Case Name: Willie WATSON, Jr., Petitioner-Appellant, v. Frank BLACKBURN, Warden, and the State of Louisiana, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1986-09-02
Citations: 798 F.2d 872
Docket Number: No. 86-3620
Parties: Willie WATSON, Jr., Petitioner-Appellant, v. Frank BLACKBURN, Warden, and the State of Louisiana, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 798
Pages: 872–874

Head Matter:
Willie WATSON, Jr., Petitioner-Appellant, v. Frank BLACKBURN, Warden, and the State of Louisiana, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 86-3620.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Sept. 2, 1986.
Ralph S. Whalen, Jr., New Orleans, La., Jed Stone, Waukegan, 111., for petitioner-appellant.
William J. Guste, Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., New Orleans, La., Harry J. Morel, Jr., Dist. Atty., Kurt F. Sins, Asst. Dist. Atty., Hahnville, La., for respondent-appellee.
Before GEE, JOHNSON and W. EUGENE DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
GEE, Circuit Judge:
Watson's appeal raises one issue only, a claim of discrimination in the imposition of the death penalty on blacks who murder whites. We agree with the district court that Wicker v. McCotter, 798 F.2d 155 (5th Cir.1986) represents the law of our Circuit and forecloses his claim. As a panel of our Court, we are bound to follow that law until the Supreme Court or our Court, sitting en banc, changes it.
The motion of Mr. Jed Stone to participate as co-counsel in this appeal is GRANTED.
The judgment of the district court denying habeas relief is AFFIRMED.
The applications for a certificate of probable cause and for a stay of execution are DENIED.