Opinion ID: 8095
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 1 Revert Weston (Weston) was convicted of murder and aggravated rape in a jury trial conducted in May 1976. His convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal. Weston applied for post-conviction relief in 1991 in the state trial court, alleging that the trial court's jury instruction on reasonable doubt violated his due process rights by improperly reducing the State's burden of proof. He later amended his pleadings, alleging that (1) he was denied due process of law on direct appeal when the Louisiana Supreme Court failed to completely consider one of his designated assignments of error due to an incomplete transcript; and (2) he was denied effective assistance of counsel on appeal. The trial court denied relief and the Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed the ruling. 2 Weston raised the same three claims in the instant federal habeas petition. The district court denied relief and dismissed the petition. Weston timely appealed and a certificate of probable cause was granted.