Opinion ID: 44614
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Claim Ten

Text: 22 Coleman argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury that he would be ineligible for parole for forty years, in order for them to consider that circumstance in assessing his future dangerousness. Alternatively, Coleman argues that the equal protection clause is violated by the discretionary ability of Texas trial judges to inform the jury of a defendant's parole eligibility. The district court noted Supreme Court precedent indicating that juries need not be informed if a defendant will be eligible for parole, see Ramdass v. Angelone, 530 U.S. 156, 169, 120 S.Ct. 2113, 147 L.Ed.2d 125 (2000), 3 and nine decisions from this circuit explicitly stating that no such requirement exists, see, e.g., Miller v. Johnson, 200 F.3d 274, 290 (5th Cir.2000). For Coleman's alternative equal protection argument, the district court pointed out that Coleman cited no authority on the issue and, therefore, even if his claim were true, relief would be barred by Teague 's non-retroactivity principles. Given the ample precedent opposing Coleman's position, see, e.g., Elizalde v. Dretke, 362 F.3d 323, 333 (5th Cir.2004), reasonable jurists could not debate whether the district court erred in its determination.