he has not
demonstrated cause and prejudice to overcome their procedural defects and (2) that they
lack merit. The Court will deny Ramey’s fourth ground for relief.
V.
Trial Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance During Pre-trial Investigation
and in the Guilt Phase. (Claim Six)
In a dense, meandering claim, Ramey faults numerous features of trial counsel’s
pre-trial investigation and guilt/innocence representation. Among arguments dealing
with failures in the development and presentation of evidence and testimony, Ramey
intersperses general criticism of his trial attorneys, and most particularly Willie. For
instance, Ramey contends that Willie’s schedule was overloaded and that he did not
spend enough time developing Ramey’s case. Federal law, however, does not require a
specific quantum of hours before a capital investigation is constitutionally adequate. The
Court’s concern is on what counsel did not investigate, develop, or present, and how that
would have made a difference.
Ramey’s sixth claims centers on three areas. First, Ramey contends that trial
counsel should have interviewed certain trial witnesses better, more-intensely challenged
Norman’s testimony, shown that the State deliberately used Santellana to secure
information against him, and sought exclusion of Myron Hardaway’s testimony. Second,
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Ramey claims that trial counsel failed to use readily available impeachment evidence,
particularly the criminal histories of witnesses Childs, Snyder, Times, Manzanalez, and
Ceasar. Finally, Ramey argues that trial counsel should have relied on a ballistics expert
to dispute the State’s evidence against him.
A.
Procedural Default Law
Ramey did not exhaust the allegations from his sixth claim in state court. The
Court of Criminal Appeals would apply its abuse-of-the-writ doctrine to keep Ramey
from raising those issues in a successive state habeas application, thus resulting in a
federal procedural bar. See Coleman, 501 U.S. at 736 n.1. The Court can forgive the
procedural bar if “the prisoner can demonstrate cause for the default and actual prejudice
as a result of the alleged violation of federal law . . . .” Id. at 750.
Ramey relies on Martinez v. Ryan, 566 U.S. 1 (2012), to argue that deficiencies in
state habeas counsel’s representation provide cause. A federal habeas petitioner relying
on Martinez must make three important showings before the Court can consider the
underlying defaulted Strickland claim. First, an inmate must show that “his claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel at trial is substantial – i.e., has some merit . . . .” Cantu
v. Davis, 665 F. App’x 384, 386 (5th Cir. 2016); see also Allen v. Stephens, 805 F.3d 617,
626 (5th Cir. 2015).
Second, an inmate must “show that habeas counsel was ineffective” for not raising
the underlying Strickland claim. Garza, 738 F.3d at 676. A court applies traditional
Strickland jurisprudence and “indulge[s] a strong presumption that [habeas] counsel’s
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Strickland,
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466 U.S. at 689. Courts recognize that habeas counsel “‘who files a merits brief need not
(and should not) raise every nonfrivolous claim, but rather may select from among them
in order to maximize the likelihood of success on appeal.’” Vasquez v. Stephens, 597 F.
App’x 775, 780 (5th Cir. 2015) (quoting Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 288 (2000)). In
order to prove ineffective assistance, the defendant must demonstrate that “‘a particular
nonfrivolous issue was clearly stronger than issues that counsel did present.’” Vasquez,
597 F. App’x at 780 (quoting Robins, 528 U.S. at 288).
Third, even after showing cause flowing from habeas counsel’s representation, an
inmate still must demonstrate “actual prejudice.” Canales v. Stephens, 765 F.3d 551, 571
(5th Cir. 2014); see also Martinez,132 S.Ct. at 1321 (remanding for an assessment of
actual prejudice).
The Fifth Circuit has held that, even after showing cause under
Martinez, an inmate must show actual prejudice by “establish[ing] not merely that the
errors at his trial created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his actual and
substantial disadvantage, infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional
dimensions.” Hernandez, 537 F. App’x at 542; see also Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S.
478, 488 (1986); United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 170 (1982). At a minimum,
actual prejudice requires an inmate to show a reasonable probability that he would have
been granted state habeas relief had his habeas counsel’s performance not been deficient.
See Barbee v. Davis, 660 F. App’x 293, 314 (5th Cir. 2016); Newberry v. Stephens, 756
F.3d 850, 872 (5th Cir. 2014).21
21
This Court’s analysis of the prejudice requirement would be the same if considered only under Strickland’s
reasonable-probability-of-a-different-result standard.
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This Court’s review of Ramey’s Martinez arguments, placed in the proper context
of the prior proceedings, shows that he cannot overcome the procedural deficiencies.
B.
Weaknesses in Ramey’s Sixth Claim
Before turning to the question of habeas counsel’s representation, the Court makes
some observations about weaknesses in Ramey’s federal claim.
Lacking physical
evidence at the crime scene, Tr. Vol. 31 at 173, 178-82, the State relied heavily on the
testimony of those involved in crimes with Ramey and those to whom he confessed.22
Relying on affidavits and other evidence, Ramey’s sixth claim intends to chip away at the
credibility of various trial witnesses. Ramey, however, overstates the effect his new
evidence would have had.
For example, Ramey claims that counsel failed to interview witnesses Childs,
Manzanalez, Snyder, DeLeon, Santellana, Times, and Myron Hardaway. Ramey claims
that interviewing Childs would have shown that he “was coerced into giving a statement
against Mr. Ramey.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 143). Childs’ affidavit, however, does not provide
any evidence of coercion. Instead, Childs describes how during interviews after an
escape attempt he “was told to let the sheriff deputies know if I heard anything from
Ramey or Norman about the triple homicide,” which he subjectively took as “they were
saying that they had me on this escape, so I better cooperate.” (Dkt. No. 30, Ex. 64).
22
Ramey made incriminating statements to: Stacy Johnson, Tr. Vol. 31 at 192-197, 206-210; Bradford Butler,
Tr. Vol. 34 at 490-544; Cortney Hardaway, Tr. Vol. 34 at 172-174, 184-187; Otis Santellana, Tr. Vol. 34 at 1001076; Marvin Ceasar, Tr. Vol. 34 at 136-138; Jonathan Snyder, Tr. Vol. 34 at 145-147; Kevin Childs, Tr. Vol. 34 at
159-161; Myron Hardaway, Tr. Vol. 34 at 192-194; and Lonnie Lyte, Tr. Vol. 31 at 224-25.
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Childs’ subjective perception of what the police meant does not necessarily prove
coercion.
Also, as discussed previously, Ramey has not provided competent evidence for
some of his allegations. Ramey relies on hearsay allegations and unsworn affidavits to
impeach testimony by Manzanalez, Santellana, and Times.
Likewise, as previously
discussed, if trial counsel called jailor DeLeon as a witness she could only say that it was
her impression that Santellana had been told to get information from Ramey. (Dkt. No.
30, Ex. 67).
Ramey particularly emphasizes trial counsel’s cross-examination of Norman,
arguing he (1) failed to challenge Norman’s testimony on the grounds that the State
coerced him by threatening to prosecute his mother; (2) failed to cross-examine Norman
about his long criminal record; and (3) failed to ask Norman about his violent escape
from jail and his pending escape charges. The defense, however, extensively crossexamined Norman on other grounds, particularly his multiple statements to police and
during the grand jury testimony which conflicted with trial testimony. Tr. Vol. 33 at
132–99, 211–12.
Some of the evidence only would have made a marginal difference at trial. Ramey
faults trial counsel for not using the criminal histories from Childs, Snyder, Times,
Manzanalez, and Ceasar to dispute their testimony. The jury knew that each of those
men had committed crimes. With the exception of Times, who testified that he was on
deferred adjudication, each of those men were in state custody at the time of trial.
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Additional testimony about their crimes may not have undercut their testimony any more
significantly than their obvious status as inmates.
Finally, Ramey does not verify all his allegations. For example, Ramey also faults
trial counsel for not retaining an expert in ballistics. The State’s expert could only say
that the victims were shot by bullets sharing characteristics as those fired from the murder
weapons, Tr. Vol. 33 at 97-126. Trial counsel, however, extensively cross-examined
witnesses regarding issues relating to the weapons. Ramey has not shown what different
conclusions an independent expert in ballistics would have reached. With extensive
testimony linking Ramey to the weapons the police recovered, his various incriminating
statements, and Norman’s testimony, a reasonable attorney could choose not to employ a
ballistics expert.
With that understanding, the Court looks at the evidence from trial which Ramey
does not challenge in this claim.
C.
Evidence Unaffected by Ramey’s Sixth Claim
This Court’s inquiry into state habeas counsel’s failure to raise the indicated
Strickland claim assesses not just the evidence counsel did not present, but the whole of
the incriminating evidence from trial. See Sears v. Upton, 561 U.S. 945, 954-55 (2010);
Trevino v. Davis, 861 F.3d 545, 554 (5th Cir. 2017). Even taking Ramey’s Strickland
arguments into account, other witnesses whose testimony is unaffected by his federal
claims provided testimony putting the events into a highly incriminating context.
Without actually saying that he killed anyone, Ramey asked Lonny Lyte, “If you was to
kill somebody, what would you do with the guns?” Tr. Vol. at 224-25. Lyte told him to
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throw them in a river. Tr. Vol. 31 at 225. Jessica Castro said that Ramey called her on
the night of the murders and asked her to make up and alibi for her. Tr. Vol. 34 at 22.
Ramey also asked Courtney Hardaway to form an alibi for him. Tr. Vol. 34 at 169.
Ramey’s cousin Bradford Butler testified that he saw Ramey and Norman with the
murder weapons on the night of the crime. Tr. Vol. 34 at 41-75.
Evidence unaffected by Ramey’s habeas arguments show his involvement in the
crime. Ramey told his girlfriend Stacey Johnson that he stole the murder weapons from
the Nairn residence. Tr. Vol. 31 at 215.23 Ramey confessed to Johnson that the pistols he
disposed of were used in the triple homicide. Tr. Vol. 31 at 205-06. She later helped the
police recover the weapons. Tr. Vol. 31 at 202-03. Ramey repeatedly told others, such
as Johnson, that he was involved in the murders and how they happened. Tr. Vol. 31 at
206-07. In particular, Ramey told Johnson that he shot all three victims. Tr. Vol. 31 at
205-210. Ramey told Courtney Hardaway about the murders, but said that the victims
“got shot” without identifying whether he or Norman did the shooting. Tr. Vol. 34 at
172–74. While bragging, joking, and laughing about the crime, Butler heard Ramey say
that he shot Tiffany Peacock in the head. Tr. Vol. 34 at 54.
The State presented testimony that Ramey had confessed to numerous inmates.
Ramey points to areas in which a trial attorney could have challenged much of that
23
Other evidence tended to corroborate the accounts. Stacy Johnson testified that she helped Ramey stash
weapons, Tr. Vol. 30 at 153-54, and later helped him dispose of pistols, Tr. Vol. 30 at 158-69; Tr. Vol. 31 at 195-97.
Richard Wright, the principle at Edna High School, testified that he received information indicating Ramey and
Norman were involved in the murders, but a hearsay objection preventing him from offering any additional
testimony. Tr. Vol. 32 at 91. The State presented Wright’s testimony to show how the police came to suspect
Ramey’s involvement in the murders. Tr. Vol. 30 at 40
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testimony, his arguments do not completely eviscerate their testimony, only create issues
of credibility for jurors to resolve.
With all that evidence, Ramey has not shown prejudice had counsel performed
consistent with his federal arguments, particularly given the decision jurors had to make.
Counsel faced an onerous task in crafting a guilt/innocence defense.
The jury
instructions made that task harder. The State prosecuted Ramey both as a principal and
as a party to the murders. Clerk’s Record at 173. The jury found that Ramey was the
principal, so it did not have to answer whether or not the evidence would have allowed
for his conviction even if he had not been the shooter. Clerk’s Record at 176. Still, the
jury instructions allowed for his conviction if “acting with intent to promote or assist the
commission of the murder or murders,” he “any solicited encouraged directed aided or
attempted to aid LeJames Norman” in them. Clerk’s Record at 173. The State could
have convicted Ramey without showing that he fired the killing shots.
With that strong evidence against his client, trial counsel rested without calling
any witnesses. Ramey himself approved that decision on the record. (Dkt. No. 30, Ex.
16 at 6-7).
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D.
Martinez
Ramey now attacks numerous elements of the trial testimony against him through
the prism of habeas counsel’s representation. A competent state habeas attorney could
reasonably forgo extensive investigation and argument challenging the guilt/innocence
testimony in favor of expending resources in more productive areas. More to the point,
the avalanche of evidence against Ramey would preclude the state habeas court from
granting relief had habeas counsel raised the claims alleged in the federal petition. Given
the overwhelming evidence in the guilt/innocence phase, and in light of the nature of the
claims Ramey contends should have been raised, Ramey has not shown that he meets the
Martinez exception to the procedural bar doctrine. And with a broad review of the trial
evidence placed in the context of Ramey’s federal allegations, he has not shown actual
prejudice. Claim six is procedurally barred from federal review.24
VI.
Trial Counsel Provided Ineffective Representation in the Penalty Phase.
(Claim Seven)
Ramey argues that trial counsel provided prejudicial performance in the penalty
phase. Ramey concedes that he exhausted this claim in state court, but acknowledges that
his state habeas claim “did not contain the level of detail or reflect the abundant
investigation conducted by” his federal attorneys. (Dkt. No. 30 at 191). The Court can
only consider arguments and evidence that Ramey exhausted in state court. The Supreme
24
That is not to say that the prior attorneys’ efforts were perfect. A zealous state habeas attorney could have
raised the Strickland claims contained in the federal petition, and possibly others. A reasonable state habeas
attorney, however, could also decide not to raise them. See Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 751-52 (1983)
(“Experienced advocates since time beyond memory have emphasized the importance of winnowing out weaker
arguments on appeal and focusing on one central issue if possible, or at most on a few key issues.”). For the same
reasons discussed above, the Court alternatively finds that Ramey has not shown Strickland deficient performance
and prejudice with respect to his underlying allegations against trial counsel.
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Court in Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 182 (2011), has made it clear that federal
habeas review “focuses on what a state court knew and did.” “The import of Pinholster is
clear: because [Ramey’s] claims have already been adjudicated on the merits, § 2254
limits [federal] review to the record that was before the state court.” Lewis v. Thaler, 701
F.3d 783, 791 (5th Cir. 2012).
Ramey argues that “[b]oth common sense and Fifth Circuit precedent hold that the
mitigation evidence gathered for a federal habeas petition that was not presented at any
lower level may be excused under the Martinez/Trevino standard.” (Dkt. No. 49 at 130).
The Fifth Circuit, however, has held that “Martinez does not apply to claims that were
fully adjudicated on the merits by the state habeas court because those claims are, by
definition, not procedurally defaulted.” Escamilla v. Stephens, 749 F.3d 380, 394 (5th
Cir. 2014); see also Villanueva v. Stephens, 619 F. App’x 269, 276 (5th Cir. 2015); Allen
v. Stephens, 619 F. App’x 280, 290 (5th Cir. 2015). Once a state habeas court has denied
a claim on the merits, Martinez “may not function as an exception to Pinholster’s rule
that bars a federal habeas court from considering evidence not presented to the state
habeas court.” Escamilla, 749 F.3d at 395. Simply, “[f]ederal courts sitting in habeas are
not an alternative forum for trying facts and issues which a prisoner made insufficient
effort to pursue in state proceedings.” Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 420, 437 (2000).
This Court, therefore, will only consider the issues Ramey exhausted in state court.
Ramey’s state habeas claim focused on showing a “clear lack of preparation” in
the presentation of testimony which caused “a breakdown in the adversarial process.”
State Habeas Record at 49. Ramey argued that his trial attorney failed to “investigate the
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life of the client, uncover any and all evidence tending to counsel for life, including
appropriate diagnostic testing and evaluations, and present that evidence to the jury in a
clear understandable manner.” State Habeas Record at 49. Ramey criticized trial counsel
for “only present[ing] two witnesses,” his mother and gerontological psychologist Mark
Kunik. State Habeas Record at 49. Ramey particularly emphasized that trial counsel
should have secured the services of a different, better-prepared punishment phase expert.
Ramey, however, did not support his allegations with any evidence. Ramey did
not explain what experts counsel should have called, provide any indication of which
uncalled witnesses should have testified, develop any previously undiscovered mitigating
theories, verify what more witnesses could have told jurors, or otherwise substantiate his
habeas claim.
The unsupported nature of Ramey’s truncated claim led the state habeas court to
find that he “failed to show that [a future dangerousness] expert was available in this
case,” “what such an expert could have presented in the case,” and “that such an expert
could have presented any testimony which was likely to bring about a different result.”
State Habeas Record at 155-56. Similarly, the state habeas court found that Ramey “fails
to even suggest as to how [an] expert could have been successfully prepared to meet the
successful cross-examination conducted by the prosecution.” State Habeas Record at
156. The state habeas court denied relief because the “record does not affirmatively
demonstrate the alleged ineffectiveness of trial counsel and this claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel should be denied.” State Habeas Record at 156.
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Based on the information Ramey presented, the state habeas court’s decision was
not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law.
§ 2254(d)(1).
See 28 U.S.C.
The defense’s punishment-phase testimony and evidence was not
extensive. Trial counsel called only two witnesses, Ramey’s mother and Dr. Kunik. The
decision to rely only on those witnesses, however, was not on the shoulders of trial
counsel alone. Trial counsel said on the record that they had “discussed the witnesses at
length at both the guilt-innocence phase and the mitigation phase, the punishment phase,
and we also discussed the potential witnesses with the client, including his own
testimony, prior to the decision of being made to call only those two witnesses.” (Dkt.
No. 30, Ex. 16 at 6-7). Ramey agreed with trial counsel’s statement. (Dkt. No. 30, Ex.
16 at 6-7).
In state habeas court, Ramey complained about trial counsel’s efforts without
showing what he should have done. A habeas petitioner challenging his trial attorney’s
punishment investigation “must allege with specificity what the investigation would have
revealed and how it would have changed the outcome of the trial.” Miller v. Dretke, 420
F.3d 356, 361 (5th Cir. 2005); see also Greer v. Thaler, 380 F. App’x 373, 386 (5th Cir.
2010); Carty v. Quarterman, 345 F. App’x 897, 903 (5th Cir. 2009). An inmate cannot
only allege that his attorney should have called more or different witnesses. He “must
name the [uncalled witnesses] witness, demonstrate that the witness would have testified,
set out the content of the witness’s proposed testimony, and show that the testimony
would have been favorable.” Gregory v. Thaler, 601 F.3d 347, 352 (5th Cir. 2010) (citing
Alexander v. McCotter, 775 F.2d 595, 602 (5th Cir. 1985)). Constitutional error cannot
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rest on the naked assertion that trial counsel should have done more, for “speculations as
to what [uncalled] witnesses would have testified is too uncertain.” Alexander, 775 F.2d
at 602; see also Evans v. Cockrell, 285 F.3d 370, 377 (5th Cir. 2002) (“[C]omplaints of
uncalled witnesses are not favored in federal habeas corpus review because allegations of
what the witness would have testified are largely speculative.”). Because Ramey did not
verify what more trial counsel could have done, the state habeas court’s decision was not
contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
The full argument Ramey makes on federal review shows that trial counsel could
have done much more. The strictures of federal review, however, preclude federal
consideration of information Ramey did not present to state court. AEDPA precludes
relief on the claim Ramey exhausted in state court and review of any issues he did not
exhaust there. The Court will deny this claim.
VII.
The Admission of Unreliable Testimony by an Expert Witness Violated
Ramey’s Rights. (Claim Nine)
Ramey’s ninth claim argues that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated by
the State’s use of an expert who allegedly based his opinion on unreliable methodology.
The punishment phase required the jury to answer whether “there is a probability that
[Ramey] would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing
threat to society?” State Habeas Record at 193. The prosecution sought to introduce
expert testimony from Dr. Richard Coons, a psychiatrist, regarding Ramey’s future
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dangerousness.
Trial counsel requested that the trial court hold a Daubert/Kelley25
hearing to examine Dr. Coons’ qualifications and the methodology underlying his
opinions. State Habeas Record at 178; Tr. Vol. 38 at 26-36. After questioning by the
parties, the trial court allowed him to testify. Tr. Vol. 38 at 65-84.
As the State’s final witness, Dr. Coons explained that he had not interviewed
Ramey but based his testimony on reviewing extensive records. Tr. Vol. 38 at 71, 74.
From the amount of information he reviewed, Dr. Coons felt that he could reasonably
assess whether Ramey would be a future societal danger. In response to a hypothetical
question, Dr. Coons testified that a person such as Ramey would “commit criminal acts
of violence in the future which would constitute a continuing threat to society.” Tr. Vol.
38 at 81.
Trial counsel cross-examined Dr. Coons and attempted to point out weaknesses in
his testimony, particularly because he did not examine Ramey personally. Tr. Vol. 39 at
83-84.
Ramey first challenged Dr. Coons’ testimony on direct appeal. Construing his
arguments as attacking Dr. Coons’ qualifications, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that
the trial court did not err in finding him qualified as a expert witness under Rule 703 of
the Texas Rules of Evidence. See Ramey, 2009 WL 335276 at *14-15.26
25
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993); Kelly v. State, 824 S.W.2d 568 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1992).
26
Ramey argues that “[t]he Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas construed Mr. Ramey’s attack on Dr. Coons’
methodology as merely an attack on Dr. Coons’ qualifications, and thus did not review the trial court’s assessment
of Dr. Coons’ methodology.” [DE 30 at 193, n.57]. Ramey’s appellate brief discussed various concerns about Dr.
Coons’ testimony. The Court of Criminal Appeals’ emphasis on his qualifications, however, is understandable
because Ramey argued that, “[c]utting straight to the chase, during the Daubert hearing the State failed to show that
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Ramey also challenged Dr. Coons’ testimony in his habeas application, clarifying
that his habeas claim was the same “as presented in [his] direct appeal.” State Habeas
Record at 8, 60. The trial-level habeas court found that Dr. Coons’ testimony was
admissible:
Dr. Coons held both a law degree and medical degree, served in the United
States Army Medical Corp and was a consultant for Brooke Army Medical
Center; was certified by the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, trained in
neurology and psychiatry and had been in private practice more than 30
years. Dr. Coons was properly qualified as an expert witness and his
testimony was relevant and assisted the trier of fact to determine the issue
of [Ramey’s] future dangerousness.
State Habeas Record at 160.27
During the pendency of Ramey’s habeas action, the Court of Criminal Appeals
issued Coble v. State, 330 S.W.3d 253, 270 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010), which concluded
that the State had not shown the scientific reliability of Dr. Coons’ testimony under
Texas Rule of Evidence 702. Coble, however, found that Dr. Coons’ testimony did not
violate the Eighth Amendment’s heightened reliability standard and was not harmful.
Coble, 330 S.W.3d at 270, 287. Because the Coble case questioned the state-law basis
for admitting Dr. Coons’ testimony, the Court of Criminal Appeals set Ramey’s case for
submission and ordered additional briefing. Ex parte Ramey, 2011 WL 1288284 at *1.
Ultimately, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that (1) Ramey’s state-law challenge to
Dr. Coons’ testimony was not cognizable on habeas review and (2) his testimony did not
Dr. Coons was qualified to give an opinion as to the future dangerousness of the Defendant” Brief of Appellant at
20
27
Additionally, the trial-level habeas court observed: “These contentions were raised on direct appeal by
[Ramey] and found to be without merit by the Court of Criminal Appeals. This court adopts the findings and
conclusions of the Court of Criminal Appeals on these issues.” State Habeas Record at 160.
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violate the heightened reliability requirement of the Eighth Amendment. See Ex parte
Ramey, 382 S.W.3d 396, 397 (Tex. Crim. App 2012).
Ramey renews his federal and state law challenges to Dr. Coons’ testimony on
federal review. Ramey first contends that Dr. Coons’ testimony was unreliable, and thus
inadmissible, under Rule 702 of the Texas Rules of Evidence because his methodology
was “not in line with the state of the art of his field,” “completely subjective and
unsubstantiated by reference to any source other than [Dr. Coons’] own conclusory
statements,” and without information about the “error rate of his predictions.” (Dkt. No.
30 at 199). Federal courts, however, do “not sit to review the mere admissibility of
evidence under state law.” Little v. Johnson, 162 F.3d 855, 862 (5th Cir. 1998). “A
federal court may grant habeas relief based on an erroneous state court evidentiary ruling
only if the ruling violates a specific federal constitutional right or is so egregious that it
renders the petitioner’s trial fundamentally unfair.” Kittelson v. Dretke, 426 F.3d 306,
320 (5th Cir. 2005) (quotation omitted). The Fifth Circuit has found that Dr. Coons’
testimony in a similar case was sufficiently reliable for presentation in federal court, see
United States v. Fields, 483 F.3d 313, 345 (5th Cir. 2007), suggesting that the state
court’s admission of his testimony was not so egregious that his trial was unfair.
Ramey also argues that psychiatric evidence of future dangerousness does not
meet Daubert’s standards for admissibility, thus violating the Eighth Amendment’s
heightened reliability requirement in capital cases. In rejecting this claim, the Court of
Criminal Appeals relied on Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880 (1983), a case in which the
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Supreme Court refused to prohibit categorically all psychological predictions of future
dangerousness from capital sentencing proceedings. The Barefoot court specified:
The suggestion that no psychiatrist’s testimony may be presented with
respect to a defendant’s future dangerousness is somewhat like asking us to
disinvent the wheel. In the first place, it is contrary to our cases. If the
likelihood of a defendant committing further crimes is a constitutionally
acceptable criterion for imposing the death penalty, which it is, Jurek v.
Texas, 428 U.S. 262, 96 S. Ct. 2950, 49 L.Ed. 2d 929 (1976), and if it is not
impossible for even a lay person sensibly to arrive at that conclusion, it
makes little sense, if any, to submit that psychiatrists, out of the entire
universe of persons who might have an opinion on the issue, would know
so little about the subject that they should not be permitted to testify.
Id at 899.
The Fifth Circuit has repeatedly relied on Barefoot to approve the admissibility of
future dangerousness testimony similar to that given by Dr. Coons. See Roberts v.
Thaler, 681 F.3d 597, 608-09 (5th Cir. 2012); Fields, 483 F.3d at 343-45. In particular,
the Fifth Circuit has “consistently held that Daubert did not overrule Barefoot for the
proposition that expert testimony regarding future dangerousness is permissible . . .”
Gonzales v. Stephens, 606 F. App’x 767, 774 (5th Cir. 2015); see also Holiday v.
Stephens, 587 F. App’x 767, 783 (5th Cir. 2014); Johnson v. Cockrell, 306 F.3d 249,
253-55 (5th Cir. 2002). In fact, the Fifth Circuit has held that “Daubert does not apply to
the standards governing the admissibility of expert evidence at a capital sentencing
hearing.” Williams v. Stephens, 761 F.3d 561, 571 (5th Cir. 2014). The Fifth Circuit has
found that similar challenges to Dr. Coons’ testimony “present[] no cognizable Eighth
Amendment claim.” Coble v. Davis, ___ F. App’x ___, 2018 WL 1611434, at *3 (5th
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Cir. 2018). With that legal precedent, Ramey has not shown constitutional error in the
admission of Dr. Coons’ testimony.
Ramey has not shown that the state court’s decision regarding this claim was
contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
VIII. Alternative Review of Claims Five, Eight, Ten, and Eleven
Ramey did not raise claims five, eight, ten and eleven in a timely manner and he
does not merit equitable tolling. Even if Ramey had timely filed those claims, the
unexhausted nature of the untimely claims adds a second layer of procedural hurdles to
federal adjudication. Federal review only becomes available after a showing of cause and
actual prejudice.
A.
Exhaustion of Claims Eight, Ten, and Eleven
Claims eight, ten, and eleven challenge the representation provided by Ramey’s
prior attorneys. Claim eleven is not a ground for relief, but rather argues that ineffective
assistance of prior attorneys acts as cause to forgive any default. The Court, therefore,
summarily denies claim eleven.
Claim eight argues that the cumulative effect of his attorneys’ errors violated
Ramey's rights and claim ten argues that appellate counsel provided ineffective
representation by not raising any unexhausted claims. To overcome the procedural bar of
those claims, Ramey relies on the ineffective assistance of his prior attorneys under
Martinez. The Supreme Court, however, has held that Martinez only allows review of
ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claims. See Davila v. Davis, __ U.S. __, 137 S.
Ct. 2058, 2070 (2017). Martinez only applies to the portion of claim eight arguing
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cumulative error from trial counsel’s efforts.
This Court, however, has considered
Ramey’s arguments about trial counsel’s representation and found no error to cumulate.
Ramey, therefore, has not shown that state habeas counsel missed a meritorious, and
potentially successful, habeas claim by not raising cumulative error. Ramey has not
overcome the procedural bar of claims eight, ten, and eleven.
B.
Exhaustion of Claim Five
Claim five argues that the State used Otis Santellana to elicited information from
Ramey in violation of Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964). Ramey argues that
he could not discover this claim before federal review because the State violated Brady
by suppressing its factual basis.
A Brady violation may establish cause to excuse
procedural default. See Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 558, 691 (2004); Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263 (1999).
As discussed previously, Ramey does not present any competent evidence that
Santellana was a state actor sent to secure testimony from him. Further, Ramey has not
shown that he could not have secured during state habeas review the same unconvincing
evidence on which he bases his federal habeas claim. Also, as the Court discussed
previously, any impropriety in Santellana’s testimony is not material in light of the
significant – and overwhelming – testimony of others to whom Ramey confessed his
involvement in the crime. The Court finds that Ramey has not overcome the procedural
bar of claim five. Additionally, even if the full merits of claim five were before the
Court, Ramey does not provide competent evidence that shows that a material
constitutional error deprived him of a fair trial.
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C.
Conclusion
Ramey has not shown that he can overcome the procedural bar of his time-barred
claims or that they merit federal habeas relief. The Court would deny relief if claims
five, eight, ten, and eleven were fully available for judicial review.
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). Ramey 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).
A court may only issue a COA when “the applicant has made a
substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Slack
v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 482 (2000). The Fifth Circuit 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 I, 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
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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 I, 537 U.S. at 336-38. Unless the prisoner meets the COA standard, “no
appeal would be warranted.” Slack, 529 U.S. at 484.
Ramey’s petition raises issues worthy of judicial review. Nevertheless, having
considered the merits of Ramey’s petition, and in light of AEDPA’s standards and
controlling precedent, this Court determines that a COA should not issue on any claim.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Respondent’s motion for summary
judgment (Dkt. No. 40) and DENIES Petitioner Ker’sean Olajuwa Ramey’s Petition for
Writ of Habeas Corpus (Dkt. No. 7) WITH PREJUDICE. All outstanding motions are
otherwise DENIED. A Certificate of Appealability is DENIED with respect to all
claims.
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED on this 9th day of July, 2018.
___________________________________
Kenneth M. Hoyt
United States District Judge
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