cockrell director texas department criminal justice institutional division argued october decided february dallas county prosecutors used peremptory strikes exclude eligible serve jury petitioner capital murder trial moved strike jury ground exclusions violated equal protection petitioner presented extensive evidence supporting motion pretrial hearing trial judge denied relief finding evidence indicating systematic exclusion blacks required precedent swain alabama subsequently jury found petitioner guilty sentenced death appeal pending established batson kentucky process evaluating equal protection claims petitioner upon remand texas criminal appeals new findings light batson original trial held hearing admitted swain hearing evidence took evidence concluded petitioner failed satisfy step one batson evidence even raise inference racial motivation state use peremptory challenges also determined state prevailed steps two three prosecutors proffered credible explanations excluded reluctance assess reservations concerning imposition death penalty petitioner prove purposeful discrimination petitioner direct appeal state habeas petitions denied filed federal habeas petition raising batson claim issues federal district denied relief deference state courts acceptance prosecutors justifications striking potential jurors subsequently denied petitioner application certificate appealability coa fifth circuit noted coa issue applicant made substantial showing denial constitutional right reasoned petitioner must make substantial showing standard set forth slack mcdaniel declared required presume findings correct unless determined findings result decision unreasonable light clear convincing evidence applied framework deny petitioner coa petitioner extensive evidence concerning jury selection procedures falls two broad categories first presented pretrial swain hearing testimony evidence relating pattern practice race discrimination voir dire dallas county district attorney office including policy office exclude minorities jury service available least one petitioner prosecutors second two years later petitioner presented state trial evidence directly related prosecutors conduct case including comparative analysis venire members demonstrating excluded petitioner jury ratio significantly higher caucasians evidence voir dire prosecution questioned venire members racially disparate fashion death penalty views willingness serve capital case willingness impose minimum sentence murder responses disclosing reluctance hesitation impose capital punishment minimum sentence cited justification striking potential jurors prosecution use texas criminal procedure practice known jury shuffling assure white venire members selected preference held fifth circuit issued coa review district denial habeas relief petitioner pp prisoner seeking postconviction relief may appeal district denial dismissal petition must first seek obtain coa circuit justice judge jurisdictional prerequisite coa issue requirements satisfied habeas applicant seeks coa appeals limit examination threshold inquiry underlying merit claims slack inquiry require full consideration factual legal bases supporting claims consistent precedent statutory text prisoner need demonstrate substantial showing denial constitutional right satisfies standard demonstrating jurists reason disagree district resolution case issues presented adequate deserve encouragement proceed need convince judge matter three judges prevail must demonstrate reasonable jurists find district assessment constitutional claims debatable wrong ibid pp since petitioner claim rests batson violation resolution coa application requires preliminary though definitive consideration batson framework state concedes petitioner satisfied step one petitioner acknowledges state proceeded step two proffering facially explanations strikes critical question determining whether prisoner proved purposeful discrimination step three persuasiveness prosecutor justification peremptory strike purkett elem per curiam issue comes whether trial finds prosecutor explanations credible credibility measured among factors prosecutor demeanor reasonable improbable explanations whether proffered rationale basis accepted trial strategy plurality concluded direct review context state finding absence discriminatory intent pure issue fact accorded significant deference overturned unless clearly erroneous hernandez new york applies habeas jurisprudence embodies deference factual determinations state courts presumed correct absent clear convincing evidence contrary decision adjudicated merits state based factual determination overturned factual grounds unless objectively unreasonable light evidence presented proceeding even context federal habeas deference imply abandonment abdication judicial review context threshold examination batson claim suffice support issuance coa adduce evidence demonstrating despite neutral explanation prosecution peremptory strikes final analysis race based cf reeves sanderson plumbing products pp review record stage concludes district give full consideration substantial evidence petitioner put forth support prima facie case instead accepted without question state evaluation demeanor prosecutors jurors petitioner trial fifth circuit evaluated petitioner coa application way ruling petitioner claim lacked sufficient merit justify appellate proceedings recited requirements granting writ interpreted requiring petitioner prove decision objectively unreasonable clear convincing evidence demanding standard incorrectly merged clear convincing evidence standard pertains determinations factual issues rather decisions unreasonableness requirement relates decision applies granting habeas relief fundamentally incorrect inquiring whether substantial showing denial constitutional right proved requires question debatability underlying constitutional claim resolution debate case debate whether prosecution acted reason striking prospective jurors raised statistical evidence demonstrating eligible excluded petitioner venire fact state trial occasion judge credibility prosecutors contemporaneous justifications time pretrial hearing equal protection jurisprudence dictated swain require fact three state proffered rationales striking african americans ambivalence death penalty hesitancy vote execute defendants capable rehabilitated jurors family history criminality pertained well white jurors challenged serve jury evidence state use racially disparate questioning state courts failure consider evidence prosecution use jury shuffle historical evidence racial discrimination dallas county district attorney office pp reversed remanded kennedy delivered opinion rehnquist stevens scalia souter ginsburg breyer joined scalia filed concurring opinion thomas filed dissenting opinion thomas joe petitioner janie cockrell director texas department criminal justice institutional division writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit february justice kennedy delivered opinion case examine state prisoner appeal denial dismissal petition writ habeas corpus two dallas county assistant district attorneys used peremptory strikes exclude eligible serve jury tried petitioner thomas joe ensuing years petitioner unsuccessful establishing either state federal conviction death sentence must vacated jury selection procedures violated equal protection clause holding batson kentucky claim arises federal petition writ habeas corpus procedures standards applicable case controlled habeas corpus statute codified title chapter code recently amended substantial manner antiterrorism effective death penalty act aedpa interest finality aedpa constrains federal power disturb convictions district northern district texas reviewing evidence state trial determined petitioner failed establish constitutional violation warranting habeas relief appeals fifth circuit concluding insufficient merit case denied certificate appealability coa district determination coa denial subject decision issue standards aedpa imposes appeals may issue coa review denial habeas relief district congress mandates prisoner seeking postconviction relief automatic right appeal district denial dismissal petition instead petitioner must first seek obtain coa resolving case decide habeas applicant seeks permission initiate appellate review dismissal petition appeals limit examination threshold inquiry underlying merit claims slack mcdaniel consistent prior precedent text habeas corpus statute reiterate prisoner seeking coa need demonstrate substantial showing denial constitutional right petitioner satisfies standard demonstrating jurists reason disagree district resolution constitutional claims jurists conclude issues presented adequate deserve encouragement proceed slack supra applying principles petitioner application conclude coa issued petitioner wife dorothy one kenneth flowers robbed holiday inn dallas texas emptied cash drawers ordered two employees doug walker donald hall lie floor walker hall gagged strips fabric hands feet bound petitioner asked flowers going kill walker hall flowers hesitated refused petitioner shot walker twice back shot hall side walker died wounds state indicted petitioner capital murder pleaded guilty jury selection took place five weeks february march voir dire concluded petitioner moved strike jury grounds prosecution violated equal protection clause fourteenth amendment excluding use peremptory challenges petitioner trial occurred decision batson supra swain alabama controlling precedent swain required petitioner sought show prosecution conduct part larger pattern discrimination aimed excluding jury service pretrial hearing held march petitioner presented extensive evidence support motion trial judge however found evidence indicated systematic exclusion blacks matter policy district attorney office may done individual prosecutors individual cases app state denied petitioner motion strike jury ibid twelve days later jury found petitioner guilty trial sentenced death petitioner appealed texas criminal appeals appeal pending april decided batson kentucky established process evaluating claims prosecutor used peremptory challenges violation equal protection clause first defendant must make prima facie showing peremptory challenge exercised basis race second showing made prosecution must offer basis striking juror question third light parties submissions trial must determine whether defendant shown purposeful discrimination acknowledging petitioner established inference purposeful discrimination texas criminal appeals remanded case new findings light batson state hearing held may little two years petitioner jury empaneled original trial admitted evidence presented swain hearing evidence testimony attorneys original trial app january trial concluded petitioner evidence failed satisfy step one batson even raise inference racial motivation use state peremptory challenges support prima facie case notwithstanding conclusion state determined state prevailed steps two three prosecutors offered credible explanations excluded found disparate prosecutorial examination venireman question primary reasons exercise challenges veniremen question reluctance assess reservations concerning imposition death penalty discussion petitioner evidence texas criminal appeals denied petitioner appeal denied certiorari texas petitioner state habeas proceedings fared better denied relief texas criminal appeals petitioner filed petition writ habeas corpus federal district pursuant although petitioner raised four issues concern petitioner jury selection claim premised batson federal magistrate judge considered merits troubled evidence adduced proceedings nevertheless recommended deference state courts acceptance prosecutors justifications striking potential jurors petitioner denied relief district adopted recommendation pursuant petitioner sought coa district application denied petitioner renewed request appeals fifth circuit also denied coa appeals noted controlling habeas principles coa issue applicant made substantial showing denial constitutional right johnson quoting citing decision slack mcdaniel reasoned petitioner makes showing demonstrates petition involves issues debatable among jurists reason another resolve issues differently issues adequate deserve encouragement proceed appeals also interjected requirements coa determination appellate reviewing federal habeas petition required presume state findings correct unless determine findings result decision unreasonable light evidence presented unreasonableness must established clear convincing evidence see applying framework petitioner coa application appeals concluded state findings unreasonable failed present clear convincing evidence contrary consequence determined state adjudication neither resulted decision unreasonable light evidence presented resulted decision contrary clearly established federal law determined ibid denied petitioner request coa granted certiorari coa ruling occasion ruling merit petitioner claim determination reverse appeals counsels us explain detail extensive evidence concerning jury selection procedures petitioner evidence falls two broad categories first presented state trial pretrial swain hearing evidence relating pattern practice race discrimination voir dire second two years later presented state evidence directly related conduct prosecutors case discuss latter first comparative analysis venire members demonstrates excluded petitioner jury ratio significantly higher caucasians possible jurors reviewed prosecution defense nine excused cause agreement parties jurors remaining however excluded peremptory strikes exercised prosecutors basis eligible black jurors removed peremptory strikes contrast prosecutors used peremptory strikes eligible nonblack prospective jurors qualified serve petitioner jury numbers relevant petitioner whole case voir dire prosecution questioned venire members views concerning death penalty willingness serve capital case responses disclosed reluctance hesitation impose capital punishment cited justification striking potential juror cause peremptory challenge wainwright witt evidence suggests however manner members venire questioned varied race extent divergence responses attributed racially disparate mode examination relevant inquiry first given detailed description mechanics execution texas three sentencing questions answered yes point thomas joe taken huntsville texas placed death row time taken death house strapped gurney iv put arm injected substance cause death result verdict case three questions answered yes app venire members asked whether render decision leading sentence death prospective white jurors given preface prior asked views capital punishment rather three questioned vague terms share us personal feelings words feel death penalty capital punishment secondly feel serve type jury actually render decision result death defendant case based evidence even pronounced difference apparent basis race manner prosecutors questioned members venire willingness impose minimum sentence murder texas law time petitioner trial unwillingness warranted removal cause huffman state tex crim app vacated part strategy normally used defense weed members venire ironically prosecution employed prosecutors first identified statutory minimum sentence five years imprisonment white venire members asked hear case way thinking calls warrants justifies five years give app contrast prospective jurors informed statutory minimum asked minimum sentence impose typical questioning seven black jurors follows prosecutor maximum sentence murder life law give idea personal feelings feel minimum sentence offense murder way set juror well almost like premeditated said premeditated statute texas prosecutor talking accident insanity killing heat passion anything like talking knowing juror know said minimum minimum amount say least twenty years furthermore petitioner points prosecution use texas criminal procedure practice known jury shuffling practice permits parties rearrange order members venire examined increase likelihood visually preferable venire members moved forward empaneled information prospective jurors appearance party requesting procedure literally shuffles juror cards venire members reseated new order tex code crim proc art vernon supp shuffling affects jury composition prospective jurors questioned voir dire dismissed end week new panel jurors appears following week jurors shuffled back panel less likely questioned serve least two occasions prosecution requested shuffles predominate number front panel yet another occasion prosecutors complained purported inadequacy card shuffle defense lawyer lodged formal objection postshuffle panel composition revealed prospective jurors moved forward next turn pattern practice evidence adduced petitioner pretrial swain hearing petitioner subpoenaed number current former dallas county assistant district attorneys judges others observed firsthand prosecution conduct jury selection number years although witnesses denied existence systematic policy exclude others disagreed dallas county district judge testified served district attorney office superior warned fired permitted serve jury similarly another dallas county district judge former assistant district attorney testified believed office systematic policy excluding juries importance defense presented evidence district attorney office adopted formal policy exclude minorities jury service circular district attorney office instructed prosecutors exercise peremptory strikes minorities take jews negroes dagos mexicans member minority race jury matter rich well educated app manual entitled jury selection criminal case distributed prosecutors contained article authored former prosecutor later judge direction superiors district attorney office outlining reasoning excluding minorities jury service although manual written remained circulation later available least one prosecutors trial testimony casts doubt state claim practices discontinued petitioner trial example judge testified exclude prosecutor trying cases courtroom discrimination jury selection testimony indicated state admission requested jury shuffle order reduce number venire concerns exclusion district attorney office echoed dallas county chief public defender evidence presented petitioner support batson claim state federal courts denied relief background examine whether petitioner case heard appeals ii mandated federal statute state prisoner seeking writ habeas corpus absolute entitlement appeal district denial petition appeal may entertained prisoner denied habeas relief district must first seek obtain coa circuit justice judge jurisdictional prerequisite coa statute mandates nless circuit justice judge issues certificate appealability appeal may taken appeals result coa issued federal courts appeals lack jurisdiction rule merits appeals habeas petitioners coa issue requirements satisfied coa statute establishes procedural rules requires threshold inquiry whether circuit may entertain appeal slack appeals observed case permits issuance coa petitioner made substantial showing denial constitutional right slack supra recognized congress codified standard announced barefoot estelle determining constitutes requisite showing controlling standard petitioner must sho reasonable jurists debate whether matter agree petition resolved different manner issues presented deserve encouragement proceed quoting barefoot supra coa determination requires overview claims habeas petition general assessment merits look district application aedpa petitioner constitutional claims ask whether resolution debatable amongst jurists reason threshold inquiry require full consideration factual legal bases adduced support claims fact statute forbids appeals side steps process first deciding merits appeal justifying denial coa based adjudication actual merits essence deciding appeal without jurisdiction end opinion slack held coa require showing appeal succeed accordingly appeals decline application coa merely believes applicant demonstrate entitlement relief holding slack mean little appellate review denied prisoner convince judge matter three judges prevail consistent coa issue instances certainty ultimate relief coa sought whole premise prisoner already failed endeavor barefoot supra holding misconstrued directing coa always must issue statutes aedpa placed rather fewer restrictions power federal courts grant writs habeas corpus state prisoners duncan walker purpose principles comity finality quoting williams taylor williams taylor opinion concept threshold gateway test vation aedpa congress established threshold prerequisite appealability large part concerned increasing number frivolous habeas corpus petitions challenging capital sentences delayed execution pending completion appellate process barefoot supra enacting aedpa using specific standards elaborated earlier threshold test congress confirmed necessity requirement differential treatment appeals deserving attention plainly follows issuance coa must pro forma matter course prisoner seeking coa must prove absence existence mere good faith part barefoot supra require petitioner prove issuance coa jurists grant petition habeas corpus indeed claim debatable even though every jurist reason might agree coa granted case received full consideration petitioner prevail stated slack district rejected constitutional claims merits showing required satisfy straightforward petitioner must demonstrate reasonable jurists find district assessment constitutional claims debatable wrong since claim rests batson violation resolution coa application requires preliminary though definitive consideration framework mandated batson reaffirmed later precedents purkett elem per curiam hernandez new york plurality opinion contrary state trial ruling remand state concedes petitioner satisfied step one dispute presented prima facie claim prosecutors used peremptory challenges exclude venire members basis race brief respondent petitioner part acknowledges state proceeded step two proffering facially explanations strikes batson question remaining step three whether carried burden proving purposeful discrimination hernandez supra confirmed purkett elem critical question determining whether prisoner proved purposeful discrimination step three persuasiveness prosecutor justification peremptory strike stage implausible fantastic justifications may probably found pretexts purposeful discrimination ibid instance issue comes whether trial finds prosecutor explanations credible credibility measured among factors prosecutor demeanor reasonable improbable explanations whether proffered rationale basis accepted trial strategy hernandez new york plurality concluded state finding absence discriminatory intent pure issue fact accorded significant deference deference trial findings issue discriminatory intent makes particular sense context noted batson finding turn evaluation credibility citing patton yount deference necessary reviewing analyzes transcripts voir dire well positioned trial make credibility determinations appellate accepts trial finding prosecutor explanation peremptory challenges believed fail see appellate nevertheless find discrimination credibility prosecutor explanation goes heart equal protection analysis settled seems nothing left review context direct review therefore noted trial decision ultimate question discriminatory intent represents finding fact sort accorded great deference appeal overturned unless clearly erroneous federal collateral review decision must consistent respect due state courts federal system applies habeas jurisprudence embodies deference factual determinations state courts presumed correct absent clear convincing evidence contrary decision adjudicated merits state based factual determination overturned factual grounds unless objectively unreasonable light evidence presented proceeding see also williams opinion even context federal habeas deference imply abandonment abdication judicial review deference definition preclude relief federal disagree state credibility determination guided aedpa conclude decision unreasonable factual premise incorrect clear convincing evidence context threshold examination batson claim issuance coa supported evidence demonstrating despite neutral explanation prosecution peremptory strikes final analysis race based goes without saying includes facts circumstances adduced support prima facie case cf reeves sanderson plumbing products action title vii civil rights act employee prima facie case evidence employer response pretext support finding purposeful discrimination coa granted reviewing determine whether trial determination prosecutor neutrality respect race objectively unreasonable rebutted clear convincing evidence contrary stage however ask whether district application aedpa deference stated petitioner batson claim debatable amongst jurists reason applying rules application difficulty concluding coa issued conclude review record stage district give full consideration substantial evidence petitioner put forth support prima facie case instead accepted without question state evaluation demeanor prosecutors jurors petitioner trial appeals evaluated application coa way ruling petitioner claim lacked sufficient merit justify appellate proceedings appeals recited requirements granting writ interpreted requiring petitioner prove state decision objectively unreasonable clear convincing evidence demanding standard one level incorrect appeals looking merits merge independent requirements aedpa require petitioner prove decision objectively unreasonable clear convincing evidence clear convincing evidence standard found subsection pertains determinations factual issues rather decisions subsection contains unreasonable requirement applies granting habeas relief rather granting coa appeals moreover incorrect even fundamental reason issuance coa appeals jurisdiction resolve merits petitioner constitutional claims true extent merits case turn agreement disagreement factual finding clear convincing evidence objective unreasonableness standards apply coa stage however need make definitive inquiry matter said coa determination separate proceeding one distinct underlying merits slack hohn appeals inquired whether substantial showing denial constitutional right proved deciding substance appeal threshold inquiry undermines concept coa question debatability underlying constitutional claim resolution debate case statistical evidence alone raises debate whether prosecution acted reason striking prospective jurors prosecutors used peremptory strikes exclude eligible venire members one served petitioner jury total prosecutors peremptory strikes used happenstance unlikely produce disparity case debatability weakened examine state defense disparate treatment appeals held presumption correctness especially strong trial state habeas one noted trial held batson hearing two years voir dire prosecutors proffered contemporaneous justifications many peremptory strikes state trial occasion judge credibility explanations time equal protection jurisprudence dictated swain require result evidence presented trial batson hearing subject usual risks imprecision distortion passage time case three state proffered rationales striking jurors pertained well white jurors challenged serve jury prosecutors explained peremptory challenges six potential jurors based ambivalence death penalty hesitancy vote execute defendants capable rehabilitated jurors family history criminality rebuttal prosecution explanation petitioner identified two empaneled white jurors expressed ambivalence death penalty manner similar counterparts subject prosecutorial peremptory challenges one indicated capital punishment appropriate first offense another stated difficult impose death sentence similarly two white jurors expressed hesitation sentencing death defendant might rehabilitated four white jurors family members criminal histories consequence even though prosecution reasons striking members venire appear race neutral application rationales venire might selective based racial considerations whether comparative juror analysis demonstrate prosecutors rationales pretexts discrimination unnecessary determination stage evidence make debatable district conclusion purposeful discrimination occurred question appeals state trial dismissive strained interpretation petitioner evidence disparate questioning findings state disparate questioning batson jurors fully supported record petitioner argues prosecutors sole purpose using disparate questioning elicit responses venire members reflected opposition death penalty unwillingness impose minimum sentence either justified challenges prosecution applicable state law remote possibility disparate questioning occur petitioner submits disparate questioning created appearance divergent opinions even though venire members views relevant subject might follows use disparate questioning determined race outset likely justification strike based resulting divergent views pretextual context differences questions posed prosecutors evidence purposeful discrimination batson similarly prosecutor questions statements voir dire examination exercising challenges may support refute inference discriminatory purpose preface questions views prospective jurors held death penalty prosecution instances gave explicit account execution process prospective jurors asked views capital punishment preface used questioned issue white persons state explains disparity asserting disproportionate number venire members expressed doubts death penalty juror questionnaires accepted without inquiry however state evidence inconsistent explanation state calculations white prospective jurors expressed hesitation death penalty questionnaires however group whites given explicit description even greater disparity along racial lines consider disparate questioning concerning minimum punishments percent whites informed statutory minimum sentence compared twelve half percent explanation proffered statistical disparity pierre louisiana fact testimony challenged evidence appropriately direct brushed aside evidence obtainable contradict disprove testimony offered petitioner assumed state refrained introducing quoting norris alabama indeed petitioner appeal pending texas criminal appeals found batson violation precise line disparate questioning mandatory minimums employed one prosecutors tried instant case chambers state tex crim app follows view fair interpretation record threshold examination coa analysis prosecutors designed questions elicit responses justify removal venire batson supra circumstantial evidence invidious intent may include proof disproportionate impact observed circumstances proof discriminatory impact practical purposes demonstrate unconstitutionality various circumstances discrimination difficult explain nonracial agree petitioner prosecution decision seek jury shuffle predominate number seated front panel along decision delay formal objection defense shuffle new racial composition revealed raise suspicion state sought exclude jury concerns amplified fact state also apparently ignored testimony demonstrating dallas county district attorney office admission used process manipulate racial composition jury past app noting prosecutor admitted requesting jury shuffle predominant number first six eight ten jurors blacks even though practice jury shuffling might denominated batson claim involve peremptory challenge use practice tends erode credibility prosecution assertion race motivating factor jury selection finally threshold examination accord weight petitioner historical evidence racial discrimination district attorney office evidence presented swain hearing indicates almost categorically excluded jury service batson early rejected contention absence blacks grand jury insufficient support inference discrimination summarily asserting accident hardly accounted continuous omission negroes grand jury lists long period sixteen years quoting hill texas hernandez texas taxes credulity say mere chance resulted members class among six thousand jurors called past years federal magistrate judge addressed import evidence context batson claim found unexplained disturbing irrespective whether evidence prove sufficient support charge systematic exclusion reveals culture district attorney office past suffused bias jury selection evidence course relevant extent casts doubt legitimacy motives underlying state actions petitioner case even presume stage prosecutors case part culture discrimination evidence suggests likely ignorant prosecutors joined district attorney office assistant district attorneys received formal training excluding minorities juries supposition race factor reinforced fact prosecutors marked race prospective juror juror cards resolving equal protection claim petitioner state courts made mention either jury shuffle historical record purposeful discrimination adhere proposition state need make detailed findings addressing evidence failure however diminish significance concerns heightened fact presented evidence state trial somehow reasoned even inference discrimination support prima facie case clear error state declines defend particular ruling general assertions accepted rebutting defendant prima facie case equal protection clause vain illusory requirement batson supra quoting norris secure habeas relief petitioner must demonstrate state finding absence purposeful discrimination incorrect clear convincing evidence corresponding factual determination objectively unreasonable light record state represents us petitioner able satisfy burden may may case however question us coa inquiry asks district decision debatable threshold examination convinces us judgment fifth circuit reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered thomas joe petitioner janie cockrell director texas department criminal justice institutional division writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit february justice scalia concurring join opinion write separately two reasons first explain believe willingness consider antiterrorism effective death penalty act aedpa limits habeas relief deciding whether issue certificate appealablity coa accord text second discuss evidence state side case though inadequate holds make absence claimed violation batson kentucky undebatable still makes view close case many appeals decisions denied applications coa concluding applicant entitled habeas relief merits without even analyzing whether applicant made substantial showing denial constitutional right see kasi angelone wheat johnson today disapproves approach improperly resolves merits appeal coa stage ante less clear opinion however circuit justice judge deciding whether issue coa must look district application aedpa habeas petitioner constitutional claims ask whether resolution debatable amongst jurists reason ante emphasis added district applied aedpa nothing whether coa applicant made substantial showing denial constitutional right required aedpa standard seemingly role coa inquiry section however provides certificate appealability may issue applicant made substantial showing denial constitutional right emphasis added substantial showing entitle applicant coa necessary sufficient condition nothing text prohibits circuit justice judge imposing additional requirements one additional requirement approved see slack mcdaniel holding habeas petitioner seeking appeal district denial habeas relief procedural grounds must make substantial showing denial constitutional right also must demonstrate jurists reason find debatable whether district correct procedural ruling today imposes another additional requirement circuit justice judge must deny coa even habeas petitioner made substantial showing constitutional rights violated reasonable jurists conclude substantive provision federal habeas statute bars relief ante give example suppose state prisoner presents constitutional claim reasonable jurists might find debatable unable find clearly established precedent support claim previously rejected merits proceedings view coa must denied even habeas petitioner satisfies substantial showing denial constitutional right requirement reasonable jurists agree habeas relief impossible obtain approach consonant slack accord coa purpose preventing meritless habeas appeals compatible text make substantial showing denial constitutional right sufficient condition coa ii applying coa standard petitioner case must ask whether petitioner made substantial showing batson violation also whether reasonable jurists debate petitioner ability obtain habeas relief light aedpa facts surrounding petitioner batson claims viewed light requirement factual determinations overcome clear convincing evidence contrary reveal close rather clear case granting coa petitioner maintains following six jurors victims racially motivated peremptory strikes edwin rand wayman kennedy roderick bozeman billy jean fields joe warren carrol boggess state proffered explanations peremptory challenge five challenged primarily views imposing death penalty rand kennedy bozeman warren boggess one fields challenged among reasons brother convicted drug offenses served time prison asserting reasons challenges state satisfied step two batson see purkett elem per curiam unless petitioner make substantial showing showing reasonable jurists debate whether state fraudulently recited explanations pretext race discrimination satisfied requirement moreover state entered finding fact prosecution purported reasons exercising peremptory challenges pretextual app coa issue unless finding reasonably thought contradicted clear convincing evidence see determination factual issue made state shall presumed correct applicant shall burden rebutting presumption correctness clear convincing evidence ante weakness petitioner batson claims stems difficulty identifying unchallenged white venireman similarly situated six aforementioned veniremen although petitioner claims two white veniremen sandra hearn marie mazza expressed views death penalty ambivalent expressed rand kennedy bozeman warren boggess voir dire transcripts clearly bear although hearn initially stated thought death penalty inappropriate offenders also said see reason sit jury imposing death penalty app stated someone extreme child abuser deserved death penalty whether offense reply brief petitioner hearn also made statements distaste criminal defendants use psychiatric testimony establish incompetency mazza stated views death penalty follows kind hard determining somebody life whether live die feel something accepted courts something decision think make one way app compare statements sentiments expressed challenged veniremen kennedy supported death penalty cases mass murder normally say average murder case say death sentence bozeman supported death penalty possible way rehabilitate person say somebody mentally disturbed something like say manson type something like asked prosecutors whether repeated criminal violent conduct indicate person beyond rehabilitation bozeman replied really warren refused give clear answer regarding views death penalty despite numerous questions prosecutors well goes back situation know sometimes asked whether death penalty accomplishes anything warren answered yes sometimes think sometimes think sic sometimes mixed feelings things like ibid asked think accomplishes feel warren replied know ibid boggess referred death penalty murder said whether actually go murder killing another person taking another person life know trouble ibid rand closer case ambivalent statement know right say tomorrow might later rand say impose death penalty juror hearn mazza white jurors seated also said sit jury imposed death penalty petitioner shown one veniremen rand may ambivalent death penalty white jurors hearn mazza perhaps enough permit state trial deciding issue de novo observing demeanor prosecutors disputed jurors find batson violation federal habeas case state previously entered factfindings six jurors challenged race petitioner must provide clear convincing evidence state erred requesting coa must demonstrate jurists reason debate whether standard satisfied ante fields sixth venireman petitioner claims challenged race supported capital punishment however brother several drug convictions served time prison app warren boggess two veniremen previously discussed also relatives criminal convictions warren brother convicted fraud relation food stamps boggess testified defense witness nephew trial theft reported questionnaire cousins problems law joint lodging four white veniremen petitioner claims also relatives criminal histories therefore struck prosecution three noad vickery cheryl davis chatta nix actually struck petitioner fourth joan weiner son shoplifted age app hardly comparable fields situation weiner strong state juror reasons relatives worked law enforcement support death penalty clear unequivocal reasons conclusion room debate merits petitioner batson claim far removed judgment state explanations peremptory strikes implausible observations join opinion thomas joe petitioner janie cockrell director texas department criminal justice institutional division writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit february justice thomas dissenting unpersuaded petitioner claims state trial found purposeful discrimination prosecut ion use peremptory strikes app finding established petitioner failed carry burden step three inquiry set batson kentucky title requires federal habeas presum state findings fact correct unless petitioner rebut presumption clear convincing evidence majority decides without explanation ignore explicit command petitioner shown clear convincing evidence peremptory strikes black veniremen exercised race merit certificate appealability coa respectfully dissent agrees ante state finding step three batson finding fact ordinarily subject presumption correctness proceeding instituted application writ habeas corpus person custody pursuant judgment state determination factual issue made state shall presumed correct applicant shall burden rebutting presumption correctness clear convincing evidence however implicitly rejects obvious conclusion coa determination part proceeding instituted application writ habeas corpus instead presuming state factfindings correct requires holds petitioner need show reasonable jurists disagree whether provide clear convincing evidence finding erroneous ante main justification conclusion supposed fidelity slack mcdaniel see ante petitioner must demonstrate reasonable jurists find district assessment constitutional claims debatable quoting slack supra neither slack decision addressing coa procedure ever considered constitutional claim turns entirely issues fact circumstances text governs unlike majority begin plain text statute instructs federal courts treat findings fact issue constitutes proceeding purposes word proceeding means regular orderly progression lawsuit including acts events time commencement entry judgment black law dictionary ed emphasis added coa standing alone assert grievance anyone seek remedy redress legal injury even require side nothing request permission seek review hohn scalia dissenting agree majority existence coa jurisdictional prerequisite merits appeal ante however takes wrong turn implies merits appeal part habeas process proceeding coa determination somehow overwhelming authority including majority opinion confirms applies merits appeal see ante weaver bowersox putman head johnson gibson francis stone weeks snyder mueller angelone ashford gilmore cf sumner mata effective death penalty act aedpa factual deference provision virtually identical language applies merits appeal coa determination treated differently draws distinction merits appeal coa silent conclusion contrary simply illogical coa status jurisdictional prerequisite merits appeal requires coa determination merits appeal considered part proceeding rejection conclusion also conflicts practice prior aedpa access merits appeal federal habeas corpus proceedings governed mechanism similar coa known certificate probable cause cpc see slack supra also standard factual deference similar though weaker standard see ed provisions indistinguishable aedpa purposes courts concluded predecessor applied directly cpc proceeding without filtering debatability standard used cpc coa contexts see barnard collins cordova collins cases support straightforward notion like predecessor respect cpc proceedings applies directly coa proceeding decision hohn supra holds coa determination constitutes case appeals purposes jurisdiction contrary hohn hold logic require coa determination regarded separate rest habeas proceeding fact hohn rejected proposition request proceed appeals regarded threshold inquiry separate merits emphasis added indeed hohn analogized coa filing notice appeal civil context consider part proceeding instituted complaint trial merits appeal also errs albeit dicta implies delayed state factfinding two years voir dire batson excuse weakened factual deference ante even putting aside fact appellate direct review still give heavy deference credibility reasoning tension plain text ignores changes wrought aedpa role federal courts collateral review unlike appellate review district findings fact clear error establishes presumption correctness requires federal habeas assume state entered findings best placed factfinder complete record ask whether petitioner refute factual finding clear convincing evidence procedural imperfections ordinarily affect presumption thus matter whether state judge made decision two years late record admittedly conditions might increase odds habeas applicant locate helpful evidence presume facts correct means allow habeas applicant evade attacking process employed state factfinder rather actual factfindings reading confirmed changes worked aedpa section predecessor create exceptions factual deference procedural infirmities example prior aedpa federal habeas defer determinations fact factfinding procedure employed state adequate afford full fair hearing ed material facts adequately developed state hearing applicant receive full fair adequate hearing removal exceptions forecloses use marginal procedural complaints delay voir dire batson hearing determine whether much federal habeas defer factfinding section simply read contain implied sliding scale deference understand disagree view however dicta actually purport interpret text ii supplies governing legal standard petitioner must provide clear convincing evidence purposeful discrimination order obtain coa petitioner constitutional claim batson turns fact reasonable jurists debate ante internal quotation marks omitted whether batson violation occurred petitioner first meets burden simple truth petitioner presented anything remotely resembling clear convincing evidence purposeful discrimination evidence amassed petitioner grouped four categories evidence historical discrimination dallas district attorney office selection juries use jury shuffle tactic prosecution alleged similarity white veniremen struck prosecution six blacks edwin rand wayman kennedy roderick bozeman billy jean fields joe warren carroll boggess evidence disparate questioning respect veniremen views death penalty ability impose minimum punishment historical evidence entirely circumstantial much majority bring say casts doubt state claim discriminatory practices discontinued petitioner trial ante evidence prosecution used jury shuffles proves intentional discrimination forces petitioner admit sought eliminate whites jury given employed tactic even prosecution ultimately two categories evidence little petitioner address genuineness prosecutors proffered reasons making peremptory strikes particular jurors short reasons justice scalia finds close case ante concurring opinion reasons correct reading losing case write explore two arguments advanced petitioner deemed helpful establishing petitioner debatable entitlement apparently majority debatability quiry requires review record permissive attitude toward coa movant representations noted petitioner argues prosecution struck six blacks rand kennedy bozeman fields warren boggess similarly situated unstruck whites see need repeat justice scalia dissection petitioner tales white veniremen ambivalent death penalty kennedy bozeman warren boggess ante concurring opinion however majority cursory remark three state proffered rationales striking black jurors pertained well white jurors challenged serve jury ante emphasis added flatly incorrect deserves discussion three challenged peremptory strikes used fields warren boggess petitioner even correctly alleged existence similarly situated white veniremen majority discussion subject misleading stating prosecutors explained peremptory challenges six black potential jurors based ambivalence death penalty hesitancy vote execute defendants capable rehabilitated veniremens family history criminality ante implication six challenged veniremen prosecution gave three reasons justifications use peremptory strike clarify rand kennedy bozeman warren boggess struck ambivalence death penalty fields warren boggess struck family members criminal histories bozeman fields struck making remarks rehabilitation simple deduction analysis petitioner contentions includes names allegedly similar white veniremen cf ante reveals petitioner unearthed white venireman like warren boggess ambivalent death penalty related individuals previous brushes petitioner also produces white venireman like fields expressed prodefense views rehabilitation family member criminal similarly situated mean matching one several reasons prosecution gave striking potential juror means matching leaves rand kennedy petitioner alleges white jurors hearn mazza ambivalent death penalty three struck black veniremen justice scalia adequately demonstrated absurd respect kennedy bozeman agree petitioner makes slightly better case rand ante concurring opinion however since burden petitioner show clear convincing evidence rand struck race find sliver evidence even combined petitioner circumstantial evidence insufficient rebut presumption petitioner accounts disparate questioning also amount little substance petitioner argues prosecution posed different questions voir dire depending race venireman two subjects death penalty minimum punishment allowed law neither accusation withstand careful examination full record help petitioner assemble requisite clear convincing evidence respondent counters petitioner complaints graphic formulation script arguing depiction used potential jurors expressed reservations death penalty juror questionnaires brief respondent majority discounts explanation stating accepted without inquiry ante view however petitioner bears burden showing purposeful discrimination clear convincing evidence treatment issue focuses apparent disparity treatment black veniremen white veniremen supposedly similar opposition death penalty majority notes whites got graphic description blacks ante neglects mention eight white veniremen petitioner thinks received graphic formulation reply brief petitioner emphatically opposed death penalty description served purpose clarifying position issue trial lawyer willingly antagonize potential juror ardently opposed death penalty extreme portrait implementation strategy pursued prosecution makes perfect sense necessary draw venireman feelings death penalty use graphic script overkill record demonstrates six eight white veniremen opposed death penalty stricken cause without need prosecution spend peremptory challenge example john nelson wrote questionnaire believe state right take anyone life tr voir dire crim dist dallas county tex internal quotation marks omitted hereinafter vdr testified flatly able vote death penalty nelson struck cause linda berk always opposed death penalty felt strongly subject prosecutor remarked upon discomfort stated ou going excuse getting little emotional okay later begun crying berk struck cause gene hinson stated curtly put form agree struck cause sheila white said always death penalty struck cause even two struck cause firm views margaret gibson said believe death penalty know started think solves anything struck prosecution peremptory strike james holtz thought death penalty appropriate man fireman murdered apprehend simply reason fault prosecution failing give graphic description lethal injection prospective jurors firm views capital punishment recognize voir dire statements indirectly support respondent explanation graphic script typically given outset voir dire quoted veniremen chance give stark answers nevertheless available evidence supports respondent view unclear views death penalty juror questionnaires received graphic formulation adamantly death penalty questionnaires jury forms issue asked two questions directly relevant death penalty question asked believe death penalty offered potential jurors chance circle yes asked lease explain answer see joint lodging boggess questionnaire question allowed potential jurors circle yes answering following question moral religious personal beliefs prevent returning verdict ultimately result execution another human ibid first already noted deeper clearer opposition death penalty part eight whites receive graphic script petitioner thinks indirectly supports respondent contention opposition came questionnaires presumably answer question answer yes question evidence supporting respondent view hinson white venireman receive graphic formulation stated voir dire put form agree death penalty moral religious reasons vdr similarly nelson white venireman receiving graphic formulation stated questionnaire believe state right take anyone life internal quotation marks omitted fernando guiterrez juror received graphic formulation answered yes question also yes question indicating moral religious personal beliefs obstruct voting death penalty despite fact believed joint lodging prosecution treated black veniremen differently blacks receive graphic formulation whose questionnaires contained record answered yes question stating believed death penalty question indicating beliefs prevent imposing death sentence see bozeman fields warren rand black veniremen given graphic formulation contrast gave ambiguous answers juror questionnaires expressing hesitation rather philosophical opposition death penalty boggess answered yes question also yes question kennedy answered yes question indicated believed death penalty nly extreme cases multiple murders troy woods answered question also question indicating believe death penalty personal objection imposing wrote sic punishment space provided question ibid happened completely clear questionnaire hence receiving graphic formulation woods enthusiastic supporter death penalty fact seated petitioner jury confirming respondent explanation black veniremen linda baker janice mackey paul bailey anna keaton gave unclear responses questions received graphic formulation see tr pretrial hearings crim dist dallas county tex def exh sum correlation questionnaire answers use graphic script far stronger correlation race sixteen veniremen clearly indicated questionnaires feelings death receive graphic eight veniremen gave unclear answers eight veniremen got graphic words veniremen questionnaire information available answers given accurately predict whether got graphic petitioner theory race determined whether venireman got graphic script produces correlation far petitioner fares better allegation prosecution employed two different scripts basis race asking questions imposition minimum sentence indeed disparate questioning argument flawed last one respondent admits different questioning minimum sentences used effort get veniremen prosecution felt ambivalent death penalty dismissed cause making decision whether employ manipulative minimum punishment script prosecutors rely questionnaires substantial voir dire testimony minimum punishment questioning occurred much later voir dire graphic formulation seven black veniremen given allegedly manipulative minimum punishment script opposed death penalty varying degrees rand kennedy bozeman warren boggess views death penalty exhaustively discussed leaves baker fields baker views death penalty clearly ambivalent even subject petitioner batson challenge fields family history criminality views rehabilitation earlier discussed supra convinced prosecution use peremptory finally petitioner objection prosecution decision use manipulative punishment script woods reply brief petitioner makes sense woods gave answers indicating excellent state juror prosecution tried eliminate course petitioner correct prosecution sought eliminate blacks one might expect methods including use manipulative script deployed woods happened also black graphic questioning respondent explanation goes unrebutted petitioner unless venireman indicated poor state juror using criteria respondent identified otherwise struck cause agreement reason use manipulative script thus petitioner points state failure use manipulative method vast majority white veniremembers expressed reservations death penalty ignores fact whites expressed opposition death penalty struck cause agreement meaning manipulative script necessary get removed two whites given manipulative script peremptorily like rand kennedy bozeman fields warren boggess baker quite simply petitioner arguments rest circumstantial evidence speculation hold thorough review record far rebutting presumption petitioner perhaps even demonstrated reasonable jurists debate whether provided requisite evidence purposeful discrimination majority inquiry mine petitioner demonstrated clear convincing evidence even one peremptory strikes issue result racial discrimination affirm denial coa footnotes regarded logical development error analyzing request coa like merits appeal courts simply allowed merits appeals taken without coa flat contravention see bates lee footnotes standard factual deference provided proceeding instituted federal application writ habeas corpus person custody pursuant judgment state determination hearing merits factual issue made state competent jurisdiction shall presumed correct unless applicant shall establish shall otherwise appear respondent shall admit enumerated exceptions omitted evidentiary hearing burden shall rest upon applicant establish convincing evidence factual determination state erroneous factfinding hindered prosecutors gave reasons strikes black veniremen batson hearing one joe warren issue app puzzled majority willingness hold respondent failure prosecutors testify batson hearing petitioner easily requested reasons allegedly unconstitutional peremptory strikes given attorney representing state batson hearing made certain trial prosecutors present reiterate reasons gave record striking challenged black veniremen app petitioner counsel explicitly refused opportunity offered ibid furthermore fail understand move resulted efficient hearing without redundant testimony redound benefit petitioner bears burden proof federal habeas corpus proceeding however agree majority decisions hernandez new york purkett elem per curiam helpful guiding federal habeas deciding claim batson kentucky instance cases confirm batson step three turns evaluation prosecutor proffered justifications peremptory challenges issue purkett supra hernandez greatly doubt congress intended authorize broader federal review state credibility determinations authorized appeals within federal system petitioner shuffled jury five times prosecution three times brief respondent petitioner directs white veniremen noad vickery cheryl davis chatta nix joan weiner family members criminal histories points white veniremen sandra hearn marie mazza equally ambivalent death penalty brief petitioner course justice scalia demonstrates hearn mazza ambivalent death penalty ante concurring opinion petitioner points vickery davis nix weiner similar family histories justice scalia shown none four fact similarly situated fields respect justification ante concurring opinion petitioner also alleges hearn made remarks rehabilitation similar made fields white venireman even allegedly fits reasons given striking fields furthermore even fields struck views rehabilitation views way equivalent expressed hearn fields answered yes question whether believed everyone rehabilitated app fields went say may feel like person opportunity really talked god commits whereas committed offense turns life around rehabilitation ibid contrast hearn stated believe death penalty criminal rehabilitated petitioner tries muddy waters pointing fields respects good state juror supported death penalty brief petitioner however change fact fields said everyone rehabilitated thus might swayed penitent defendant testimony hearn insisted people rehabilitated analyzing batson claims focus reasonableness asserted nonracial motive rather genuineness motive purkett emphasis original prosecution stated reasons striking bozeman ambivalent death penalty made remarks rehabilitation one case prosecution gave multiple reasons strike petitioner actually correctly alleged existence similarly situated white venireman hearn petitioner believes albeit erroneously see ante scalia concurring hearn expressed similar ambivalence death penalty made remarks rehabilitation nelson also doctor presumably need lethal injection process described questions responses thereto found page questionnaire baker circle yes answering question wrote strongest feeling death penalty however aware overcrowding jails number murders know facts make decision emphasis added baker also answer question writing undecided instead mackey answered question indicating believe death penalty wrote thou shall kill explanation space proceeded answer question well bailey circled yes answering question wrote circle around along explanations yes major crime one sic right take anothe sic ones sic life emphasis original circled answering question keaton circled indicating believe death penalty answered question writing punished sic anyone however circled answering question indicating objection imposing death penalty see vdr hinson nelson joint lodging bozeman fields warren rand mary sumrow ronnie long weiner mazza vivian sztybel debra mcdowell kevin duke brenda walsh filemon zablan hearn sztybel received graphic script vdr boggess kennedy baker mackey bailey keaton guiterrez woods analysis considers hinson nelson clearly opposed death penalty questionnaires answering question question yes kennedy ambiguous though fact answered question yes even without assumptions veniremen answered yes question question indicating clear support death penalty receive graphic script seven seven answering yes yes indicating ambiguous mixed feelings death penalty answering clearly received graphic script yields accuracy rate whites get graphic script blacks get graphic script means race predicted use graphic script time prosecution fact used peremptory strikes seven black veniremen see joint lodging vdr gibson holtz