Opinion ID: 223395
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Abdur'Rahman's Cumulative Error Arguments

Text: In addition to his individual Brady claims, Abdur'Rahman argues that these claims should be cumulated with the prosecutorial misconduct or Strickland claims he raised in his initial § 2254 petition. Even if these errors do not deny him due process when considered in isolation, Abdur'Rahman argues that the prejudice resulting from either cumulation makes his death-sentence unfair. Because Abdur'Rahman raised these cumulative error arguments for the first time on habeas review, we may not consider them here. He suggests that we follow Derden v. McNeel, 978 F.2d 1453, 1456-57 (5th Cir.1992), where an en banc Fifth Circuit permitted a habeas petitioner to raise a cumulative error argument without first making that argument before the state court below. Under our own circuit's precedent, however, cumulative error arguments must be raised separately in the state court and are subject to procedural default on habeas review. See Keith v. Mitchell, 455 F.3d 662, 679 (6th Cir.2006) (citing Lorraine v. Coyle, 291 F.3d 416, 447 (6th Cir.2002)). Abdur'Rahman failed to raise these cumulative error claims on direct appeal or during post-conviction relief in state court. Instead, he only raised a generalized cumulative error argument for the first time in his habeas petition. Because we are bound by this circuit's prior precedents, see Sandusky Mall Co. v. N.L.R.B., 242 F.3d 682, 692 (6th Cir.2001), Abdur'Rahman cannot raise either cumulative error argument here. Review of his cumulative error arguments is also foreclosed because the COA does not certify the claims for appeal. A COA is a jurisdictional prerequisite to the consideration of the merits of an appellant's habeas claims, see Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003), and we may not consider claims not certified for appeal, see 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); Seymour v. Walker, 224 F.3d 542, 561 (6th Cir.2000). Here, the COA allows Abdur'Rahman to appeal the denial of two Brady subclaims and permits him to make cumulative-effect arguments regarding only those Brady subclaims, even if it involves referring to factual allegations that underpin prosecutorial-misconduct subclaims. (emphasis added). As we explain more fully in Part C-2 below, this language acknowledges the general rule that we consider Brady materiality collectively, rather than looking at each suppressed item in isolation. It does not permit Abdur'Rahman to make cumulative-effect arguments regarding claims based on distinct legal theories. Because we treat cumulative error arguments as separate claims, and Abdur'Rahman's cumulative error arguments are not included within the COA, we cannot consider them here.