Opinion ID: 2649574
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: AEDPA and Ineffective Assistance

Text: Pursuant to § 2254(d), as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), federal courts may only grant habeas relief on claims previously adjudicated on the merits in state court if the state court’s decision was (1) “contrary to, or involved an reasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States,” or (2) “based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).1 1 We review de novo the district court’s determination as to whether the state court acted contrary to or unreasonably applied clearly established federal law, or made an unreasonable determination of fact. Hall v. Thomas, 611 F.3d 1259, 1284 (11th Cir. 2010). In reviewing the §2254 petition de novo, however, we “owe deference to the final state habeas judgment.” Id. (quotation marks omitted). 15 Case: 12-15414 Date Filed: 01/16/2014 Page: 16 of 18 To establish constitutionally ineffective assistance under Strickland, the § 2254 petition must show that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated because (1) his counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064-65. Here, the state 3.850 court found that Pace had not satisfied the second prong of Strickland by showing prejudice from his counsel’s failure to object to the unsworn statements of Massa and her family. Prejudice is “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. “It is not enough for the [petitioner] to show that the error[ ] had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceedings.” Id. at 693, 104 S. Ct. at 2067. Rather, a reasonable probability is one sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id.