Opinion ID: 4236000
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wharton’s Confrontation Clause Claim

Text: We next consider Wharton’s claim that his Confrontation Clause rights were violated. As noted above, Mason’s confession inculpated Wharton, and vice versa. The trial court admitted a redacted version of each confession, with the phrase “the other guy” replacing references to the name of the co-defendant in question. During Brown’s redirect examination at trial, he was asked why Larue Owens (a participant in two of the burglaries) had not been a suspect in the murder case. Brown answered: “Because the two defendants implicated each other in their statements.” (Id. at 2046.) Both defense counsel immediately objected and moved to strike this testimony. The trial court granted that motion and then held a sidebar, where both defense counsel moved for a mistrial. The trial court denied a mistrial, instead opting to instruct the jury as follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, as to the last question and answer, you will strike that from your memory. It has absolutely no relevance in deciding this case. Do not consider that in any way in your verdict or arriving at your verdict.” (Id. at 2050.) On direct appeal, Wharton challenged the denial of a mistrial, as well as the admission of Mason’s confession. The PSC rejected this claim, determining that any violation of Wharton’s Confrontation Clause rights was harmless in light of the trial 16 court’s cautionary instruction and the overwhelming evidence of his guilt. See Wharton I, 607 A.2d at 718-19. On habeas review, the District Court, applying 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)’s deferential standard of review, concluded that the PSC’s harmlessness determination was not unreasonable. “The test for whether a federal constitutional error was harmless depends on the procedural posture of the case.” Davis v. Ayala, 135 S. Ct. 2187, 2197 (2015). On habeas review, the proper test is whether the error “had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 623 (1993) (quoting Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 776 (1946)). The Supreme Court has explained that the Brecht standard “subsumes” § 2254(d)’s requirements for reviewing state court merits decisions, and that a habeas court need not conduct a formal analysis under both Brecht and § 2254(d). See Davis, 135 S. Ct. at 2198. Thus, although the District Court reviewed Wharton’s Confrontation Clause claim under § 2254(d), our review here will focus on whether he has met the Brecht standard. See id. at 2199 (explaining that “a prisoner who seeks federal habeas corpus relief must satisfy Brecht”). To satisfy Brecht, “[t]here must be more than a ‘reasonable possibility’ that the error was harmful.” Id. at 2198 (quoting Brecht, 507 U.S. at 637). However, if the habeas court is in “grave doubt” as to whether an error had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict, the error cannot be deemed harmless. See O’Neal v. McAninch, 513 U.S. 432, 445 (1995). Wharton argues that, for four 17 reasons, the alleged Confrontation Clause violations were not harmless under Brecht. We consider these arguments in turn. First, Wharton contends that the admission of Mason’s confession undermined his (Wharton’s) attack on the voluntariness of his own confession. To be sure, the admission of Mason’s confession did not bolster that attack.10 However, for the reasons previously discussed in Section II, the attack would have failed regardless of whether Mason’s confession was admitted. Second, Wharton asserts that he was prejudiced by Mason’s confession because it indicated that it was his (Wharton’s) idea to kill the Harts. But it does not matter, from a legal standpoint, with whom the idea to kill the Harts originated. The jury found that both Wharton and Mason possessed the specific intent to kill each victim. Third, Wharton claims that without Mason’s confession (which identified Wharton as Bradley’s killer), there was no evidence that Wharton possessed the specific intent to kill Bradley. Wharton is mistaken. During Wharton’s custodial interrogation, he was asked, “[W]hy did you kill them?” (App. at 5247.) He responded: “Cause they knew me 10 Wharton’s confession largely overlapped — or “interlocked” — with Mason’s confession. “‘[I]nterlocking’ bears a positively inverse relationship to devastation. A codefendant’s confession will be relatively harmless if the incriminating story it tells is different from that which the defendant himself is alleged to have told, but enormously damaging if it confirms, in all essential respects, the defendant’s alleged confession.” Cruz v. New York, 481 U.S. 186, 192 (1987). Nevertheless, the admission of a codefendant’s interlocking confession can still amount to harmless error. See id. at 193-94. 18 and would turn us in.” (Id.)11 He also admitted that, after separating the Harts, he helped Mason put duct tape around Bradley’s face and neck. Although Wharton may not have been the one to actually kill Bradley, that did not prevent the jury from finding that Wharton possessed the specific intent to kill him. See Commonwealth v. Montalvo, 956 A.2d 926, 930 n.2 (Pa. 2008) (“Criminal liability for first-degree murder can be imposed where the jury finds that a defendant, with the requisite specific intent to kill, committed the crime either as a principal or as an accomplice.”). The Commonwealth argued at closing that Mason killed Bradley and that Wharton was Mason’s accomplice in this crime, and the evidence at trial (aside from Mason’s confession) supported that position. Lastly, Wharton argues that Mason’s confession prejudiced him at his second penalty hearing.12 One of the aggravating factors that the jury found against Wharton was that he had been convicted of another offense punishable by life in prison or death. In other words, the fact that he had been convicted of two murders in this case weighed against him at sentencing. He now claims that this aggravating factor would not have come into play in this case absent Mason’s confession, for that confession was the only 11 At trial, Brown read Wharton’s confession into the record. Although Brown did not recite the above-noted question verbatim — Brown said, “[W]hy did you kill her?” (App. at 1828) — Brown did recite Wharton’s corresponding answer verbatim, and it is apparent from this answer that Wharton was referring to both victims. 12 Contrary to the Commonwealth’s contention, Wharton did raise this argument in the District Court. (See App. at 4197.) 19 evidence that he (Wharton) killed Bradley. This argument is meritless; as just discussed, Wharton himself did not need to kill Bradley to be convicted of Bradley’s murder. In sum, Wharton’s Brecht arguments do not give us grave doubt as to whether the alleged Confrontation Clause errors had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict in this case. Assuming for the sake of argument that his Confrontation Clause rights were indeed violated, we conclude that the impact of that error was not substantial and injurious because it was dwarfed by the weighty evidence demonstrating his guilt for the murders of both Bradley and Ferne. Because any violation of Wharton’s Confrontation Clause rights was harmless under Brecht, we will affirm the District Court’s denial of this claim.13 IV. Wharton’s Claim that Cannon was Ineffective at the Second Penalty Hearing
Pennsylvania is a “weighing state” for purposes of penalty hearings in capital cases. See Jermyn v. Horn, 266 F.3d 257, 309 (3d Cir. 2001). In other words, the jury “determine[s] which statutorily defined aggravating factors have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and weigh[s] those factors against the mitigating factors the defendant 13 To the extent that Wharton argues that he should be granted habeas relief based on the cumulative effect of the errors alleged in his two guilt-phase claims, we find this argument unpersuasive. He has not met the standard for prevailing on a cumulativeeffect claim. See Collins v. Sec’y of Pa. Dep’t of Corr., 742 F.3d 528, 542 (3d Cir. 2014) (explaining that, to prevail on such a claim, the errors in question, when considered together, must have “had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict”) (quoting Fahy v. Horn, 516 F.3d 169, 205 (3d Cir. 2008)). 20 has proven by a preponderance of the evidence.” Id. (citing 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711(c)(iii), (iv)). “The jury’s decision on the penalty must be unanimous.” Id. At Wharton’s second penalty hearing (which was held about seven years after the first penalty hearing), several of his family members testified on his behalf. The takeaways from that testimony were that Wharton’s childhood was unremarkable, that he had good qualities, and that his family cared about him. The Commonwealth, meanwhile, presented evidence of the history between Wharton and the Harts, as well as “the grisly evidence regarding [his] involvement in the murders.” (App. at 110.) The jury started deliberating in the late afternoon on December 21, 1992. Less than an hour later, the trial court recessed for the day. Toward the end of the next day, the jury submitted a note indicating that it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The trial court told the jury that “you have not deliberated nearly long enough,” and instructed the jury to resume its deliberations at 9:30 the following morning. (Id. at 3992.) At 3 p.m. the next day, the jury returned a verdict of death on both murder counts. For each count, the jury found two aggravating factors (the murder was committed while perpetrating a felony, see 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711(d)(6), and Wharton was convicted of another offense punishable by life in prison or death, see 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711(d)(10)) and one mitigating factor (Pennsylvania’s “catch-all” mitigating 21 factor, see 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711(e)(8)14), and concluded that those two aggravating factors outweighed the lone mitigating factor. At the PCRA stage, Wharton alleged that Cannon was ineffective at the second penalty hearing for failing to obtain and present evidence reflecting Wharton’s positive adjustment to prison life during the seven years between his two penalty hearings. In support of this claim, Wharton provided his prison records for that time period, as well as a declaration from Harry Krop, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist who, at some point after the second penalty hearing, interviewed Wharton and reviewed the prison records. Dr. Krop’s opinion was that (1) Wharton’s crimes were “anomalous and out-of-character,” (2) “Wharton made a positive adjustment to prison life” during the time between his two penalty hearings, (3) “he would be a prime candidate for constructive rehabilitation in the general prison population,” and (4) “he would not pose a future danger to the prison community in the event he were to serve a [life] sentence.” (App. at 4655, 4657.) The PCRA court dismissed this claim without a hearing. The PSC then upheld that dismissal on appeal, indicating that this claim failed on the merits because Wharton had not demonstrated that Cannon had acted unreasonably or that Wharton had suffered 14 This mitigating factor gives weight to “[a]ny other evidence of mitigation concerning the character and record of the defendant and the circumstances of his offense.” 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9711(e)(8). In finding this factor, the jury in Wharton’s second penalty hearing noted that he had not killed Lisa, that he “was a good family member,” and that he “cooperated fully with the police department concerning the crime.” (App. at 4002-03.) The jury was able to make this finding about cooperation because no evidence about the circumstances of Wharton’s arrest was presented at the second penalty hearing. 22 prejudice. See Wharton III, 811 A.2d at 988-89. On habeas review, the District Court focused solely on Strickland’s prejudice prong, concluding that this claim failed because the PSC’s prejudice determination was not unreasonable under § 2254(d). As explained below, we disagree with the District Court’s resolution of this claim. We hold that both of the PSC’s bases for rejecting this claim represent an unreasonable application of Strickland, and our de novo review of this claim reveals that it is appropriate to remand the claim to the District Court for an evidentiary hearing.
In concluding that this claim failed under Strickland’s performance prong, the PSC appeared to rely on the following: (a) Wharton’s prison records “cut both ways”; and (b) Cannon presented other evidence that led the jury to find the catch-all mitigating factor. See id. But these points do not necessarily render Cannon’s performance reasonable. If, for example, Cannon simply neglected to seek out the prison records, his conduct could be deemed unreasonable regardless of whether the records were particularly helpful or whether he presented other mitigating evidence to the jury. See Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 396 (2000) (explaining that counsel has an “obligation to conduct a thorough investigation of the defendant’s background”); see also Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690-91 (“[S]trategic choices made after less than complete investigation are reasonable precisely to the extent that reasonable professional judgments support the limitations on investigation.”). Without knowing whether Cannon even considered 23 obtaining the prison records, neither the content of those records, nor the presence of other evidence, could serve as the basis for rejecting Wharton’s claim on Strickland’s performance prong.15 Accordingly, we conclude that the PSC’s application of that prong was unreasonable. The PSC’s application of Strickland’s prejudice prong fares no better. The PSC’s analysis of this prong was brief: [I]t is notable that the equivocal prison record evidence, had it been introduced, would have sounded under the catch-all mitigating circumstance, which the jury in fact found . . . . [Wharton] has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by [Cannon’s] failure to introduce this equivocal prison record evidence as additional proof of this mitigating circumstance found by the jury. Wharton III, 811 A.2d at 989. 15 In its discussion of Strickland’s performance prong, the PSC also stated, parenthetically, that Wharton had not made a proffer as to what Cannon would say in response to the allegations of ineffectiveness. See Wharton III, 811 A.2d at 988. We do not read that brief parenthetical as constituting a freestanding basis for the PSC’s conclusion that Wharton failed to satisfy Strickland’s performance prong. The PSC also mentioned, in a footnote, Wharton’s failure to comply with Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 902(A)(15)’s requirement that a request for an evidentiary hearing be accompanied by a signed certification providing the substance of each witness’s testimony. See id. at 989 n.12. But that rule, which was formerly numbered 1502(A)(15), was not enacted until after the PCRA court denied Wharton’s petition. Given that timeline of events, Wharton could hardly be faulted for not complying with that rule. The Commonwealth now argues that Wharton failed to comply with a rule that was in place when he filed his PCRA petition. Specifically, the Commonwealth points to Rule 902(D) (formerly numbered Rule 1502(D)), which states that a prisoner shall attach to his petition affidavits or other evidence that supports his claims (or explain why that evidence is not attached). But because the PSC did not base its Strickland performance analysis on Rule 902(D), that rule is irrelevant here. 24 The PSC’s prejudice analysis seems to suggest that any prison record evidence would have been cumulative because the jury had already found the catch-all mitigating factor. Such a suggestion would be persuasive if the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors involved simply counting those two sets of factors to see which set was greater in number. But that is not the process in Pennsylvania, for the PSC itself has explained that the weighing process “involves a qualitative, not quantitative, analysis.” Commonwealth v. Peoples, 639 A.2d 448, 451 (Pa. 1994) (emphasis omitted). In other words, a jury need not give the same amount of weight to each factor that it finds, and it is certainly possible that a jury’s receipt of additional evidence regarding a particular factor would cause one or more jurors to assign more weight to that factor. Therefore, the PSC’s analysis here is fundamentally flawed and cannot serve as the basis for rejecting a claim under Strickland. Indeed, the PSC itself has recently held as much, overruling its prior decisions in Commonwealth v. Rios, 920 A.2d 790, 812-13 (Pa. 2007), and Commonwealth v. Marshall, 812 A.2d 539, 548-49 (Pa. 2002), which had held “that counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to present additional catchall mitigating evidence where the jury found the catchall mitigator based on other evidence presented by counsel during the penalty hearing.” Commonwealth v. Tharp, 101 A.3d 736, 773 n.28 (Pa. 2014).16 Accordingly, we conclude that the PSC’s prejudice analysis 16 In Tharp, four of the seven justices voted to overrule Rios and Marshall, and they did so in concurring opinions. See 101 A.3d at 775 (Castille, C.J., concurring, joined by Eakin, J.); id. at 777 (Saylor, J., concurring, joined by Eakin, J., and Todd, J.). 25 constitutes an unreasonable application of Strickland.17 In light of this conclusion, we must now examine this claim de novo to determine whether Wharton is entitled to habeas relief. See Breakiron v. Horn, 642 F.3d 126, 138 (3d Cir. 2011). C. De Novo Review of Wharton’s Penalty-Phase Claim To prevail on this claim, Wharton must show that (1) Cannon acted unreasonably by failing to investigate and/or present Wharton’s prison-adjustment evidence, and (2) had Cannon presented that evidence at the second penalty hearing, there is a reasonable probability that at least one juror would have voted against imposing the death penalty. See Blystone v. Horn, 664 F.3d 397, 426-27 (3d Cir. 2011). To help make this showing, Wharton asked the District Court for an evidentiary hearing. The District Court 17 As indicated earlier, the District Court concluded that the PSC’s decision was not an unreasonable application of Strickland’s prejudice prong. However, in reaching that conclusion, the District Court did not actually rely on the PSC’s prejudice analysis. Instead, the District Court looked to the PSC’s discussion of Strickland’s performance prong, specifically the PSC’s determination that the prison records “cut both ways.” The District Court’s approach was error, for it effectively deferred to the PSC based on a rationale that was different than the reason actually given by the PSC. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 102 (“Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories supported . . . the state court’s decision; and then it must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior decision of this Court.”); see also Hittson v. Chatman, 135 S. Ct. 2126, 2127-28 (2015) (Ginsburg, J., joined by Kagan, J., concurring in the denial of certiorari) (“Richter makes clear that where the state court’s real reasons can be ascertained, the § 2254(d) analysis can and should be based on the actual ‘arguments or theories [that] supported . . . the state court’s decision.’”) (quoting Richter, 562 U.S. at 102); Dennis v. Sec’y Pa. Dep’t of Corr., 834 F.3d 263, 281-82 (3d Cir. 2016) (en banc) (“While we must give state court decisions the benefit of the doubt . . ., federal habeas review does not entail speculating as to what other theories could have supported the state court ruling when reasoning has been provided . . . .”) (internal quotation marks omitted). 26 denied this request, stating that (1) a hearing on this claim was barred by Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170 (2011), and (2) even if Pinholster did not apply here, it would still deny a hearing as to this claim because he failed to make a prima facie showing of a constitutional violation. As explained below, we disagree with both of these determinations, and we conclude that an evidentiary hearing is warranted on this claim.18 In Pinholster, the Supreme Court held that a habeas court’s review of a claim under § 2254(d) “is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits.” Id. at 181. But when, as here, the state court’s decision is unreasonable under § 2254(d), Pinholster does not prevent a federal habeas court from holding an evidentiary hearing as part of its de novo review. See Brumfield v. Cain, 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2276 (2015) (noting that “federal habeas courts may ‘take new evidence in an evidentiary hearing’ when § 2254(d) does not bar relief”) (quoting Pinholster, 563 U.S. at 185). In deciding whether to hold such a hearing, a federal habeas court must consider (1) “whether the petition presents a prima facie showing which, if proven, would enable the petitioner to prevail on the merits of the asserted claim,” and (2) “whether the relevant factual allegations to be proven at the evidentiary hearing are ‘contravened by the existing record’ or the record ‘otherwise precludes habeas relief[.]’” Lee v. Glunt, 667 F.3d 397, 406-07 (3d Cir. 2012) (alteration in original) (quoting Palmer 18 Although “[w]e review the District Court’s denial of an evidentiary hearing in a habeas case for abuse of discretion,” United States v. Lilly, 536 F.3d 190, 195 (3d Cir. 2008), “our consideration of the District Court’s legal conclusions [undergirding that decision] is 27 v. Hendricks, 592 F.3d 386, 393 (3d Cir. 2010)). For the reasons that follow, we conclude that Wharton has made this prima facie showing, and the record does not preclude granting habeas relief on this claim. “[A] defendant’s disposition to make a well-behaved and peaceful adjustment to life in prison is itself an aspect of his character that is by its nature relevant to the sentencing determination.” Skipper v. South Carolina, 476 U.S. 1, 7 (1986). As a result, a defense attorney has a duty to obtain a capital defendant’s prison records “as part of the ‘obligation to conduct a thorough investigation of the defendant’s background,’” Blystone, 664 F.3d at 422-23 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 396). Wharton alleges that Cannon failed to obtain those records in this case, and nothing in the habeas record contradicts that allegation. If Wharton is given an opportunity to question Cannon in an evidentiary hearing — Cannon has yet to testify about this evidence — Wharton may be able to show that Cannon acted unreasonably. See id. at 420 (“[I]f counsel has failed to conduct a reasonable investigation to prepare for sentencing, then he cannot possibly be said to have made a reasonable decision as to what to present at sentencing.”). Accordingly, we conclude that Wharton has made a prima facie showing under Strickland’s performance prong. As for Strickland’s prejudice prong, to determine whether Wharton’s proffered evidence had a reasonable probability of changing at least one juror’s vote, “we must plenary,” Morris v. Beard, 633 F.3d 185, 193 (3d Cir. 2011). 28 reconstruct the record and assess it anew. In so doing, we cannot merely consider the mitigation evidence that went unmentioned in the first instance; we must also take account of the anti-mitigation evidence that the Commonwealth would have presented to rebut the petitioner’s mitigation testimony.” Williams v. Beard, 637 F.3d 195, 227 (3d Cir. 2011). Wharton’s prison records for the time between his two penalty hearings consist primarily of (1) his prison grievances and the prison’s responses to them, and (2) onepage monthly evaluations prepared by the prison’s Program Review Committee (“PRC”).19 Wharton submitted a number of grievances, some of which were trivial.20 At first, one might very well conclude that these grievances would not help his case for mitigation. However, Dr. Krop’s declaration suggests otherwise, for he averred that “[t]hese grievances exhibit concern over the day-to-day details of his incarceration, which, from a psychological perspective, is significant as demonstrating a relative acceptance of [Wharton’s] incarceration. Such acceptance is an important element of his adjustment and shows that he will likely not be a future danger.” (App. at 4656.) 19 The prison records also include periodic reports prepared by a psychiatrist, but those reports are very short (a few sentences or less) and really do nothing more than indicate that Wharton “has no evidence of a treatable mental disorder.” (App. at 4911.) 20 Wharton’s grievances included, inter alia, “complaints that a corrections officer’s morning wake-up call was too loud; that he did not receive jelly with his toast; that corrections officers were ‘whistling . . . early in the morning[;]’ and that he did not receive his ‘daily newspaper’ on two occasions.” (App. at 112 (alteration in original) (quoting Wharton’s prison records).) 29 As for the monthly PRC evaluations, a few of them contain negative information about Wharton.21 Most of those evaluations, however, were positive. Although they were brief and did not provide much in the way of specifics, they indicated that Wharton was adjusting well to prison life and that his behavior was generally satisfactory. Of course, had Wharton presented the testimony of Dr. Krop (or a similar expert witness), the Commonwealth might have countered with other evidence, including an expert holding a contrary opinion. To date, though, the Commonwealth has yet to proffer any such testimony. We recognize that Wharton’s proffered evidence does, at least to a degree, “cut both ways.” But in light of the positive elements of that evidence and the fact that the jury at the second penalty hearing was deadlocked at one point, we conclude that Wharton has made a prima facie showing under Strickland’s prejudice prong. That is, he has made a prima facie showing that there is a reasonable probability that at least one juror would have changed his or her vote if presented with this evidence. 21 In its June 1988 evaluation, the PRC noted that Wharton had been given a “reprimand and warning” for an unspecified misconduct. (App. at 4831.) In April 1989, the PRC noted that he had recently received a misconduct for circulating a petition about phone call privileges. In September 1989, the PRC reviewed “very serious misconducts,” noting that he was “less than truthful . . . and denied having anything to do with the confiscated weapon or handcuff key.” (Id. at 4845.) In December 1989, the PRC noted “past misconducts for abusing/modifying his antennas.” (Id. at 4848.) In January 1990, the PRC stated that Wharton “refused to even discuss why he had pieces of aerial and two lengths of antenna. He said he didn’t have to. He did the time.” (Id. at 4849.) It appears that Wharton was placed in “D.C. Close” custody for about five months as a result of one or more of these misconducts. (See id. at 4844.) 30 Wharton must clear one more hurdle before he would be entitled to an evidentiary hearing on this claim. Section 2254(e)(2) “bars a federal habeas court from holding an evidentiary hearing unless the petitioner was diligent in his attempt to develop a factual basis for his claim in the state court proceedings.” Lee, 667 F.3d at 405-06 (internal quotation marks omitted).22 This diligence requirement “asks only whether ‘the prisoner made a reasonable attempt, in light of the information available at the time, to investigate and pursue claims in state court.’” Lark v. Sec’y Pa. Dep’t of Corr., 645 F.3d 596, 614 (3d Cir. 2011) (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 435). In this case, Wharton’s timely, counseled PCRA petition explicitly requested an evidentiary hearing. When the PCRA court denied that petition without a hearing, he appealed and also filed a motion to reargue. These efforts are sufficient to satisfy § 2254(e)(2)’s diligence requirement. See Thomas v. Varner, 428 F.3d 491, 498 (3d Cir. 2005) (“Thomas requested an evidentiary hearing before the Commonwealth PCR court . . . . The hearing was denied, and therefore Thomas is not at fault for failing to develop the factual basis for his claim.”); see also Williams, 529 U.S. at 437 (“Diligence will require in the usual case that the prisoner, at a minimum, seek an evidentiary hearing in state court in the manner 22 “[O]ur jurisprudence applying § 2254(e)(2) remains applicable ‘where § 2254(d)(1) does not bar federal habeas relief.’” Brown v. Wenerowicz, 663 F.3d 619, 629 n.4 (3d Cir. 2011) (quoting Pinholster, 563 U.S. at 185). 31 prescribed by state law.”).23 Accordingly, § 2254(e)(2) does not bar an evidentiary hearing in this case. In sum, because Wharton has made a prima facie showing under Strickland and there is no bar to an evidentiary hearing in this case, we conclude that the District Court erred in denying his request for a hearing. Therefore, we will vacate the District Court’s denial of habeas relief on this claim and remand for a hearing.