IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 14-70035

GUSTAVO JULIAN GARCIA

Petitioner – Appellant

v.

WILLIAM STEPHENS, DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL 

JUSTICE, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS DIVISION

Respondent – Appellee

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Eastern District of Texas

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, JONES, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.

PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:

Gustavo Garcia was convicted of capital murder by a Texas jury and 

sentenced to death. This is his second federal habeas petition. The district 

court denied relief on the merits, ordered the case dismissed with prejudice, 

and did not issue a certificate of appealability (COA). Garcia now requests a 

COA from this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1) to appeal the district 

court’s denial of relief. Having carefully reviewed the record, we hold that 

Garcia failed to exhaust state court remedies with regard to one of the claims 

he now raises. To the extent Garcia’s remaining claims might be barred by 

AEDPA’s procedural strictures we invoke the statutory discretion afforded us 

to decline to address that possibility and proceed to deny those claims on the 

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

July 17, 2015

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

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merits.1 We hold that reasonable jurists could not debate the district court’s 

conclusions as to Garcia’s remaining claims and accordingly DENY Garcia’s 

request for a COA.

I. Procedural History

In 1991, a Texas jury found Garcia guilty of capital murder for shooting 

and killing Craig Turski in the course of committing a robbery at a liquor store 

where Turski worked.2 The jury sentenced Garcia to death. On automatic 

direct appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) initially reversed 

Garcia’s conviction and ordered a new trial, holding that a written confession 

signed by Garcia violated Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 38.22 § 

2(b), which “requires that no written statement made by the defendant be 

admitted into evidence unless, on its face, the statement contains a knowing, 

intelligent, and voluntary waiver of the rights set forth in [section 2(a), which 

operationalizes a standard Miranda warning].”3 Although Garcia had initialed 

“G.G.” before numbered warnings mirroring the rights listed in section 2(a) 

and had signed his name adjacent to additional language reinforcing those 

warnings, the CCA concluded that the written confession did not include “on 

its face” an express waiver of those rights.4

The CCA subsequently granted a motion for rehearing and reversed 

course, affirming the trial court and holding, “though a close call,” that Garcia’s 

individual initialing beside the warnings, taken in context with his signature 

adjacent to the additional reinforcing language, constituted sufficient evidence 

 

1 See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus may be denied 

on the merits, notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust the remedies available 

in the courts of the State.”).

2 Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.03(a)(2).

3 Garcia v. State, 919 S.W.2d 370, 383 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (reversing and 

remanding on original submission; affirming on rehearing).

4 Id. at 385.

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that Garcia “did, on the face of his voluntary statement, knowingly, 

voluntarily, and intelligently waive his [s]ection 2(a) rights in a manner 

sufficient to comply with the legislature’s intent when it enacted [s]ection 

2(b).”5 Garcia did not file a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court. 

Garcia filed his first application for a writ of habeas corpus in state court 

in 1997.6 In 1998, the state habeas court issued findings of fact and conclusions 

of law, recommending that the application be denied. In February 1999, the 

CCA adopted the state habeas court’s findings and conclusions and denied 

habeas relief without written order.7 The state trial court set Garcia’s 

execution date for March 31, 1999. In March 1999, the United States District 

Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Judge Schell, granted a motion to 

appoint new counsel and stayed Garcia’s execution.

Garcia filed his first federal habeas petition in August 1999, which was 

supplemented in 2000.8 In response, the state confessed error as to Garcia’s 

claim that the trial court allowed improper testimony by the state’s expert 

witness during the punishment phase of the trial—so-called Saldano error.9

 

5 Id. at 387 (“We agree that appellant’s statement, while sufficient to comply with 

Article 38.22, Section 2(b), is by no means a model of clarity on this point. The clearly 

preferable practice is for a written statement, to meet unambiguously the requirements of 

Section 2(b), to contain the following language, near or adjacent to the signature of the 

individual giving the statement: ‘I knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived the rights 

described above before and during the making of this statement.’”) (citations omitted).

6 See Garcia v. Director, TDCJ-CID, NO. 1:08-cv-720, 2014 WL 5846377, at *1 (E.D. 

Tex. Nov. 10, 2014) (unpublished).

7 Ex parte Garcia, No. WR–40,214–01 (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 10, 1999) (unpublished).

8 See Garcia v. Director, TDCJ-CID, NO. 1:08-cv-720, 2014 WL 5846377, at *1 (E.D. 

Tex. Nov. 10, 2014) (unpublished).

9 See Saldano v. Texas, 530 U.S. 1212 (2000) (mem. op.). The error involved the state’s 

use of a psychologist who testified that one factor predictive of future dangerousness is the 

defendant’s race, and that Garcia’s Hispanic ethnicity portended future violence. In Saldano, 

the Supreme Court vacated a death sentence after the Texas attorney general confessed that 

substantially similar testimony from the same psychologist had been improperly admitted. 

“Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Saldano, four other state inmates, [including 

Garcia,] each of whom had been sentenced to death as a result of punishment-phase hearings 

in which [the psychologist] gave substantially similar testimony, petitioned for federal writs 

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On September 6, 2000, the federal district court issued a conditional writ of 

habeas corpus, requiring the state to conduct a new sentencing hearing.

The state trial court held a second jury trial on sentencing in February 

and March of 2001, and the jury again sentenced Garcia to death.10 On 

automatic direct appeal, the CCA affirmed Garcia’s sentence.11 The CCA 

denied Garcia’s motion for rehearing. Garcia filed a petition for certiorari. The 

Supreme Court denied certiorari on October 4, 2004, and subsequently denied 

Garcia’s motion for rehearing.12

Meanwhile, Garcia filed a second application for a writ of habeas corpus 

in state court. On February 12, 2008, the state trial court issued findings of 

fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be denied.13 The CCA 

denied relief in a brief written order on October 15, 2008.14

Garcia began the instant proceedings on November 27, 2008 in United 

States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; he sought and received 

appointment of counsel by Judge Heartfield. He filed his second federal habeas 

petition on October 11, 2009. The district court denied relief in a 163-page 

opinion on November 10, 2014, dismissing the case and declining to grant a 

 

of habeas corpus. The Attorney General confessed error in each case and, in each, the federal 

court vacated the death sentence and granted a new sentencing hearing.” Saldano v. Roach, 

363 F.3d 545, 549 n.2 (5th Cir. 2004).

10 1 RR (2001) at 20-26. Citations to “RR” herein refer to the “Reporter’s Records” for 

Garcia’s 1992 and 2001 trials, respectively. Similarly, citations to “CR” refer to “Clerk’s 

Records” for Garcia’s 1992 and 2001 trials, respectively. 

11 Garcia v. State, No. 71417, 2003 WL 22669744 (Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 12, 2003) 

(unpublished).

12 Garcia v. Texas, No. 03-10873, 543 U.S. 855 (Oct. 4, 2004).

13 See Appellant’s Record Excerpts at Tab 4.

14 Ex Parte Garcia, No. WR-40214-02, 2008 WL 4573962 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 15, 

2008).

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certificate of appealability (COA).15 Garcia now requests a COA from this court 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253.

II. Facts of the Offense

We rely on the CCA’s factual recitation,16 which summarized the facts of 

the offense as follows:

The evidence at trial established that on December 9, 1990 

[Garcia] and Christopher Vargas entered a liquor store, Beverage 

Warehouse, in the city of Plano. [Garcia] was armed with a single 

shot .20 gauge sawed-off shotgun and had additional shells in his 

possession. [Garcia] ordered the clerk, Craig Turski, to give him 

the money from the cash register. At the same time, Vargas took 

beer from the store and put it in their car. A female customer 

walked in the store, saw [Garcia], and immediately left.

[Garcia] shot Turski at close range in the abdomen. Turski 

fled outside the store, pursued by [Garcia]. [Garcia] then reloaded 

the shotgun and shot Turski in the back of the head. The female 

customer, Donna Delozier Sawtelle, subsequently returned to the 

store with her husband. Finding the store deserted, they called the 

police. Turski was found and was transported to the hospital, 

where he later died from gunshot wounds.

On January 5, 1991 at about 12:30 a.m., Vargas, [Garcia] 

and [Garcia’s] girlfriend (Sheila Phanae Loe) stopped at a Texaco 

station in Plano. While Loe pumped gas, [Garcia] and Vargas 

entered the station with the same .20 gauge shotgun used to kill 

Turski. The clerk, Gregory Martin, was on the phone with his 

girlfriend. As he saw them enter, he informed her he thought he 

was about to be robbed and asked her to call the police. Martin was 

taken into a back room and shot at point blank range in the back

of the head. He died at the scene.

[Garcia] claimed Vargas shot Martin. Evidence introduced 

at trial, however, indicated Vargas was carrying beer to their car 

 

15 Garcia v. Director, TDCJ-CID, NO. 1:08-cv-720, 2014 WL 5846377 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 

10, 2014) (unpublished).

16 See Reed v. Stephens, 739 F.3d 753, 760-61 (5th Cir. 2014) (relying on CCA’s factual 

recitation).

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(as he did in the earlier robbery) while [Garcia] shot the clerk. In 

addition, the shotgun was found near the freezer in close proximity 

to [Garcia] at the time of his capture. Two firearms experts 

testified at trial that the shotgun found at the scene of Martin’s 

murder was the same weapon used in Turski’s murder.

Alerted by Martin’s girlfriend, the police arrived at the scene 

to find [Garcia], Vargas and Loe still present, Vargas was found, 

unarmed, standing over Martin’s body. He claimed to have just 

entered the store and found Martin lying there. [Garcia] was found 

hiding in the freezer area close to where the shotgun was found.

[Garcia] was transported to the Plano Police Department. He 

was read his “Miranda” warnings repeatedly. He subsequently 

confessed, both orally and in writing, to the murders of both Turski 

and Martin. His confessions were videotaped, and a separate 

written confession was prepared for each offense.

[Garcia’s] written statement regarding the killing of Turski 

in its entirety reads as follows:

Det. Wilson is writing my statement. Approx. 3–4 

weeks from today's date, Chris Vargas & I robbed a 

liquor store & I killed the clerk. The liquor store was 

behind a 7–11 store at Plano Pkwy. & Ave. K. I was 

driving Sheila's Chev. Monza. We waited in the liquor 

store parking lot until the customers all left. Both 

Chris & I pulled a 20 ga. sawed-off shotgun on the 

clerk. I had the clerk give me the money out of the cash 

register & it was about $500. Chris was grabbing up 

beer. Chris went outside to pull the car up to the front 

door. I had the clerk go into a little room next to the 

cash register & I had him get on his knees. A customer, 

a white woman walked in the store & saw me & she 

walked back out. I then panicked and I shot the clerk 

with the shotgun. The clerk started coming at me & 

threw a chair at me and then he ran outside. I loaded 

the shotgun & shot the clerk again outside the store. 

The clerk had jumped over the fence & was in some 

grass when I shot him the 2nd time. I then ran to the 

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car & we drove off. I told Sheila my common-law wife 

about the robbery after we did it. End—G.G.17

The statement was completed at 9:05 a.m. on January 5, 

1991. Each page is signed by [Garcia] and two witnesses. The 

statement was taken by Det. David Wilson of the Plano Police 

Department. . . .

At trial, an acquaintance of [Garcia], Bobby Flores, testified 

he was at Vargas' house the night of the Turski murder. Flores 

testified that Vargas and [Garcia] left the house and subsequently 

returned with beer and a lot of money. Flores asked [Garcia] where 

he got the beer and money. [Garcia] in response stated he went 

into a store, took the beer and money, shot the clerk and left.18

III. Standard of Review

Pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, 

28 U.S.C. §§ 2244, 2253-2266 (“AEDPA”), a prisoner seeking postconviction 

habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 may appeal a district court’s dismissal of 

his petition only if he first seeks and obtains a COA from the district court or 

the court of appeals.19 To obtain a COA, the petitioner must make “a 

substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”20 “A petitioner 

satisfies this standard by demonstrating that jurists of reason could disagree 

with the district court's resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists

could conclude the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to 

proceed further.”21

 

17 75 RR (1991) at 111-12 (State’s Ex. No. 3). The written statement regarding the 

killing of Martin is also contained in the record. 75 RR (1991) at 107-09 (State’s Ex. No. 2).

18 Garcia, 919 S.W.2d at 383-85.

19 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A).

20 Id. at § 2253(c)(2).

21 Miller-El v. Cockrell (“Miller-El I”), 537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003).

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In considering an application for a COA, we limit our “examination to a 

threshold inquiry into the underlying merit of [the petitioner’s] claims.”22 “This 

threshold inquiry does not require full consideration of the factual or legal 

bases adduced in support of the claims. In fact, the statute forbids it.”23 In 

death penalty cases, “any doubts as to whether a COA should issue must be 

resolved in [the petitioner’s] favor.”24

Under AEDPA, a district court may not grant habeas relief with respect 

to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in state court proceedings, 

unless the state court’s denial of habeas relief:

(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an 

unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, 

as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or

(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable 

determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in 

the State court proceeding.25

“A state court's decision is ‘contrary to’ clearly established federal law if 

‘the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the 

Supreme Court] on a question of law or if the state court decides a case 

differently than [the Supreme Court] has on a set of materially 

indistinguishable facts.’”26 “A state court's decision involves an ‘unreasonable 

application’ of clearly established federal law if ‘the state court identifies the 

correct governing legal principle from [the Supreme Court's] decisions but 

 

22 Id. (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 481 (2000)).

23 Id. at 336.

24 Reed v. Stephens, 739 F.3d 753, 764 (5th Cir. 2014) (alteration in original) (citation 

omitted).

25 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)

26 Hoffman v. Cain, 752 F.3d 430, 437 (5th Cir. 2014) (alterations in original) (quoting 

Williams v. Taylor 529 U.S. 362, 413 (2000)).

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unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner's case.’”27

Finally, we presume correct any factual findings made by the state court unless 

the petitioner “rebut[s] the presumption of correctness by clear and convincing 

evidence.”28

IV. Discussion

Garcia presents four claims in his COA application: (1) a claim that the 

admission into evidence at trial of two written confessions violated his rights 

under Miranda; (2) a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on a 

contention that trial counsel unreasonably failed to object at trial to the 

admission of Garcia’s confessions on the basis that he was legally blind and 

could not read printed Miranda warnings or the confessions themselves; and 

(3)-(4) a pair of Batson claims that the state prosecution based its use of 

peremptory challenges during voir dire on impermissible racial characteristics 

in violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

A. Miranda and the Written Confessions

Garcia requests a COA for his claim that the admission into evidence of 

his two written confessions violated the requirements set out by the Supreme 

Court in Miranda v. Arizona.29 The state trial court found that “[t]here is no 

evidence that [Garcia] was compelled in any way to give a confession or that 

his will was overborne by the police officers in any way.”30 We presume the 

correctness of this finding.31 Garcia has not offered clear and convincing 

evidence to rebut it and he thus fails to make a substantial showing that the 

admission of his confessions violated a constitutional right.

 

27 Id. (alterations in original) (quoting Williams v. Taylor 529 U.S. 362, 413 (2000)).

28 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). 

29 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

30 4 CR (1992) at 128.

31 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1).

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1. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.22

As an initial matter, Garcia urges that the merits of his Miranda claim 

are fairly debatable by reasonable jurists because the CCA initially overturned 

his conviction on grounds that one of the written confessions violated a Texas 

statute that operationalizes Miranda.32 Garcia argues in essence that the 

CCA’s reversal necessarily indicates that jurists have disagreed about the 

merits of his Miranda claim. This argument is misplaced, as “federal habeas 

corpus relief does not lie for errors of state law.”33 The relevant question before 

this court is not whether reasonable jurists could disagree about whether the 

written confessions complied with a Texas statute. Rather, we must consider

whether reasonable jurists could disagree about whether the admission of the 

statements violated the Constitution.34

2. Waiver of Miranda Rights

Miranda requires that prior to a custodial interrogation an accused 

person must be warned: (1) that he has a right to remain silent; (2) that any 

statement he makes can and will be used as evidence against him in court; (3) 

that he has a right to consult with counsel prior to questioning; (4) that he has 

a right to have counsel present during any questioning; and (5) that if he 

cannot afford an attorney a lawyer will be appointed to represent him.35 “If the 

individual indicates in any manner, at any time prior to or during questioning, 

that he wishes to [invoke any of these rights], the interrogation must cease.”36

 

32 See Garcia v. State, 919 S.W.2d 370, 383 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (reversing and 

remanding on original submission; affirming on rehearing); see supra Part I.

33 Swarthout v. Cooke, 562 U.S. 216, 219 (2011) (quoting Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 

62, 67 (1991)).

34 See Miller-El I, 537 at 328 (requiring “a substantial showing of the denial of a 

constitutional right”); Lowery v. Collins, 988 F.2d 1364, 1367 (5th Cir. 1993) (“To obtain 

review of a state court judgment under [section] 2254, a [petitioner] must assert a violation 

of a federal constitutional right.”).

35 Id. at 468-74.

36 Id. at 473-74.

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Although an accused “may waive effectuation of the rights conveyed in 

[these] warnings,”37 the Supreme Court has held that statements made “during 

a custodial interrogation [are] inadmissible at trial unless the prosecution can 

establish that the accused ‘in fact knowingly and voluntarily waived Miranda

rights’ when making the statement.”38 This is a two-part inquiry, considered 

under the “totality of the circumstances surrounding the interrogation.”39

First, the waiver must have been “the product of free and deliberate choice 

rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception.”40 Second, “the waiver must 

have been made with a full awareness of both the nature of the right being 

abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it.”41

The trial court found that Garcia “was twice read his Miranda warnings” 

orally and “did not invoke his right to remain silent or his right to counsel,” 

nor did he “indicate in any manner that he desired to do so.”42 This in addition 

to the fact that Garcia placed his initials beside language tracking Miranda on 

the face of each written confession.43 Garcia does not dispute that he received 

a proper Miranda warning before offering his confessions and that he did not 

invoke any Miranda right. He contends only that a reasonable jurist could 

conclude that Garcia did not voluntarily waive his Miranda rights under the 

totality of the circumstances. In support, Garcia cites the following factual 

circumstances: “Garcia was only four months past his 18th birthday, with 

moderate education, interrogated by experienced police[,] exhausted, 

 

37 Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421 (1986).

38 Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 382 (2010) (alterations omitted) (quoting 

North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 373 (1979)).

39 Burbine, 475 U.S. at 421.

40 Id.

41 Id.

42 4 CR (1992) at 128.

43 75 RR (1991) at 111-12 (State’s Ex. No. 3); 75 RR (1991) at 107-09 (State’s Ex. No. 

2).

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hungover, lacking his glasses, and unable to read adequately the statements 

written for him.”44

Garcia also cites two cases: Mincey v. Arizona45 and United States v. 

Murphy.46 The factual circumstances of these cases are easily distinguished 

from the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s confessions. In Mincey, the 

Supreme Court held that a confession was involuntary where the accused: “had 

been seriously wounded just a few hours” before confessing; was in 

“unbearable” pain; was “in the intensive care unit . . . lying on his back on a 

hospital bed, encumbered by tubes, needles, and [a] breathing apparatus;” was 

“confused and unable to think clearly about either the events . . . or the 

circumstances of his interrogation;” gave incoherent answers; and even “[in] 

his debilitated and helpless condition . . . clearly expressed his wish not to be 

interrogated.”47 In Murphy, the Second Circuit held that a waiver was not 

knowing where the interrogating officer had given an “incomprehensible 

instruction” that “strongly suggest[ed] that the [accused] should talk if they 

wished to exercise their rights—or, put another way, that they would waive 

their rights if they remained silent.”48 The factual circumstances to which 

Garcia points fall short of the egregious conditions present in Mincey and 

Murphy. By contrast to these cases, Garcia was given multiple correct Miranda 

warnings before confessing. Even assuming that Garcia was young, exhausted, 

and without his glasses, Garcia cannot show that he failed to understand the 

warnings or that he attempted to invoke his rights in any way.

Garcia’s Miranda claim is without merit. “[A] suspect who has received 

and understood the Miranda warnings, and has not invoked his Miranda

 

44 Application for COA at 18.

45 437 U.S. 385 (1978).

46 703 F.3d 182 (2d Cir. 2012).

47 437 U.S. at 398-401 (emphasis added).

48 703 F.3d at 193.

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rights, waives the right to remain silent by making an uncoerced statement to 

the police.”49 Moreover, “waivers may be direct or, in some instances, they may 

‘be clearly inferred from the actions and words of the person interrogated.’”50

“Once it is determined that a suspect's decision not to rely on his rights was 

uncoerced, that he at all times knew he could stand mute and request a lawyer, 

and that he was aware of the State's intention to use his statements to secure 

a conviction, the analysis is complete and the waiver is valid as a matter of 

law.”51 No reasonable jurist could conclude that the evidence Garcia offers 

clearly and convincingly rebuts the state habeas court’s finding that Garcia 

received, understood, and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights.

B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Garcia requests a COA for his claim that trial counsel unreasonably 

failed to challenge the voluntariness of Garcia’s confessions on the basis that 

Garcia is “legally blind” and without his glasses could not read the printed 

Miranda warnings or the written statements.52 In light of the record and our 

controlling precedents, no reasonable jurist could conclude that Garcia’s 

counsel rendered constitutionally deficient performance.

As an initial matter, Garcia argues that “no reasonable jurist could agree 

with the [district court’s] legal conclusion that factually established blindness 

fails to go to the heart of whether one signed a knowing waiver of rights.”53

This argument misconstrues both the district court’s holding and the relevant 

ineffective assistance of counsel framework. The district court held that Garcia 

had not met his burden under section 2254(d) because “the trial court 

 

49 Berghuis, 560 U.S. at 388-89.

50 United States v. Collins, 40 F.3d 95, 99 (5th Cir. 1994) (quoting Butler, 441 U.S. at 

373).

51 Burbine, 475 U.S. at 422-23.

52 Application for COA at 21-23.

53 Id. at 23.

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reasonably found that Garcia had not shown that his trial attorneys were 

ineffective on this issue.”54 We construe Garcia’s application for COA as 

regarding the district court’s ineffective assistance of counsel holding 

generally.

1.

For ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC) claims, “the clearly 

established federal law against which we measure the state court’s denial of 

relief is the standard set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 

(1984).”55 “The metric is now rote.”56 To succeed on this claim, Garcia must 

show: (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient and (2) that the deficient 

performance prejudiced the defense.57 A petitioner must make both showings; 

otherwise “it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from 

a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable.”58

“To satisfy the deficient performance prong, ‘the defendant must show 

that counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of 

reasonableness.’”59 This is a “highly deferential” inquiry, attended by “a strong 

presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable 

professional assistance.”60 “To satisfy the prejudice prong, the defendant must 

show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s 

unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been 

 

54 Garcia v. Director, TDCJ-CID, 2014 WL 5846377, at *67 (Nov. 10, 2014).

55 Ward v. Stephens, 777 F.3d 250, 263 (5th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks and 

citation omitted).

56 Hoffman v. Cain, 752 F.3d 430, 439 (5th Cir. 2014).

57 Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687.

58 Id. at 688.

59 Hoffman, 752 F.3d at 440 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688) (internal quotation 

marks omitted).

60 Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689) (internal quotation marks omitted).

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different.”61 Finally, while “[s]urmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an 

easy task,”62 “[t]he standards created by Strickland and [section] 2254(d) are 

both ‘highly deferential,’ and when the two apply in tandem, review is ‘doubly’ 

so.”63 To the extent Garcia’s claim arrives as a challenge to the state court’s 

application of Strickland under section 2254(d)(1), as opposed to a challenge 

under section 2254(d)(2) to its determination of the facts, Garcia’s burden “is 

all the more difficult.”64

2.

We are persuaded that no reasonable jurist could conclude that Garcia 

has made a substantial showing of constitutionally ineffective assistance under 

Strickland. Trial counsel did move to suppress the written confessions on the 

basis of voluntariness generally,65 and during the suppression hearings 

counsel did explore a line of inquiry related to Garcia’s ability to see and read 

(excerpt below). These circumstances alone arguably place counsel’s conduct 

within “the wide range of reasonable professional assistance,”66 relevant to 

Strickland’s first prong. That counsel did not specifically object on the basis of 

Garcia’s alleged blindness therefore cannot support the issuance of a COA on 

Garcia’s IAC claim.

In addition, the issue of Garcia’s ability to read the written statements 

was fully developed before the trial court and the record overwhelmingly belies 

Garcia’s assertion that he could not have read and understood the written 

 

61 Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694) (internal quotation marks and alternations 

omitted).

62 Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 371 (2010).

63 Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 105 (2011) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689,

Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320, 333 n.7 (1997), Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111, 123 

(2009)).

64 Id.

65 4 CR (1992) at 709.

66 Hoffman, 752 F.3d at 440.

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statements without his glasses. On cross-examination of the officer who 

obtained Garcia’s confession, defense counsel elicited testimony regarding 

whether Garcia had his glasses when he confessed and whether the officer 

knew that Garcia might need them to read the written statements:

[After playing a video recording of the interview.]

[Defense Counsel]: [Garcia] is not wearing his glasses in that 

interview, is he?

[Detective Wilson]: I don’t see him wearing any glasses.

[Defense Counsel]: Did you know he needs glasses?

[Detective Wilson]: If he needs them?

[Defense Counsel]: Did you know?

[Detective Wilson]: You know, I’d have to go through the whole 

tape to listen to what he says to know 

that because I have not reviewed the tape . . . 

[Defense Counsel]: I’m asking you now. Did you know that he 

needed glasses at the time?

[Detective Wilson]: If he did, I don’t remember is all I can answer—

[Defense Counsel]: Okay.

[Detective Wilson]: Is all—the only way I can answer that 

question.67

Subsequently, the following exchange took place during the prosecution’s 

redirect examination of the same officer:

[Prosecution]: Did you hand that statement back to him and tell 

 

67 9 RR (1991) at 492-93.

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him to check it to make sure [you] haven’t switched 

things up on [him] or altered it in some way?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, sir.

[Prosecution]: Did he appear to do that?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes. 

[Prosecution]: Did he appear to be satisfied that it was the same 

statement?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes.

[Prosecution]: Had you altered it or modified it or changed it in any 

way? 

[Detective Wilson]: No, sir.

[Prosecution]: You recall those questions about how close he had 

to get to the paper in order to read the warnings?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, sir.

[Prosecution]: Those warnings are printed in rather small 

type, aren’t they?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, sir.

[Prosecution]: Did he tell you whether or not he thought he could 

read them?

[Detective Wilson]: He told me he could read them.

[Prosecution]: All right. Did he appear to read them?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, sir.

[Prosecution]: All right. Did he read the statement after you had 

written it? 

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[Detective Wilson]: Yes.

[Prosecution]: Did you watch him read it?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, sir.

[Prosecution]: Did he appear to you to understand it? 

[Detective Wilson]: Yes. 

[Prosecution]: Did you notice at any time while you were talking to 

him whether he made any nodding motions with his 

head as he was reading which would indicate to 

most observers that he did understand what he was 

reading and probably approved of it?

[Detective Wilson]: Yes, I did.68

Based on the record, the trial court concluded that Garcia “read his 

written statements before signing them” and that “[t]here is no evidence that 

[Garcia] was unable to read the English language or to read or understand [the 

Miranda warnings] or written statements.”69 These conclusions are entitled to 

a presumption of correctness.70 Although Garcia claims without citation that 

he is “legally blind,” he offers no evidence—much less clear and convincing 

evidence—to rebut the trial court’s findings and conclusions. As this court has 

interpreted Strickland, “counsel is not required to make futile motions or 

objections.”71 Garcia cannot meet even the first of Strickland’s two prongs.

 

68 12 RR (1991) at 1036-38; see also 62 RR (1991) at 62 (Consistent testimony by 

Detective Wilson), 69 RR (1991) at 748 (same).

69 4 CR (1992) at 712. Moreover, when this issue was revisited during the first state 

habeas proceedings, the trial court found that Garcia “could, and did, read the warnings and 

his statement of confession without his glasses” and that Garcia’s “counsel did raise the issue 

of [Garcia’s] ability to read without his glasses during the motion to suppress.” R.889 (citing 

SHCR-01 at 96).

70 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). 

71 Koch v. Puckett, 907 F.2d 524, 527 (5th Cir. 1990) (citation omitted).

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C. Batson Claims

Garcia requests a COA for a pair of claims that the state prosecution 

based its use of peremptory challenges on impermissible racial characteristics 

in violation of equal protection as articulated in Batson v. Kentucky.72

Specifically, these claims relate to peremptory challenges used by the state 

during voir dire at the 1991 trial to strike from the venire potential jurors 

Hazel Holmes, an African American, and Albert Diaz, a Hispanic American.

Viewing the voir dire process “in hindsight,” Holmes and Diaz were “the only 

two qualified racial minority members of the entire venire panel that came on 

individual voir dire.”73 Garcia urges, as he must, that reasonable jurists could 

disagree with the district court’s conclusion that his Batson claims fall short 

under AEDPA’s deferential standard.74

A Batson claim involves three steps. First, the defendant must make a 

prima facie showing to the trial court that the prosecutor has exercised a 

peremptory strike at the defendant’s trial on the basis of race.75 Second, if a

requisite showing is made, the burden shifts to the prosecutor to produce a 

race-neutral explanation for striking the venireperson at issue and thus rebut 

the defendant’s prima facie case.76 “At this [second] step of the inquiry, the 

issue is the facial validity of the prosecutor’s explanation. Unless a 

discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor’s explanation, the reason 

offered will be deemed race neutral.”77 Third, if the prosecution tenders a race-

 

72 476 U.S. 79, 95-98 (1986).

73 61 RR (1991) at 32-34

74 Miller-El I, 537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003). For the district court’s reasoning and 

conclusion on these claims, see Garcia v. Director, TDCJ-CID, 2014 WL 5846377, at *9-*12 

(Nov. 10, 2014).

75 Batson, 476 U.S. at 93-94, 96-97.

76 Id. at 94, 97-98.

77 Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 360 (1991) (plurality op.).

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neutral explanation, “the trial court must determine whether the defendant 

has carried his ultimate burden of proving purposeful discrimination.”78

To be clear, Garcia does not argue that the state trial court unreasonably 

applied Batson.79 Nor could he, as the trial court employed the proper steps in 

evaluating Garcia’s claims.80 Rather, he claims that in light of the evidence 

presented the trial court unreasonably determined that the prosecutor offered 

legitimate and racially neutral reasons for striking Holmes and Diaz.81

Garcia lodged objections to both of the state’s peremptory challenges 

before the trial court on grounds that the strikes were racially motivated.82 In 

both cases, the trial court asked the prosecutor to state his reasons for the 

challenge.83 Where a trial court has called on the prosecutor to provide raceneutral justifications for the use of its peremptory strikes, we assume for 

purposes of review on appeal that the defendant made the requisite prima facie 

showing under Batson step one.84 We therefore consider: (1) whether the 

prosecution articulated race-neutral explanations for the exercise of its 

challenges and (2) whether the defendant demonstrated that those 

justifications were pre-textual and that the prosecutor engaged in purposeful 

discrimination.

 

78 Id. (citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 94 & n.18, 98).

79 See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).

80 36 RR (1991) at 3760 (Holmes), 39 RR (1991) at 4358-66 (Diaz); see Garcia, 919 

S.W.2d at 394-95.

81 See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2).

82 36 RR (1991) at 3759-60, 3765-67 (Holmes); 39 RR (1991) at 4366 (Diaz). Garcia 

unsuccessfully raised both claims on direct appeal to the CCA. Garcia v. State, 919 S.W.2d 

370, 394-95 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) (decision on rehearing).

83 Id.

84 United States v. Webster, 162 F.3d 308, 349 (5th Cir. 1998); see Hernandez v. New 

York, 500 U.S. 352, 359 (1991) (plurality op.) (“Once a prosecutor has offered a race-neutral 

explanation for the peremptory challenges and the trial court has ruled on the ultimate 

question of intentional discrimination, the preliminary issue of whether the defendant had 

made a prima facie showing becomes moot.”).

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The state trial court ultimately found that the prosecution offered 

legitimate and racially neutral reasons for striking Holmes and Diaz, and that 

the challenges lacked a discriminatory intent.85 Garcia faces a high hurdle 

under section 2254(d)(2), as we accord “great deference” to a trial court’s 

findings in these circumstances.86 Were we to grant a COA and proceed to the 

merits, our role would be “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.’”87

1. Hazel Holmes

We address first Garcia’s Batson claim with regard to prospective juror 

Hazel Holmes. The prosecution offered the following race-neutral explanations 

for striking Holmes: (1) her “unequivocal opposition to the death penalty” as 

stated in her initial juror questionnaire; (2) “that [she] had . . . a son who [had] 

been subjected . . . to multiple prosecutions[,] some of which occurred in [the 

instant county];” (3) that she “expressed at least once that she [felt] that her 

son was not fairly treated either by police officers or the criminal justice 

system;” and (4) that she vacillated in response to questioning88 about whether 

she could ever answer “no” to the special mitigation question.89 The 

prosecution noted further “that we requested that this juror be stricken for 

cause” and directed the court to its “prior reasons.”90

 

85 36 RR (1991) at 3763-65 (Holmes); 39 RR (1991) at 4365 (Diaz).

86 Hoffman v. Cain, 752 F.3d 430, 448-49 (5th Cir. 2014).

87 Id. (quoting Murphy v. Dretke, 416 F.3d 427, 432 (5th Cir. 2005)).

88 Although the prosecution referred to “special issue number two” in offering this 

explanation, 36 RR (1991) at 3764, it is clear from the record that he was referencing his 

colloquy with Holmes regarding special issue number three, the mitigation question. 36 RR 

(1991) at 3754-55.

89 Id. at 3763-64.

90 Id. at 3763.

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The record amply supports each of the prosecution’s proffered 

explanations.91 The trial court expressly found “that [these reasons were] 

legitimate and racially neutral”92—a finding to which this court must accord 

“great deference.”93 Moreover, during voir dire the prosecution attempted three 

times to strike Holmes for cause.94 The trial court noted that, although it 

denied each for-cause challenge, the decision was “a close call.”95

Garcia now claims that the prosecution singled out Holmes on the basis 

of her race and purposefully used a threatening Holocaust analogy to describe 

the role of a juror in handing down a death sentence—an analogy not used in 

questioning any other veniremember—to elicit responses unfavorable to the 

state’s position. The prosecution did in fact use a graphic Holocaust analogy in 

questioning Holmes.96 And the Supreme Court has recognized that in some 

cases the disparate use of a “so-called graphic script, describing the method of 

execution in rhetorical and clinical detail . . . to prompt some expression of 

hesitation to consider the death penalty,” can constitute clear and convincing 

evidence that a prosecution’s proffered justifications are pretextual.97

 

91 See id. at 3676-77 (unequivocal opposition to death penalty in questionnaire and 

testimony); id. at 3689 (Q: “Could you [answer questions that result in death sentence]?” A: 

“That’s a hard one to answer.”); id. at 3689-90 (indicating she would answer in such a way as 

to “make sure that the defendant received a life sentence and make sure that he is not 

executed”); id. at 3716 (“I do not believe in the death penalty.”); id. at 3734 (“I don’t feel like 

I can [answer the mitigation question ‘no’].”); id. at 3748 (son’s prosecution); id. at 3750-51 

(unfairly treated; prosecuted in Collin County); id. 3754-55 (final vacillating answer); 61 RR 

(1991) at 35 (testimony regarding questionnaire).

92 36 RR (1991) at 3765.

93 Hoffman v. Cain, 752 F.3d 430, 448-49 (5th Cir. 2014).

94 36 RR (1991) at 3710; id. at 3745; id. at 3759.

95 Id. at 3765; see id. at 3759 (“[E]ven though [Holmes] has expressed continued 

opposition to the death penalty and although she has vacillated back and forth, depending 

on who was asking her the questions, I deny the State’s motion for challenge, because she 

essentially has answered, albeit reluctantly, that she could follow her oath and what she 

understands to be the law.”).

96 See id. at 3683-86.

97 Miller-El v. Dretke (“Miller-El II”), 545 U.S. 231, 255-60, 66 (2005).

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Nevertheless, Garcia did not raise this claim in his second state habeas 

petition.98 We hold therefore that Garcia failed to exhaust state court remedies 

with regard to this claim and it is consequently procedurally barred under 

AEDPA.99

2. Albert Diaz

The prosecution offered several race-neutral explanations for striking 

Diaz: (1) Diaz “expressed a real concern with . . . participating in a capital 

murder case with a youthful defendant;”100 (2) Diaz was hesitant about 

imposing the death penalty in a random 7-Eleven robbery situation;101 (3) Diaz 

indicated—both “verbally” and by his “demeanor”—that he would impose an 

increased burden of proof at the punishment phase relative to the guiltinnocence phase;102 (4) Diaz’s standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” was 

extremely high;103 and (5) the defense “really like[d]” Diaz.104 We address each 

proffered justification in turn.

a. Diaz expressed concern about sentencing a youthful defendant 

to death.

The prosecution’s first proffered justification was that Diaz “expressed a 

real concern with youth and participating in a capital murder case with a 

youthful defendant. For the record, our defendant is eighteen or nineteen. I 

don’t remember if he’s had a birthday since he’s been incarcerated, but we’re 

dealing with a youthful defendant. That concerns me.”105 This justification 

 

98 See 1 WR (40,214) at 297-306.

99 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus . . . shall not 

be granted unless it appears that . . . the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in 

the courts of the State . . . .”).

100 39 RR (1991) at 4359.

101 Id. at 4360.

102 Id.

103 Id. at 4361.

104 Id. at 4362.

105 Id. at 4359.

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finds support in the voir dire transcript. When asked whether he might find it 

difficult to sentence a youthful defendant to death, Diaz expressed hesitation:

I’d be strongly opposed to giving someone the death penalty and 

more prone to giving them life if that’s the law rendered under the 

facts, but I also have to say that I’m not one that feels much 

sympathy for hardship of upbringing or environment. I’m sensitive 

to it . . . Somebody very youthful, I would have a real hard time 

sentencing him to death, but if that person was so dangerous and 

the crime was such that it was so terrible, I would not have a 

problem doing it.”106

Later, however, Diaz indicated that he would be able to do so, “[i]f necessary” 

to uphold the law:

[Prosecutor]: So then you don’t have a bias or prejudice against a 

law that allows a youthful defendant to be executed?

[Diaz]: No. I do not.

[Prosecutor]: And you can see yourself honestly and realistically 

participating in a process that would lead to the 

execution of a youthful defendant?

[Diaz]: If necessary.107

Garcia asserts that because Diaz ultimately indicated that he would be 

able to participate in a capital murder trial involving a youthful defendant, the 

prosecution’s explanation is based on an “untrue” characterization of the 

record.108 We disagree. We have upheld peremptory strikes as race-neutral on 

the basis of a prospective juror’s hesitation, even where the juror ultimately 

 

106 Id. at 4290 (emphasis added).

107 Id. at 4291.

108 Application for COA at 45. 

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indicated he could vote to impose death.109 It is not fairly debatable that Diaz’s

earlier statement—“Somebody very youthful, I would have a real hard time 

sentencing him to death”—posed a legitimate reason for the prosecution’s 

strike, even taking into account his ultimate affirmative answer.

b. Diaz was hesitant about imposing the death penalty in a 

random 7-Eleven robbery situation.

The prosecution’s second proffered justification was that “[w]hile he 

stated that the death penalty for a random killing would be fine, he also 

state[d] a real concern about [the] death penalty in a 7-Eleven holdup. We are 

dealing essentially with . . . a beer and wine store, convenience store situation, 

very similar situation. That concerns me.”110 Again, this justification finds 

support in the voir dire transcript. Diaz stated he “would be less inclined to 

sentence someone to death unless [that person] was really in [his] opinion a 

person who [he] felt was of extreme danger [judging] from the [person’s] acts,” 

but that it would “[j]ust depend[ ] on the facts.” 

Garcia asserts that the prosecution’s second justification is also “untrue,” 

but he offers no relevant evidence in support; he cites to an unrelated portion 

of the voir dire transcript dealing with the prosecutor’s discussion of mitigating 

circumstances.111 Garcia cannot meet his burden. Reasonable jurists could not 

disagree as to whether Garcia has provided clear and convincing evidence to 

show that the trial court’s ruling was objectively unreasonable because Garcia 

has offered no relevant evidence whatsoever.

c. Diaz indicated he would apply an increased burden of proof in 

the punishment phase relative to the guilt-innocence phase.

 

109 See Hoffman, 752 F.3d at 449 (upholding peremptory strikes as race-neutral where 

potential juror initially hesitated before giving a “very weak ‘I think I could’” when asked if 

he could consider a death penalty).

110 39 RR (1991) at 4360.

111 See Application for COA at 45 (quoting 39 RR (1991) at 4334).

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The prosecution’s third proffered justification was that Diaz verbally and 

by his demeanor indicated that he would apply an increased burden of proof in 

the punishment phase relative to the guilt-innocence phase; Diaz indicated 

that his definition of “beyond a reasonable doubt” was “a very extreme 

standard. I don’t know if any prosecutor could meet it[,] especially at the 

punishment phase of a trial.”112 Again, this justification finds support in the

voir dire transcript. The prosecutor engaged in an extended back-and-forth 

discussion with Diaz regarding Diaz’s conception of the prosecution’s burden 

of proof.113 First, as to the guilt-innocence phase, Diaz stated that he “would 

not feel like it has to be proved perfect certainty[,] . . . [b]ut if it was of extreme 

certainty. . . . I would be very much inclined to feel very certain the facts that 

somebody was guilty.”114 Subsequently, as to the punishment phase:

[Prosecutor]: [B]ut when we get into the punishment phase . . .

my question to you is are you one of those people in 

the punishment phase of a capital murder case. Does 

my burden of proof go up?

[Diaz]: Absolutely.

[Prosecutor]: Okay. I want to make sure we’re communicating.

[Diaz]: I would -- I would feel that it would be of much more 

importance for me to have a strong feeling about each 

one of those questions so I would have to say that it 

is of a higher degree of concern to me that I feel very 

strongly about each one of those three questions being 

beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Prosecutor]: Okay. Again I’m not sure if we’re miscommunicating 

or not so I want to press you a little bit. Are you 

telling me that . . . I would have to convince you with 

 

112 39 RR (1991) at 4360-61.

113 See id. at 4308-17.

114 Id. at 4309. 

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one hundred percent certainty in the punishment 

phase . . . that the answer should be yes before you 

would be willing to return a yes verdict on this?

[Diaz]: Not with a hundred percent certainty. No sir.

[Prosecutor]: All right. Will you recognize my burden of proof in 

[the guilt and punishment phases is] . . . [t]he same 

legal standard?

[Diaz]: Yeah. I realize that beyond a reasonable doubt is in 

my mind just as important at every phase but 

emotionally I would probably feel -- not probably. I 

would feel a lot more inclined to say that my degree of 

beyond a reasonable doubt would increase.115

Although Diaz ultimately indicated that he “would try to maintain the 

same measurement standard” in both phases,116 we have upheld as legitimate 

similar explanations proffered by the prosecution in similar circumstances.117

Moreover, we also take into consideration the prosecution’s additional 

justifications related to Diaz’s “demeanor”:

[H]is initial responses indicated that he would, and from his 

demeanor, which is not reflected in the record, while I understand 

that intellectually he will do it, it was apparent that there was that 

more concern going and that argument going on in his brain. It 

could be read in his eyes. I was standing five feet away from him 

when he said it. I certainly—I am convinced that my burden of 

 

115 Id. at 4311-14 (emphasis added).

116 Id. at 4314.

117 See Jackson v. Dretke, 181 F. App’x 400, 408 (5th Cir. 2006) (“Even though [the 

prospective juror] softened his statement that he would require proof of guilt to a certainty, 

the state was entitled to conclude that he might require it to prove guilt by an elevated 

standard even if that burden were something less than metaphysical certainty.”); see also

White v. Thaler, 522 F. App’x 226, 229-30 (5th Cir. 2013) (per curiam) (upholding dismissals 

for cause where prospective jurors indicated that they would “hold the [s]tate to a higher 

burden of proof with regard to punishment”).

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proof will increase in the punishment phase of a trial versus a 

guilt-innocence phase.118

In Wainwright v. Witt,119 the Supreme Court observed that “determinations of 

demeanor and credibility” in the voir dire context “are peculiarly within a trial 

judge’s province.”120 This court later underscored this principle:

A stranger to the trial reading the bare transcript is left with 

incomplete sentences and elliptic answers with no reconciling 

theme. Yet one present at trial may well have had a quite different 

picture. Inflection of voice and body movements of each cast 

member, absent from the transcript, are present at trial.121

Here, the trial judge, who oversaw and observed the voir dire 

proceedings, accepted as legitimate the prosecution’s explanation that Diaz 

indicated he would apply a higher standard of proof at the punishment 

phase122—an explanation based in part on the prosecution’s assertion that it 

was supported by Diaz’s demeanor. In doing so the trial judge emphasized that 

he had “listened carefully, particularly carefully . . . to [Diaz’s] voir dire.”123

The district court’s conclusion is thus bolstered by the language of Witt and 

Ruiz, both of which emphasize the trial judge’s peculiar ability to discern such 

things. Garcia offers no rebuttal evidence whatsoever to demonstrate that 

reasonable jurists could disagree as to whether the district court’s conclusion 

was objectively reasonable.

d. Diaz indicated he would require a significant track record of 

violence.

 

118 39 RR (1991) at 4360.

119 469 U.S. 412 (1985).

120 Id. at 428; see id. at 428 n.9 (“[T]he manner of the juror while testifying is 

oftentimes more indicative of the real character of his opinion than his words. That is seen 

[by the trial court below], but cannot always be spread upon the record.”) (quoting Reynolds 

v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 156-57 (1879)).

121 Ruiz v. Quarterman, 460 F.3d 638, 646 (5th Cir. 2006).

122 39 RR (1991) at 4365.

123 Id. at 4364.

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The prosecution’s fourth proffered justification was that Diaz “expressed 

a . . . willingness to answer questions that would lead to the death penalty if 

there was a significant track history of violence. I don’t know what he meant 

by that. I can certainly show some violent acts, but I don’t know if it will 

certainly meet his extreme definition beyond a reasonable doubt.”124 Garcia 

again asserts that this explanation is “untrue,” and that “Diaz said just the 

opposite . . . .”125

This justification finds some support in the voir dire transcript. Diaz

indicated that he favored rehabilitation up to a point where “there’s enough 

certainty that there’s some type of hope,” and that no such hope would exist “if 

there’s such a track record and such a history of tremendous violence and crime 

in [a] defendant’s past.”126 When read in context, however, these statements 

do not overwhelmingly indicate that Diaz would have required the prosecution 

to show a significant track record of violence in order to vote for a death 

sentence:

[Prosecutor]: Along the line of rehabilitation, how much importance do you place on the mindset of the individual to 

be rehabilitated? Do you think that that plays a role 

if any in the process and if so how big a role?

[Diaz]: I’d probably weigh that the heaviest that if someone 

is at a point in their life where they can be 

rehabilitated and there’s enough certainty that 

there’s some type of hope then absolutely but if 

there’s such a track record and such a history of 

tremendous violence and crime in their past I’d be a 

little bit concerned that there’s not a lot of hope for 

rehabilitation at least not that person to be 

rehabilitated and put back in society. So I guess what 

I’m trying to say is that I believe everybody should 

 

124 39 RR (1991) at 4361.

125 Application for COA at 45. 

126 39 RR (1991) at 4293.

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be tried to go through extreme rehabilitation but not 

everybody should be given the right to come back in 

society.127

But even so, in light of the reasons discussed above and below, which provide 

strong support for the trial court’s ultimate conclusion that the strike was 

legitimate and race neutral, no reasonable jurist could conclude that the trial 

court’s acceptance of this justification was objectively unreasonable.

e. Defense counsel liked Diaz.

The prosecution’s fifth and final proffered justification was that the 

defense “obviously like[d] [Diaz]. They spent thirty minutes questioning him 

and did not ask him really any . . . serious questions along the lines to develop 

anything . . . close to a challenge for cause. The questions that I [had] asked 

[him would have provided] a viable reason . . . to develop a challenge for cause 

if [d]efense counsel was so inclined . . . [But they didn’t.] . . . [T]hat indicates to 

me that they really like this guy . . . Anyone that a defense attorney wants that 

much and feels will be favorable to the defense, I have a serious problem 

with.”128 Garcia asserts that this “is not a race-neutral reason” because “[i]f the 

reason the defense liked Diaz was because he shared the same race as Garcia, 

or could appreciate Garcia’s family experiences, then liking the juror is 

confirmation that race motivated the [prosecution’s] strike.”129

Garcia’s argument is without merit and in any event he offers no 

relevant countervailing evidence. As the prosecutor explained from the stand 

at the Batson hearing, this justification was tied to strategy and tact. The trial 

judge apparently agreed:

[Prosecutor]: I don’t want anybody that the defense counsel in any 

 

127 Id. (emphasis added).

128 Id. at 4361-62.

129 Application for COA at 45. 

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trial wants that badly. There has to be a reason for 

it. You have an investigator. I don’t know what your 

investigator is turning up. I assume you had your 

reasons, but whatever, you know, it may have been 

a great, you know, feint.

[The Court]: Faked me out of my shoes.130

As discussed above, we accord deference to a trial judge’s conclusion, 

especially when it attends the type of determination peculiarly within his

province. Garcia provides no reason to depart from this principle here, much 

less a clear and convincing one. Reasonable jurists could not disagree.

f. Trial Court findings as to Batson claim regarding Albert Diaz.

Having heard the prosecution’s proffered justifications, the trial court 

expressly found that the reasons were racially neutral131:

. . . I have listened carefully, particularly carefully . . . to this voir 

dire. I believe that there were ample reasons for either side to have 

exercised a peremptory strike in this particular instance, although 

he was not challenged for cause and he would otherwise be a 

qualified juror, but the Court is of the opinion that either side could 

have legitimately and from a racially neutral standpoint exercised 

a peremptory strike . . . and so any objections to the State’s being 

able to exercise its peremptory strike are overruled.132

Garcia does not purport to offer significant contrary evidence—at most, 

he musters disagreement with these findings. But “[m]ere disagreement with 

the state court factual findings is not sufficient to overcome those findings.”133

Reasonable jurists could not disagree, and therefore Garcia is not entitled to a 

COA on his Batson claim regarding Albert Diaz.

 

130 61 RR (1991) at 91.

131 39 RR (1991) at 4365.

132 Id. at 4363-65.

133 Teague v. Scott, 60 F.3d 1167, 1170 (5th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).

 Case: 14-70035 Document: 00513120094 Page: 31 Date Filed: 07/17/2015
No. 14-70035

32

V.

Garcia’s request for a COA is DENIED as to all claims.

 Case: 14-70035 Document: 00513120094 Page: 32 Date Filed: 07/17/2015