1

Our previous opinion referred to the deceased victim as Bonnie Bullock, rather than Bonnie Bulloch.

In this opinion, we will adhere to the latter, as that is the spelling employed by both the petitioner's and the

respondent's briefs to this Court in this appeal, as well that used in the trial transcripts and the district court's

opinion. 

Jose Martinez HIGH, Petitioner-Appellant,

v.

Frederick J. HEAD, Warden, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, Respondent-Appellee.

No. 98-9085.

United States Court of Appeals,

Eleventh Circuit.

April 19, 2000.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. (No. CV196-67), Dudley

H. Bowen, Jr., Judge.

Before ANDERSON, Chief Judge, and EDMONDSON and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.

ANDERSON, Chief Judge:

Jose Martinez High, convicted of murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping with bodily injury in the

state courts of Georgia and sentenced to death, appeals the district court's denial of his petition for a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.

I. FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The facts of this case were briefly summarized in a previous opinion of this Court as follows:

Jose High and his accomplices, Nathan Brown and Judson Ruffin, robbed a service station.

They abducted the operator of the station, Henry Lee Phillips, and his 11-year old stepson, Bonnie

Bullock. Phillips was placed in the trunk of the car and Bullock in the back seat. High and his

accomplices drove their captives to a remote site where they were to be eliminated. The 11-year old

boy was taunted with threats of death as they rode in the back seat of the car. The child begged for

his life. Upon reaching a deserted wooded area, the victims were forced to lie face down in front of

the car and were then shot. Bonnie Bullock died of a bullet wound to the head. Phillips suffered a

gunshot wound to the head and wrist, but miraculously survived and later identified High, Ruffin,

and Brown. High later confessed to the murder.

High v. Zant, 916 F.2d 1507, 1508 (11th Cir.1990) (footnote omitted).1
2

Jose High was convicted in 1978 in the Superior Court of Taliaferro County, Georgia, of the

following crimes: murder of Bonnie Bulloch, two counts of kidnapping with bodily injury, armed robbery,

aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was then

sentenced to death. On direct appeal, the Supreme Court of Georgia reversed his convictions for aggravated

assault and unlawful possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime because those crimes were

held to have merged into the crimes of kidnapping with bodily injury and armed robbery. See High v. State,

247 Ga. 289, 276 S.E.2d 5 (1981). The court affirmed his remaining convictions and affirmed the sentence

of death on the murder count and on the count of kidnapping Bonnie Bulloch, but vacated his death sentences

for armed robbery and for the one count of kidnapping in which the victim did not die. See id. High's request

for rehearing was denied, and the United States Supreme Court denied his petition for a writ of certiorari as

well as his subsequent petition for rehearing. See High v. Georgia, 455 U.S. 927, 102 S.Ct. 1290, 71 L.Ed.2d

470, reh'g denied, 455 U.S. 1038, 102 S.Ct. 1742, 72 L.Ed.2d 156 (1982).

High next filed a state habeas corpus petition in the Superior Court of Butts County, Georgia, which

was denied on September 10, 1982. The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed and denied High's request for

rehearing. See High v. Zant, 250 Ga. 693, 300 S.E.2d 654 (1983). The United States Supreme Court again

denied his petition for a writ of certiorari and his petition for rehearing. See High v. Kemp, 467 U.S. 1220,

104 S.Ct. 2669, 81 L.Ed.2d 374, reh'g denied, 468 U.S. 1224, 105 S.Ct. 22, 82 L.Ed.2d 917 (1984). High

then sought federal habeas corpus relief in the United States District Court for the Southern District of

Georgia. The district court concluded that High's death sentence should be set aside due to the jury

instructions given at the sentencing phase, while denying the writ with respect to High's other claims for

relief. See High v. Kemp, 623 F.Supp. 316 (S.D.Ga.1985). On appeal, this Court reversed the district court's

grant of relief and affirmed the denial of High's other claims. See High v. Kemp, 819 F.2d 988 (11th

Cir.1987). This Court then denied High's request for rehearing en banc. See High v. Kemp, 828 F.2d 775

(11th Cir.1987). The United States Supreme Court initially granted High's petition for a writ of certiorari,
3

see High v. Zant, 487 U.S. 1233, 108 S.Ct. 2896, 101 L.Ed.2d 930 (1988), but later vacated that decision and

denied certiorari. See High v. Zant, 492 U.S. 926, 109 S.Ct. 3264, 106 L.Ed.2d 609 (1989).

High then filed a motion for relief from judgment under Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, which was denied and that

decision affirmed by this Court. See High v. Zant, 916 F.2d 1507 (11th Cir.1990). This Court also denied

High's request for rehearing. The United States Supreme Court again denied High's petition for a writ of

certiorari and his subsequent petition for rehearing. See High v. Zant, 499 U.S. 954, 111 S.Ct. 1432, 113

L.Ed.2d 483, reh'g denied, 500 U.S. 938, 111 S.Ct. 2069, 114 L.Ed.2d 473 (1991).

High subsequently filed a second state habeas petition in the Superior Court of Butts County. That

court held an evidentiary hearing in September of 1991 limited to the issues surrounding a filmed interview

of High which had recently surfaced. The court dismissed High's entire petition in March of 1994,

concluding that, to the extent High's claims were not already barred by res judicata principles, he reasonably

could have raised them in his first habeas petition and therefore they were procedurally defaulted under

O.C.G.A. § 9-14-51 (1993). The Supreme Court of Georgia denied High's application for a certificate of

probable cause to appeal, and the United States Supreme Court once again denied High's petition for a writ

of certiorari and his petition for rehearing. See High v. Thomas, 516 U.S. 1051, 116 S.Ct. 718, 133 L.Ed.2d

671, reh'g denied, 516 U.S. 1154, 116 S.Ct. 1036, 134 L.Ed.2d 113 (1996).

On April 23, 1996, High filed a second federal habeas petition in the United States District Court for

the Southern District of Georgia. On July 24, 1998, the district court denied his petition, finding that all of

his claims were barred under either the successive claim or abuse of the writ doctrines. See High v. Turpin,

14 F.Supp.2d 1358 (S.D.Ga.1998). The district court judge granted a certificate of probable cause allowing

this appeal on August 31, 1998.
 2

The petitioner conceded at oral argument that he has abandoned the remainder of the claims he raised

in the district court. 

 3Rule 9(b) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts provides:

A second or successive petition may be dismissed if the judge finds that it fails to allege new

or different grounds for relief and the prior determination was on the merits or, if new and

different grounds are alleged, the judge finds that the failure of the petitioner to assert those

grounds in a prior petition constituted an abuse of the writ. 

 4High filed his petition one day prior to the effective date of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death

Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA"), and therefore the AEDPA standard of review provisions are not applicable.

See Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320, 117 S.Ct. 2059, 138 L.Ed.2d 481 (1997) (holding AEDPA standard of

review provisions inapplicable in a noncapital case pending when AEDPA was enacted); Mills v. Singletary,

161 F.3d 1273, 1280 n. 6 (11th Cir.1998), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 120 S.Ct. 804, 145 L.Ed.2d 677 (2000)

4

On appeal, High asserts claims based on the previously missing film, as well as a claim based on his

pretrial counsel's conflict of interest.2

 All of his claims raised on appeal were claims dismissed by the district

court under the abuse of the writ doctrine.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

 When the government adequately pleads abuse of the writ in response to a petitioner's successive

habeas petition,3

 the petitioner bears the burden of proving that his previously unasserted claims are not an

abuse of the writ. See McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 494, 111 S.Ct. 1454, 1470, 113 L.Ed.2d 517 (1991).

The petitioner's failure to raise a claim earlier will be excused if he can show "cause for failing to raise it and

prejudice therefrom...." Id. If the petitioner cannot show cause, his failure to raise the claim in an earlier

petition may nonetheless be excused if he can show that "a fundamental miscarriage of justice would result

from a failure to entertain the claim." Id. at 494-495, 111 S.Ct. at 1470. Where abuse of the writ has been

pleaded as a defense, a district court may not reach the merits of new claims unless a habeas petitioner shows

either cause and prejudice or a fundamental miscarriage of justice. See Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 338-

39, 112 S.Ct. 2514, 2518, 120 L.Ed.2d 269 (1992); Macklin v. Singletary, 24 F.3d 1307, 1309 (11th

Cir.1994). We review district court decisions on abuse of the writ issues de novo. See Macklin, 24 F.3d at

1313.4
(holding same in a capital case). In addition, the AEDPA's special habeas corpus procedures for capital cases,

codified at 28 U.S.C. §§ 2261-66, do not apply because they require a state to "opt in" to them by meeting

certain requirements, see Neelley v. Nagle, 138 F.3d 917, 921-22 (11th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1075,

119 S.Ct. 811, 142 L.Ed.2d 671 (1999) (mem.), and the state here has not asserted that it opted in by meeting

these requirements. 

5

III. ANALYSIS

A. The Missing Film

Two of petitioner's three claims hinge upon a filmed interview of High that took place on August 29,

1976, two days after his arrest for unrelated crimes in Richmond County, Georgia. The interview was

conducted inside the Richmond County jail and although the interview took place in 1976, the film was not

produced until 1991. High contends that the state suppressed the exculpatory content of the interview, in

violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and that the law

enforcement testimony at trial regarding the interview was at odds in material and exculpatory ways with

what actually happened, in violation of Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104

(1972).

The filmed interview was conducted primarily by J.B. Dykes, an Investigator with the Richmond

County Sheriff's Department, and William Anderson, then Sheriff of Richmond County. High did not have

access to the film of the interview prior to or during his trial, and the prosecution's witnesses testified that they

did not know the film's whereabouts. Former Sheriff Anderson testified at the 1991 state habeas hearing that,

after having the film processed, he stored the developed cannisters of film in a footlocker in the trunk of his

patrol car. When he left office on December 31, 1976, he turned the car in and took the footlocker home.

Anderson claims that he forgot the film was in his footlocker until 1983 or 1984, at which time he was

contacted by William Wilcher, a parole officer conducting a routine investigation into High's case. Anderson

gave the cannisters to Wilcher who in turn gave them to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. The film

remained in the Parole Board's files until a request was made by High's counsel under the Georgia Open
6

Records Act in 1991. At that point, the film was converted to VHS videocassette format and provided to

High and his counsel.

Because High's claims that the state withheld and lied about a film containing exculpatory evidence

were not raised in his first federal petition for habeas corpus relief, he must show either cause and prejudice

or a fundamental miscarriage of justice in order to have these claims considered on the merits.

1. Cause

 In order to show cause for not raising a claim in an earlier petition, a petitioner must show "some

external impediment preventing counsel from constructing or raising the claim." See McCleskey v. Zant, 499

U.S. 467, 497, 111 S.Ct. 1454, 1472, 113 L.Ed.2d 517 (1991) (emphasis and internal citation omitted).

Examples of objective factors external to the defense that constitute cause include interference by officials

and "a showing that the factual or legal basis for a claim was not reasonably available to counsel." Murray

v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 2645, 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986). The Supreme Court emphasized

in McCleskey that the abuse of the writ doctrine examines the petitioner's conduct and stated that "the

question is whether petitioner possessed, or by reasonable means could have obtained, a sufficient basis to

allege a claim in the first petition and pursue the matter through the habeas process...." McCleskey, 499 U.S.

at 497, 111 S.Ct. at 1472. The fact that petitioner did not possess, or could not reasonably have obtained,

certain evidence, however, fails to establish cause "if other known or discoverable evidence could have

supported the claim in any event." Id. at 498, 111 S.Ct. at 1472. The Court further elaborated that the

requirement of cause in the abuse of the writ context "is based on the principle that petitioner must conduct

a reasonable and diligent investigation aimed at including all relevant claims and grounds for relief in the first

federal habeas petition." Id; see also Porter v. Singletary, 49 F.3d 1483, 1489 (11th Cir.1995). A petitioner's

opportunity to show cause and prejudice does not require an evidentiary hearing if the district court

determines as a matter of law that the petitioner cannot satisfy the standard. See McCleskey, 499 U.S. at 494,

111 S.Ct. at 1470.
 5

The trial transcript reveals the following colloquy between High's trial attorney, John Ruffin, Jr., and

GBI agent Ingram:

Q (Ruffin): Now, Mr. Ingram, where is the tape?

A (Ingram): Which tape, sir?

Q: The tape that was made as a result of the TV simulation.

A: The tape recording?

Q: Well, where is the tape recording?

A: In my pocket.

Q: How long has it been in your pocket?

A: Since yesterday.

Q: Where did you get it?

A: From Mr. Richard Allen, the District Attorney.

Q: Mr. Richard Allen?

A: Yes sir.

Q: Now, where is the audio tape?

A: I'm not familiar with that.

Trial Transcript at 794. Undoubtedly, the latter part of this exchange reveals a confusion over

nomenclature. Nevertheless, Agent Ingram clearly stated that he had a "tape recording" of the TV

7

In examining whether High has demonstrated cause, it is helpful to distinguish, as the district court

did, between a) his claims based upon what he did and did not say during the filmed interview, and b) his

claim relating to his demeanor as revealed by the film. We discuss each category in turn.

(a) Claims Based Upon What High Said or Did Not Say—the Audiotape

With respect to this category, the factual basis of those claims would have been fully revealed, in the

absence of the missing film itself, by an audiotape of the interview. The trial transcript reveals the existence,

at the time of trial, of such an audiotape.5

 While it is not entirely clear whether High's trial attorney
simulation in his pocket, that it had been there since the day before, and that he had gotten it from

Mr. Richard Allen. This exchange leaves no real doubt of the existence, at the time of trial, of a tape

recording of the filmed interview. During High's 1991 state habeas hearing, Ingram testified that it

was in fact an audiotape of the interview that he had gotten from Richard Allen and that he had in

his possession during the trial. 

 6Investigator Dykes testified that High told him that "he did the crime,"and also that High said, "they went

to this place off of the dirt road and that they all started shooting." GBI agent "Chuck" Monahan testified that

High said on the film that "he had come through Crawfordville, Georgia on the night in question with the

8

specifically requested a copy of the audiotape after Agent Robert Ingram of the Georgia Bureau of

Investigation ("GBI") testified that he had it in his pocket, High does not suggest that his first federal habeas

counsel made any attempt whatsoever to obtain the audiotape.

High contends, nevertheless, that he had cause for not earlier raising his claims based upon the filmed

interview because the factual basis of the claims was unavailable to him. He further argues that the reason

the basis of these claims was unavailable was the State's misleading conduct; he asserts that what happened

during the filmed interview was misrepresented under oath by the State's witnesses and argues that nothing

in the state's inculpatory descriptions of the interview suggested a basis to investigate, much less plead, a

Brady or Giglio violation. By this argument, High seeks to excuse his first federal habeas counsel's failure

to attempt to obtain the audiotape of the interview.

 We reject High's contention that he has shown cause for not raising these claims in his first federal

petition. As noted, the trial transcript clearly reveals the existence of the audiotape of the interview.

Moreover, High's first habeas counsel either had actual knowledge of facts, or should have discovered facts,

that suggest the potential existence of Brady and Giglio claims—or at the very least, indicate a definite reason

to investigate the possibility of such claims. High's trial attorney stated in his affidavit submitted in the

second state habeas proceeding that, "Jose High always denied shooting the victims in this case, and always

said that he had told the investigators that he did not shoot the victims." This statement is inconsistent with

the law enforcement officers' testimony at trial as to what High said during the filmed interview and during

the prior statements he made.6

 If High's first federal habeas counsel did not have actual knowledge of what
parties in question and committed the murder of Bonnie Bulloch." Agent Ingram testified that High told him

"that the man and the boy were laid down in front of the vehicle, in the headlights, and—as he described

it—they unloaded on him." Ingram later testified that during the filmed interview High "made a very brief

reference to Crawfordville stating that he had committed the crime and that it was over and done and to drop

it." On cross-examination, in response to the question of whether High had told him that he didn't shoot the

two victims, Ingram stated that High did not say he fired a gun, but that he didn't tell him he did not shoot

them, either. 

 7There is no indication in the record that High's current habeas counsel had any trouble learning this

information from Ruffin. 

 8High asserts that his first habeas counsel would not have gotten the various depictions of the filmed

interrogation from the State if he had asked for them. We decline to make that assumption, however, when

absolutely no attempt was made by habeas counsel to obtain them. The fact that the State had not provided

High's trial counsel with the audiotape does not dictate that the State would not have given the audiotape to

his first habeas counsel if he had made a specific request for that item. The State's duty to disclose

exculpatory material is ongoing. See Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 60, 107 S.Ct. 989, 1003, 94

L.Ed.2d 40 (1987); see also Thompson v. Calderon, 151 F.3d 918, 935 n. 12 (9th Cir.) (Reinhardt, J.,

concurring and dissenting), cert. denied, 524 U.S. 965, 119 S.Ct. 3, 141 L.Ed.2d 765 (1998) ("The Brady duty

is an ongoing one, and continued to bind the prosecution throughout Thompson's habeas proceedings.")

While the State may have made an initial determination that the audiotape of the interview was not

exculpatory, nothing prevented High's first habeas counsel from specifically requesting that item and arguing

that he had reason to believe that it might in fact be exculpatory. Cf. Ritchie, 480 U.S. at 60, 107 S.Ct. at

1003 (noting that if a defendant is aware of specific information in the State's files, he is free to request it

directly from the court, and argue in favor of its materiality). More importantly, High's habeas counsel had

at his disposal in his federal habeas proceeding discovery tools pursuant to federal law. See Rule 6 of the

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. We recognize that a petitioner's

entitlement to discovery in federal habeas is within the district judge's discretion and only allowed for good

cause shown; nevertheless, we think that readily obtainable facts would have supported a request for

discovery under Rule 6. 

9

High said to defense counsel John Ruffin, he certainly could reasonably have discovered this information

from Ruffin.7

 Thus, we find High's argument that his first habeas counsel had no reason to investigate much

less plead a Brady or Giglio violation unpersuasive and insufficient to excuse his counsel's failure to seek to

obtain the audiotape at the time of his first federal habeas petition.8

 Had counsel sought and obtained the

audiotape, he would have had all the facts needed to support High's current claims based on what he did and

did not say during the filmed interview.

High also seeks to rely on the prosecution's general representation, before trial, that it had complied

with its obligation under Brady, arguing that that representation, combined with the inculpatory prosecution
10

description of the tape, invited defense reliance. High further asserts that Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263,

119 S.Ct. 1936, 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999) stands for the proposition that a defendant can rely upon the State's

representation that it has revealed and produced all exculpatory evidence. We conclude, however, that

Strickler does not control this case. The Supreme Court did find on the particular facts of Strickler that it was

reasonable for the petitioner's trial counsel, as well as his collateral counsel, to rely on the presumption that

the prosecutor would fully perform his duty under Brady and on the implicit representation that all such

materials would be included in the open files tendered to the defense. See 119 S.Ct. at 1949-52. We do not

read Strickler, however, to indicate that defense reliance on a general government representation of

compliance with Brady establishes cause for failing to pursue available exculpatory evidence where collateral

counsel had actual knowledge or reasonably could have discovered knowledge clearly suggesting that the

prosecution may have misinterpreted that evidence as nonexculpatory. As noted, High's first habeas counsel

either knew or could reasonably have discovered that High's statements to his trial attorney concerning what

he told the investigators were inconsistent with what the investigators said he told them during the filmed

interview. Moreover, expressly disclaiming a holding that would control this case, the Court in Strickler

stated:

We do not reach, because it is not raised in this case, the impact of a showing by the State that the

defendant was aware of the existence of the documents in question and knew, or could reasonably

discover, how to obtain them.

119 S.Ct. at 1951 n. 33 (emphasis added).

We also reject High's contention that Amadeo v. Zant, 486 U.S. 214, 108 S.Ct. 1771, 100 L.Ed.2d

249 (1988) controls this case. In Amadeo, the petitioner first raised a constitutional challenge to the

composition of his juries on direct appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, based upon a newly discovered

memorandum from the District Attorney Office's of Putnam County evidencing a scheme to intentionally

underrepresent black people and women on the master jury lists from which all grand and traverse juries were

drawn. See id. at 217-218, 108 S.Ct. at 1774. The state courts refused to hear the claim because it had not
 9

The petitioner argues that the film was unavailable until it, like the memorandum in Amadeo, was

discovered by "mere fortuity." Again, we emphasize that we find defendant's argument with respect to the

alleged unavailability of the film unpersuasive because the evidence supporting petitioner's claims would have

been revealed by the audiotape. 

11

been raised earlier, but the federal district court judge found that petitioner had established sufficient cause

and prejudice to excuse the procedural default. See id. at 219-220, 108 S.Ct. at 1775. A divided panel of this

Court reversed, but the Supreme Court reversed this Court's decision, finding that sufficient evidence in the

record supported the district court's factual findings and that this Court should not have set them aside. See

id. at 229, 108 S.Ct. at 1780. Unlike this case, however, there is no indication in Amadeo that the petitioner's

attorneys had any idea that the D.A.'s memorandum, direct evidence of discrimination, even existed until it

was discovered by "mere fortuity"9

 by an attorney working on a different case. Id. at 224, 108 S.Ct. at 1778.

High's first habeas counsel knew, or should have known from the face of the record, that an audiotape of the

filmed interview existed and was in the State's possession, yet he made no effort to obtain it at the time High

filed his first federal habeas petition.

By making absolutely no effort to obtain an item of evidence the existence of which he was aware

and which reasonably discoverable evidence suggested might in fact be exculpatory, High did not conduct

the "reasonable and diligent investigation aimed at including all relevant claims and grounds for relief in the

first federal habeas petition" that McCleskey requires. 499 U.S. at 498, 111 S.Ct. at 1472. Having made no

attempt to obtain the audiotape which Agent Ingram testified at trial was in his pocket, High has not shown

"some external impediment preventing [him] from constructing" his claims based on what he did and did not

say during the filmed interview. Carrier, 477 U.S. at 488, 106 S.Ct. at 2645. Thus, with respect to those

claims, we conclude that "by reasonable means [High] could have obtained, a sufficient basis to allege a claim

in the first petition and pursue the matter through the habeas process...." McCleskey, 499 U.S. at 498, 111

S.Ct. at 1472.

(b) Claim Relating to High's Demeanor as Revealed on the Film
 10Dr. Rollins states in his affidavit:

[P]arts of the tape also show that Jose High was not in complete touch with reality. He says

that he believes he can control persons by not letting them look into his eyes, and that he

received this power from an outside force. He says that he will be able to control people

who will be unable to see him when he gets out of prison....

Affidavit of Bob Rollins, M.D., June 10th, 1991, p. 6.

Dr. Price states in his affidavit that "delusions of grandeur and paranoia were rampant" in the filmed

interview, noting in particular that:

[High] states that he was head of a gang that stretched across many states and had thirty

followers. He also stated that he communicated with his "mind" and "used psychology." He

said he could control persons because he was empowered by an external force about which

he could not speak. Nothwithstanding his status as the head of a crime family, he had to be

home by 10:30 every night.

Affidavit of David R. Price, Ph.D., June 9th, 1991, p. 8.

Dr. Price further opines:

[The film] also reveals evidence of mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. Jose High did

not have the capacity to run a crime family, and certainly was incapable of controlling

anyone through "brain power".... Jose High is grandiose on the tape. He irrationally states

that he will get out of prison and control a crime family whose members will be unable to

see him. He states that he runs a major crime family yet must be home early every night so

that his parents will not be unhappy. He states that he meditates, that he is empowered by

an external force, and that he makes people do what he wants through "brain power"....

Price Affidavit, pp. 13-14.

12

 We also conclude that High has not shown cause for not raising in his first federal habeas petition

his claim relating to his demeanor as revealed by the film. High asserts a Brady claim, arguing that the State

suppressed material, exculpatory evidence in the form of a film that reveals the petitioner as having been

mentally ill at or around the time of the offense and his confessions. In support of his argument that his

demeanor on the film is evidence of mental illness High offers the opinions of Dr. Bob Rollins, Dr. David

R. Price, and Dr. Alec J. Whyte. A careful review of their affidavits, however, reveals that all three experts

rely significantly, although admittedly not exclusively, on the actual, specific substance of what High said

during the filmed interview, particularly on his statements that indicate grandiose and delusion.10 Because
Dr. Whyte comments that the film "reveals signs and symptoms of a major mental disorder." Dr.

Whyte specifically notes certain "behavioral diagnostic symptoms" that High manifested on the film:

—preoccupation with one or more systematized delusions. Jose, throughout the interview

and during a more extended period of his life was demonstrating his false belief that he was

the respected and feared head of an organized mafia-type crime family whose members he

controlled by his mind power and that of some outside unnamed force. This delusion

revealed both the grandiose and paranoid features characteristic of the paranoid type of

schizophrenia. Strongly suggested were delusions of greater grandiosity, e.g., that we [sic]

would lead a takeover by Black people, and that he would go away but return and invisibly

control his followers.

—flat or grossly inappropriate effect. Jose's emotional responsiveness to the highly

emotional content of the interview was pervasively and characteristically flat and

inappropriate. A part of this may have been a reflection of the delusional self that he was

portraying.

Affidavit of Alec J. Whyte, M.D., June 11th, 1991, pp. 3-5. 

 11To the extent that the general observations of Doctors Rollins, Price and Whyte with respect to High's

present and past mental state are based on their examinations of High and/or his personal and social history,

we note that such evaluations have always been available to counsel, and thus High cannot show cause for

the failure of his first federal habeas counsel in this regard. 

13

the audiotape would have revealed these statements, we conclude that the petitioner has not shown cause for

not raising this claim in his first federal petition, for the same reasons we concluded above that he had not

shown cause with respect to his claims relating to what he said on the film. While it may be true that only

the actual film itself could have fully revealed the petitioner's demeanor during the interview, we conclude

that the audiotape would have revealed enough of what petitioner's experts now contend is evidence of mental

illness that the petitioner has not shown cause. The fact that the film itself might have provided stronger

evidence of mental illness than the audiotape is not enough to constitute cause in the abuse of the writ context.

See McCleskey, 499 U.S. at 498, 111 S.Ct. at 1472 ("Omission of the claim will not be excused merely

because evidence discovered later might also have supported or strengthened the claim.")11

2. Prejudice
 12The Strickler majority treats the prejudice inquiry as synonymous with the materiality determination

under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), in keeping with "suggestions

in a number of [Supreme Court] opinions...." Strickler, 119 S.Ct. at 1956 n. 2 (Souter, J., dissenting). 

 13That phrase appears in the following exchange:

Question: Alright, in each of these crimes, or each of these incidents as you want to

call em, you used a shotgun, or you had your [family] members use a

shotgun, can you explain that?

High: Well, with a pistol or handgun somebody think twice but somebody got a big rod

14

Even if High were able to show cause for not raising his claims related to the film in his first federal

habeas petition, he would still have to show prejudice in order to have those claims considered on the merits.

That he cannot do.

 To demonstrate prejudice, the petitioner must show "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." United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 170, 102 S.Ct. 1584,

1596, 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982). He must "convince us that 'there is a reasonable probability' that the result of

the trial would have been different if the [allegedly suppressed and misrepresented filmed interview] had been

disclosed to the defense." Strickler, 119 S.Ct. at 1952 (quoting Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 433, 115 S.Ct.

1555, 1565, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995)). In other words, "the question is whether the favorable evidence could

reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict."

Strickler, 119 S.Ct. at 1952 (internal citation omitted).12 High asserts that the film reveals: a) him saying that

he did not kill anyone, thus professing his innocence, b) his inability to stop Ruffin and Brown from killing

Bulloch, c) that High does not say anything about taunting Bulloch or about Bulloch begging, and d) High

speaking, acting, and appearing crazy.

 Contrary to the suggestion in High's brief, the filmed interview does not reveal High affirmatively

protesting that he is innocent of this crime. High relies solely on a police officer's question that includes the

phrase "you say you didn't kill anyone,"13 as evidence of his innocence. Later in the film, however, High is
in your face, you ain't gonna do but what they tell you to do.

Question: Did you ever at any time, you say you didn't kill anyone, did you ever at

any time think that one of your family was not going to obey one of your

orders?

High: Yes.

Question: Can you name any incidents?

High: In Richmond County today.

Question: Today? How did that happen?

High: They snitched.

1991 State Habeas Transcript at 737. 

 14High also complains that officers stated at trial that High said on the film that he committed the murder

of Bulloch, and asserts that he in fact did not. We readily conclude, however, that High was not prejudiced

by this apparent inconsistency, when, even if High did not state on the film, in so many words, that he had

killed Bulloch, the film does in fact clearly suggest that High was the leader of the three perpetrators and that

the murder was committed for him. 

 15There are several inconsistencies, most of them slight, between the version of this excerpt contained

in the unofficial transcript of the film that the petitioner attached to his brief to this Court and the district

court's rendition, which was made from its own review of the film. See High, 14 F.Supp.2d at 1372 n. 25.

Because our independent review of the film reveals that the district court's version is not clearly erroneous,

we adopt it. See Freund v. Butterworth, 165 F.3d 839, 861 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 120 S.Ct.

57, 145 L.Ed.2d 50 (1999). 

15

asked to briefly outline the crime in Crawfordville, which is the crime here at issue; rather than denying his

culpability, his answer was a noncommittal "No comments." Moreover, it is apparent from the film that the

murder was done for High, and that he was instigator and leader.14

Neither does the film reveal High asserting that he attempted to prevent Ruffin and Brown from

killing Bulloch, as the petitioner's brief also suggests. High relies on the following passage as evidence that

he could not stop his companions from taking Bulloch's life:15

Question: Did you have any feelings about the young boy? Did he look in your eye?

High: No, he didn't.
16

Question: Did you have any feelings about him?

High: Yes. He was too young. But what's done is done.

Question: You didn't have control enough to stop them from taking his life?

High: Not then.

Question: In other words, when this happened, it was sort of ... You were gaining ...

High: This was one of the first that they did for me.

Question: And you could control them to the point where they would do what you told them

...

High: Well, I knew that ...

Question: ... but you didn't have one-hundred percent total control over them. Is that right?

High: No, I wasn't positive about the first two.

Question: At that point.

High: So, I figure if they will kill one person I know that I have enough to get them in a whole lot

of trouble.

High, 14 F.Supp.2d at 1372. Considered as a whole, we think it likely that a jury would find this passage to

be much more inculpatory than exculpatory—the passage suggests that High played an active role in this

crime, it suggests that he was the leader of the group, although he may not have had total control over the

other two men, and it indicates that the murder was committed for him. Thus, we cannot conclude that, had

the jury had the benefit of this exchange at trial, there would have been a reasonable probability of a different

outcome.

Neither was High prejudiced by his inability to reveal to the jury the film's absence of any discussion

of High taunting Bulloch or Bulloch begging for his life. Investigator Dykes testified at trial that High told

him, in a statement independent of the film, that he taunted Bulloch as they drove out to a remote location.

The fact that High did not repeat that statement in the film does not significantly undermine Dykes's

testimony that High told him he had done so in a separate statement. Dykes also testified that High said, in
17

his independent statement to Dykes, that Bulloch begged for his life. While Dykes did testify, outside of the

jury's presence, that High repeated that statement during the filmed interview, when in fact he did not, High

was not prejudiced by Dykes's incorrect statement about the content of the film, as the jury did not hear it.

The petitioner suggests that Dykes's testimony about Bulloch begging for his life played a significant role in

the jury's decision to impose the death penalty and also seems to suggest that the fact that Dykes incorrectly

indicated that High repeated that statement in the filmed interview suggests that High never said anything,

at any time, about Bulloch begging for his life (or even about High taunting Bulloch). Even if the jury had

known that Dykes stated that High had said Bulloch begged for his life in the film, and had known that High

in fact did not, however, the petitioner has not convinced us that a reasonable juror might not still believe that

High had made that statement to Dykes in his earlier confession. Thus, this argument falls short of putting

the whole case in such a different light such that our confidence in the outcome is undermined.

High also argues that he is, and was at the time of the crime, mentally ill and that his mental illness

is readily apparent from a viewing of the film; as noted, he has introduced expert testimony to that effect.

High, however, cannot show prejudice from his inability to demonstrate his asserted mental illness to the jury

via the film. No other evidence of mental illness was adduced at trial. From our own viewing of the film,

we are unpersuaded that it, as the single piece of mental health evidence that would have been adduced, is

such a compelling indication of mental illness so at to convince us that there is a reasonable probability that

the result of the trial would have been different if the jury had been able to view the film. To the extent, if

at all, that the petitioner argues that he was prejudiced because possession of the film would have allowed

him to present additional mental health expert testimony at trial, we disagree. There is no indication that High

himself was not available for evaluation prior to and during the trial, and the absence of the film in no way

prevented his trial counsel from having additional professional evaluations of him performed and introducing

such evaluations at trial. Indeed, High was examined once under court order during the relevant time frame,

with respect to the unrelated charges that he faced in Augusta.
 16Investigator Dykes testified that High made a statement to him, Agent Ingram testified that High made

a statement to him, and Agent Monahan testified that he was present when High made his statement to

Ingram. 

 17We think it quite possible that introduction of the filmed interview would have actually had a negative

impact on the petitioner's case at trial, considering the film's suggestion, among other things, that High was

the leader of the three perpetrators and that the murder of Bulloch was committed for him. 

18

The evidence introduced at trial against the petitioner was overwhelming; it included an eyewitness

identification from Phillips, the surviving victim, and the testimony of three different law enforcement

officers about statements the petitioner made about his involvement in the crime.16 In light of this evidence,

the petitioner's current complaints relating to the film, even when considered collectively, are not significant.

Had the petitioner been able to make use of his filmed interview during his trial, we conclude that it would

have had, at most, a negligible impact on the outcome.17 Thus, the petitioner has not demonstrated that there

is a reasonable probability that the result of his trial would have been different if the filmed interview had

been disclosed to the defense.

3. Miscarriage of Justice

 Because the petitioner has not demonstrated cause and prejudice sufficient to excuse his failure to

present these claims in his first federal petition, he "may obtain review of his constitutional claims only if he

falls within the 'narrow class of cases ... implicating a fundamental miscarriage of justice.' " Schlup v. Delo,

513 U.S. 298, 315, 115 S.Ct. 851, 861, 130 L.Ed.2d 808 (1995) (quoting McCleskey, 499 U.S. at 494, 111

S.Ct. at 1470). The miscarriage of justice exception "is concerned with actual as compared to legal

innocence." Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 339, 112 S.Ct. 2514, 2519, 120 L.Ed.2d 269 (1992). "To be

credible," a claim of actual innocence "requires petitioner to support his allegations of constitutional error

with new reliable evidence ... that was not presented at trial." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. at 865.

 The miscarriage of justice standard that a petitioner must meet differs depending on the challenge

brought by the petitioner. If the petitioner claims actual innocence of the underlying crime, he must show

that " 'a constitutional violation has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually innocent.' "
19

Id. at 327, 115 S.Ct. at 867 (quoting Carrier, 477 U.S. at 496, 106 S.Ct. at 2649-2650). More specifically,

the petitioner must demonstrate "that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found

petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327, 115 S.Ct. at 867. If, however, a

capital petitioner "challenges his death sentence in particular, he must show 'by clear and convincing

evidence' that no reasonable juror would have found him eligible for the death penalty in light of the new

evidence." Calderon v. Thompson, 523 U.S. 538, 559-60, 118 S.Ct. 1489, 1503, 140 L.Ed.2d 728 (1998)

(quoting Sawyer, 505 U.S. at 348, 112 S.Ct. at 2523).

High asserts both his actual innocence of the underlying crime and his actual innocence of the death

penalty. Specifically, he asserts that the following is new evidence showing that he is actually innocent of

the murder of Bulloch: 1) evidence that he did not kill Bulloch, in the form of: a) a statement, allegedly

withheld from his trial counsel, that he made to Agent Monahan after he was arrested that he was present

when Bulloch was killed, but that he did not kill anyone, and b) the film, revealing that he told the police that

he did not kill anyone and that he did not have enough control over his two companions to stop them from

killing Bulloch; 2) evidence that the law enforcement investigation and testimony were suspect, in the form

of: a) an affidavit from a handwriting expert opining that the petitioner did not write a list of questions

introduced at trial as questions he wanted to be asked during the filmed interview, b) the fact that he did not

say during the filmed interview that he taunted Bulloch and that Bulloch begged for his life, and the fact that

Investigator Dykes testified to the contrary revealed that his investigation and testimony were suspect; and

c) the fact that the prosecutor's closing argument, describing the filmed interview, was allegedly inaccurate;

and 3) evidence that he is and was severely mentally ill.

 Despite this list of asserted new evidence, High has not established that it is more likely than not that

no reasonable juror would have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. High's new evidence in the

form of his statements that he did not kill anyone—both the statement to Agent Monahan and that on the
 18As discussed above, from the film, High relies solely on a police officer's question that includes the

phrase "you say you didn't kill anyone," as evidence of his innocence. Moreover, the petitioner's statement

to Agent Monahan is not a more persuasive denial of guilt or protestation of innocence. Monahan's report

of High's statement simply states, "High, after being advised of his rights, asked if he could be found guilty

of murder simply because he was present when the boy (Bonnie Bulloch) was murdered, to which Agent

Monahan replied that he could. High stated that he was present bud (sic) he did not kill anyone." Instead of

a denial of guilt, High's statement might be interpreted as an attempt on his part to avoid responsibility for

the killing. 

 19Indeed, we cannot assume that High did not actually shoot Bulloch. The film and Monahan's report

of High's statement to him are both equivocal in this regard, whereas both Investigator Dykes and Agent

Ingram unequivocally testified that High stated that they all engaged in the shooting. 

 20The jury did in fact receive a charge on Georgia law regarding conspiracy. 

 21In addition, as previously discussed, we find unpersuasive the petitioner's suggestion that the film

reveals that he attempted to prevent his companions from killing Bulloch. 

20

film—is not the persuasive showing of actual, factual, innocence that the petitioner claims it to be.18 Even

if High himself did not actually shoot Bulloch,19 the evidence is overwhelming that he would nevertheless

still be guilty of the charged offense of murder. Evidence was presented at trial, in the form of statements

(independent of the filmed interview) that High gave to Investigator Dykes and to Agent Ingram revealing

that High, Ruffin and Brown worked together to rob, abduct, and shoot Phillips and Bulloch. In addition,

Phillips physically identified High as one of the perpetrators. From this substantial evidence, the jury could

reasonably have found a plan or conspiracy to rob and kill the victims,20 and thus, High, even if he was not

the trigger man, would still be guilty of the murder of Bulloch. See Thomas v. State, 255 Ga. 38, 334 S.E.2d

675, 676-77 (1985); see also Cargill v. State, 256 Ga. 252, 347 S.E.2d 559, 560 (1986) (" '[i]t matters not

whether it was appellant or [his accomplice] who actually fired the gun during the robbery which resulted in

[the victim's] death. The act of one was the act of the other in the commission of the armed robbery and the

ensuing death which resulted therefrom.' ") (quoting Strong v. State, 232 Ga. 294, 206 S.E.2d 461, 464

(1974)).21

Neither do the petitioner's arguments that the law enforcement investigation and testimony were

suspect persuade us that High is actually innocent of the murder. High argues that an affidavit from a
 22We note, however, that High's trial attorney in fact argued to the jury in his closing statement that High

did not write those questions and he asked the jury to compare the writing of the questions with High's

signature on the indictment. Thus, we can presume that, to the extent the jury thought that the question of

whether or not High wrote those questions was ultimately significant, it made its own determination. See

United States v. Cashio, 420 F.2d 1132, 1135 (5th Cir.1970) (jury is entitled to make a comparison of

handwriting known to be genuine with handwriting in question to determine whether handwriting in question

is genuine). The only thing actually "new" about this evidence is the affidavit of the handwriting expert. 

21

handwriting expert proves that High did not write the list of questions introduced at trial as questions he

wanted to be asked during the filmed interview. This affidavit, if available at trial, could have been used to

impeach the officers' testimony that High did write those questions.22 High also points again to the fact that

he did not say on the film that he taunted Bulloch and that Bulloch begged for his life and to the fact that

Dykes testified to the contrary outside of the jury's presence. As we previously stated, we do not think the

fact that High did not say on the film that he taunted Bulloch significantly undermines Dykes's testimony that

High told him he had done so in a separate statement. If Dykes's erroneous testimony that High said on the

film that Bulloch begged for his life had been given in front of the jury, then the film, if then available, could

have been used to impeach Dykes. We conclude, however, that in light of the substantial evidence that was

produced at trial, including three different officers' testimony about High's confessions and the positive

identification from Phillips, none of this "impeachment evidence provides [a] basis for finding a miscarriage

of justice." Thompson, 523 U.S. at 563, 118 S.Ct. at 1504 ("As in Sawyer, the evidence is a step removed

from evidence pertaining to the crime itself.... It tends only to impeach the credibility of Fink and Del Frate.

To find that these matters in all probability would have altered the outcome of Thompson's trial, we should

have to assume, first, that there was little evidence of rape apart from the informant's testimony....")

Similarly, we conclude that the alleged inaccuracies in the prosecutor's closing argument do not undermine

the integrity of the investigation or prosecution of this case, and certainly do not persuade us that High is

actually innocent.

Nor does petitioner's argument that he is, and was at the time of the crime, mentally ill persuade us

differently. Assuming arguendo that High has brain damage, borderline intellectual functioning, and is
22

seriously mentally ill, we are unpersuaded that High has demonstrated that he was so mentally ill at the time

of the murder of Bulloch that he did not have the capacity to formulate the necessary intent to commit the

crime. Thus, we cannot conclude from the petitioner's evidence of mental illness that it is more likely than

not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In sum,

considering all of High's "new evidence" in light of the totality of the evidence in the record, we cannot

conclude that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty.

 We turn next to High's challenge to the death penalty, and his argument that with his "new evidence"

he has made the necessary miscarriage of justice showing. We conclude that petitioner has not demonstrated

by clear and convincing evidence that "no reasonable juror would have found him eligible for the death

penalty in light of the new evidence." Thompson, 523 U.S. at 560, 118 S.Ct. at 1503. In imposing the death

penalty on the petitioner, the jury found the following aggravating circumstances: "[t]he offense of murder

and armed robbery and kidnapping was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, inhuman in that it involved

torture, depravity of mind, and an aggravated battery to the victim." See O.C.G.A.. § 17-10-30(b)(7). The

Georgia Supreme Court, on direct appeal, found that the evidence of serious psychological abuse by the

petitioner to Bulloch before Bulloch's death, especially in view of the victim's young age and physical

characteristics, supported the jury's finding of aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. See

High v. State, 247 Ga. 289, 276 S.E.2d 5, 13 (1981). The Georgia Supreme Court further found that the crime

was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman because the victim was a young child who was not

a member of the petitioner's family and who had in no way provoked the petitioner to assault him. See id.

As explained above, the petitioner's "new evidence" does not significantly undermine the evidence

of his liability for the murder of Bulloch. We also conclude that petitioner's "new evidence" does not

significantly undermine the evidence that the Georgia Supreme Court found supported the jury's finding of

aggravating circumstances which made the petitioner eligible for the death penalty. As explained above,

High's "new evidence" does not significantly undermine the evidence of petitioner's psychological abuse of
 23In light of our disposition, we need not in this case resolve the dispute between the parties with respect

to the evidence upon which a petitioner can rely in attempting to establish a miscarriage of justice. The state

asserts that a petitioner can rely only upon evidence directly related to the underlying constitutional violation

which petitioner is seeking to have the court address on the merits. Thus, in the instant case, the state asserts

that High can rely only upon the filmed interview itself, which allegedly was suppressed in violation of the

Constitution. Under the state's theory, High could not rely upon the general evidence of mental illness,

unrelated to the allegedly suppressed film. On the other hand, High argues that he should be able to rely upon

any and all evidence in his effort to establish a miscarriage of justice, whether or not the evidence is related

to the alleged constitutional violation which he is urging us to address on the merits. For the reasons

indicated in the text, we need not resolve this dispute between the parties. 

 24For example, the only mental health examination which was conducted at the relevant time apparently

suggested no major mental illness. 

23

Bulloch just prior to the murder. We have also carefully considered whether the "new evidence" of High's

mental heath undermines the aggravating circumstances that render High eligible for the death penalty. We

have carefully reviewed all of the mental health evidence adduced by petitioner in the 1991 evidentiary

hearing in state habeas court, including the filmed interview itself, and the doctors' reports interpreting the

film and their opinions with respect to High's mental health generally.23 Although petitioner has adduced

considerable evidence that High was suffering from a major mental illness at the time he was evaluated by

the doctors in 1991 and for 10 years previous thereto, and has also adduced some evidence that High was

suffering from mental deficiencies or abnormalities at and around the time of the offense and his arrest, we

cannot conclude that High has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable juror would

have found him eligible for the death penalty in light of this "new evidence." We of course evaluate this "new

evidence" in light of the totality of the evidence previously adduced.24 See Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. at 328,

115 S.Ct. at 867. We conclude that High has failed to satisfy the very high threshold showing required under

the case law to demonstrate a miscarriage of justice with respect to the penalty phase. Accordingly, High has

not shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will result if his claims based upon the missing film are

not heard on the merits, and those claims are thus barred as an abuse of the writ.

B. Conflict of Interest
 25High's trial began in November of 1978. 

24

The petitioner also argues that he was deprived of his Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment

rights by his pretrial counsel's simultaneous representation of the petitioner and his two accomplices. Before

his trial, the petitioner was represented by Walton Hardin. Hardin was appointed by the Superior Court of

Taliaferro County to represent the petitioner, as well as Ruffin and Brown, in March of 1977. In February

of 1978, High retained John H. Ruffin, Jr. (who is not related to the petitioner's accomplice, Judson Ruffin),

while Ruffin and Brown continued to be represented by Hardin.25 Ruffin and Brown were each eventually

granted federal habeas relief because of Hardin's conflicted representation. See Ruffin v. Kemp, 767 F.2d 748

(11th Cir.1985); Brown v. Kemp, No. CV 188-027 (S.D.Ga.1989). The petitioner now argues that he is

entitled to the same relief. Because the petitioner did not raise this claim in his first federal habeas petition,

however, it is also subject to the abuse of the writ analysis.

 The petitioner cannot show cause for not raising this claim in his first federal petition. He suggests

that his first habeas counsel's inexperience with capital habeas corpus petitions constitutes cause. This

argument fails, however, because "counsel's ineffectiveness will constitute cause only if it is an independent

constitutional violation." Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 754-55, 111 S.Ct. 2546, 2567, 115 L.Ed.2d

640 (1991) ("In the absence of a constitutional violation, the petitioner bears the risk in federal habeas for all

attorney errors made in the course of the representation."). Defendants have no constitutional right to counsel

when collaterally attacking their convictions; this is true even in capital cases. See Hill v. Jones, 81 F.3d

1015, 1024 (11th Cir.1996); see also Callins v. Johnson, 89 F.3d 210, 212 (5th Cir.1996) (concluding that

"no error by habeas counsel can ever constitute cause for abusing the writ"). Because the petitioner "by

reasonable means could have obtained ... a sufficient basis to allege [this] claim in [his] first petition and

pursue the matter through the habeas process," he has failed to demonstrate cause. McCleskey, 499 U.S. at

498, 111 S.Ct. at 1472.
25

 Nor has the petitioner shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if this claim is not

heard on the merits. High asserts, with no supporting citation of authority, that if a petitioner can show a

conflict of interest, then he has necessarily shown enough innocence to have the conflict claim addressed on

the merits. In other words, the petitioner apparently argues that if he can show a conflict of interest, he need

not show actual, factual innocence. However, this argument is inconsistent with the plain meaning of

Supreme Court precedent describing the showing that is required to come within the miscarriage of justice

exception to the abuse of the writ doctrine. See, e.g., Schlup, 513 U.S. at 316, 115 S.Ct. at 861 ("Without any

new evidence of innocence, even the existence of a concedely meritorious constitutional violation is not in

itself sufficient to establish a miscarriage of justice that would allow a habeas court to reach the merits of a

barred claim."). It is also inconsistent with precedent of our own Court. See, e.g., Porter v. Singletary, 49

F.3d 1483, 1485 (11th Cir.1995) (per curiam ) (concluding that petitioner's claim that the attorney who

represented him at sentencing was ineffective because he labored under a conflict of interest was barred as

an abuse of the writ because the petitioner had not demonstrated cause and prejudice or a miscarriage of

justice); Weeks v. Jones, 26 F.3d 1030, 1046 (11th Cir.1994) (concluding that petitioner's claim that trial

counsel was ineffective because of a conflict of interest was procedurally barred); cf. Brownlow v. Groose,

66 F.3d 997, 999 (8th Cir.1995) (concluding that the petitioner had failed to make the necessary showing of

actual innocence required by Schlup to overcome the procedural default barrier to his claim that his attorney

was ineffective due to a conflict of interest).

As discussed above, the showing that is required to come within the miscarriage of justice exception

is a demonstration "that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty

beyond a reasonable doubt." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327, 115 S.Ct. at 867. And for a challenge to a death

sentence in particular, a petitioner "must show by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable juror

would have found him eligible for the death penalty in light of the new evidence." Thompson, 523 U.S. at

560, 118 S.Ct. at 1503, (internal citation omitted). The petitioner has made neither showing. He seeks to rely
26

again on the "new evidence" asserted above to support his contention that his claims relating to the missing

film must be heard to avoid a miscarriage of justice. As already discussed, however, that new evidence falls

short of the showing required by the miscarriage of justice exception to the abuse of the writ doctrine. The

totality of the evidence in the record, including the asserted new evidence, supports the conclusion that the

petitioner planned or conspired to rob, kidnap, and murder Phillips and Bulloch, that he participated in putting

Phillips in the trunk of the car and the boy in the back seat, that High taunted or psychologically abused the

boy, that they traveled to a remote location to carry out the murder and attempted murder, and that High was

the leader of the three coconspirators in this venture even if he himself was not the trigger man. We readily

conclude that the petitioner has failed to show that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would

have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence

that no reasonable juror would have found him eligible for the death penalty.

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court denying relief is

AFFIRMED.