Opinion ID: 162747
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review For Prosecutorial Misconduct Under AEDPA

Text: 39 In cases where the state court adjudicated a prosecutorial misconduct claim on the merits, we apply AEDPA's deferential standard of review. See Walker v. Gibson, 228 F.3d 1217, 1241 (10th Cir. 2000), abrogated on other grounds by Neill v. Gibson, 278 F.3d 1044, 1057 (10th Cir. 2001). As already noted, however, where a federal constitutional argument was raised on direct appeal but not addressed by the state court in any manner, we review that argument de novo. See Romano, 278 F.3d at 1150. 40 Generally, a prosecutor's improper remarks require reversal of a state conviction only if the remarks so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process. Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643, 645, 94 S.Ct. 1868, 40 L.Ed.2d 431 (1974). Alternatively, if the alleged prosecutorial misconduct denied the petitioner a specific constitutional right (rather than the general due process right to a fair trial), a valid habeas corpus claim may be established without proof that the entire trial was rendered fundamentally unfair. See Paxton, 199 F.3d at 1217. 41 Inquiry into fundamental fairness requires examination of the entire proceedings, including the strength of the evidence against the petitioner, both as to guilt at that stage of the trial and as to moral culpability at the sentencing phase. See Donnelly, 416 U.S. at 643, 94 S.Ct. 1868; Fero v. Kerby, 39 F.3d 1462, 1474 (10th Cir.1994). Any cautionary steps—such as instructions to the jury—offered by the court to counteract improper remarks may also be considered. See Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168, 182, 106 S.Ct. 2464, 91 L.Ed.2d 144 (1986). Counsel's failure to object to the comments, while not dispositive, is also relevant to a fundamental fairness assessment. See Trice v. Ward, 196 F.3d 1151, 1167 (10th Cir.1999). [I]t is not enough that the prosecutor's remarks were undesirable or even universally condemned. Darden, 477 U.S. at 181, 106 S.Ct. 2464 (quotation marks omitted). Ultimately, this court considers the jury's ability to judge the evidence fairly in light of the prosecutor's conduct. See Tillman v. Cook, 215 F.3d 1116, 1129 (10th Cir.2000). 42 Here, Mr. Le invokes the general, due process analysis articulated by Donnelly v. DeChristoforo and Darden v. Wainwright, and hence we will examine whether the prosecutor's comments rendered the trial fundamentally unfair. 3 43