Opinion ID: 797369
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Summary of Nields's claims on appeal

Text: 30 The five issues covered by the COA are as follows: (1) whether prosecutorial misconduct during the penalty phase violated Nields's constitutional rights, (2) whether Nields's counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to investigate and present mitigating evidence, (3) whether Nields's counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to retain an expert to testify to the causal relationship, if any, between Nields's alcoholism and his behavior on the night of the murder, (4) whether Nields's counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to request a voir dire of the jurors after learning that several had seen Nields in handcuffs, and (5) whether Nields's counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to introduce evidence of Nields's remorse. 31 After carefully considering the record on appeal, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, and having had the benefit of oral argument, we find no error in the district court's denial of Nields's habeas corpus petition. Each of the five COA issues is discussed in detail below.