Opinion ID: 1667146
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Cumulative Error as to Federal Law

Text: ś 113. Thorson next argues that if this Court concludes that the claims raised do not rise to the level of reversible error alone, pursuant to federal constitutional law, Thorson is entitled to relief based on cumulative error. The Fifth Circuit has held that: In Derden v. McNeel, 978 F.2d 1453, 1454 (5th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 960, 113 S.Ct. 2928, 124 L.Ed.2d 679 (1993), the en banc court recognized an independent claim based on cumulative error only where (1) the individual errors involved matters of constitutional dimensions rather than mere violations of state law; (2) the errors were not procedurally defaulted for habeas purposes; and (3) the errors `so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due process.' Id., quoting Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 147, 94 S.Ct. 396, 400, 38 L.Ed.2d 368 (1973). Meritless claims or claims that are not prejudicial cannot be cumulated, regardless of the total number raised. Derden, 978 F.2d at 1461. Westley v. Johnson, 83 F.3d 714, 726 (5th Cir.1996). Therefore, this issue is without merit.