Maurice Andrews, Petitioner-appellant, v. James A. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminaljustice, Institutional Division, Respondent-appellee, 21 F.3d 612 (5th Cir. 1994)

Maurice Andrews was convicted by a jury of capital murder and sentenced to death. His conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal. After his petition for habeas corpus relief in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals was denied, Andrews filed a petition for habeas corpus relief in federal district court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (1988). The district court denied the petition. Andrews now appeals the district court's decision, presenting over twenty claims of error. We affirm.

* A

On April 8, 1982, two men robbed Granado's Jewelry Store in Beaumont, Texas.¹  During the robbery, Joe Granado, the store owner, was shot once in the head by a small caliber pistol and once with a .38 caliber pistol; Arturo Melindez, a store employee, also was shot in the head and killed. Luisa Morales, an employee of the business located next to the jewelry store, testified that, after hearing gunshots, she saw two black men leaving the shop "real fast."²  The only significant evidence police officers found at the scene was a black cap decorated with a white Playboy bunny emblem.

Daisy May White, who lived at co-defendant Malcolm Davis' house, testified that Andrews came to the residence on the morning the murders occurred. Andrews wore a "dark brown" shirt and a "black [cap] with a white Playboy bunny in the front." Andrews and Davis, who wore a dark red baseball cap, left the house approximately two hours before Granado and Melindez were killed. Andrews, Davis, and Elliott Johnson returned to the house about forty-five minutes after the robbery occurred.³  While at Davis' residence, Andrews retrieved a bag, a towel, and some clothes from Davis' car, which was parked in the garage. When Andrews reentered the house, White observed that he had a "medium-sized" pistol--which she had seen Andrews carry on previous occasions--tucked into his pants. White also observed "lots of jewelry" wrapped up in the towel that Andrews had retrieved from the car. Later, Davis gave his wife the pistol he had been carrying, which was smaller than Andrews' gun, and told her to clean it. Davis also told her that "we had to shoot those guys or they would have killed us." Davis' wife subsequently placed the pistol Andrews had been carrying, several envelopes, and a red baseball cap in a storehouse located in their backyard.

Gloria Mae Thomas testified that she accompanied Andrews--who was wearing a black Playboy bunny cap--Davis, and a third man to the residence of Charles Chapman in Houston two days before the robbery-murders occurred. On that trip, Davis inquired whether Chapman wanted to purchase or knew where he could fence "about $20,000 worth of jewelry." When Chapman requested to see the jewelry, Davis replied that he would let Chapman "see it later on." Thomas also testified that Andrews often talked about committing robberies and told her that "he wouldn't leave nobody around to talk about it" if he ever "pulled a big robbery." Chapman's testimony supported that given by Thomas. Additionally, Chapman stated that Andrews carried a .38 caliber pistol while in Houston.

After Andrews and Davis were arrested,⁴  police officers obtained a warrant to search Davis' residence. During the search, they recovered a .38 caliber pistol, an envelope with "Granado Jewelry" on it, the bill of a red baseball cap that had been burned, and one ring. During a search of Andrews' residence, again pursuant to a warrant, officers found a large amount of jewelry hidden in the refrigerator. Tests demonstrated that the .38 caliber pistol recovered by police fired the shots that killed Granado and Melindez. Lynn Baldwin, Granado's stepson, identified the seized envelope as being of the same type used by Granado to secure jewelry left at the store by customers. He further identified one of the rings found in Andrews' residence as being Granado's personal ring. Blain Coleman identified a second ring found at Andrews' residence as being a ring that he left at Granado's store for repairs prior to the robbery. Patricia Stine and Rolanda Russell testified that several items of jewelry seized at Andrews' residence "matched up" with items that their companies had delivered to Granado's Jewelry Store. Many of the items taken from the store, however, were never recovered. A jury found Andrews guilty of the capital murder of Joe Granado.

B

In accord with the capital sentencing statute then in effect,⁵  Andrews's jury was instructed at the punishment phase of his trial that it was to answer three "special issues":

(1) whether the conduct of the defendant that caused the death of the deceased was committed deliberately and with the reasonable expectation that the death of the deceased or another would result;

(2) whether there is a reasonable probability that the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society; and

(3) if raised by the evidence, whether the conduct of the defendant in killing the deceased was unreasonable in response to the provocation, if any, by the deceased.

Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 37.071(b) (Vernon 1981). Because the jury unanimously answered each question in the affirmative, the trial court sentenced Andrews to death. See id. art. 37.071(e). The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Andrews' conviction and sentence. Andrews, 744 S.W.2d 40.

In November 1988, Andrews, represented by counsel, sought postconviction relief in the Texas state courts. After an evidentiary hearing regarding six of Andrews' thirty-seven claims,⁶  the state habeas court, which also had been the trial court, entered findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be denied. The Court of Criminal Appeals, finding the trial court's findings and conclusions to be supported by the record, subsequently denied relief. Andrews then petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus in federal district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, raising twenty-seven claims of error. The district court denied relief and granted Andrews' petition for a certificate of probable cause to appeal, 810 F. Supp. 759. Andrews now raises a plethora of claims on appeal.

II

Andrews first levels a general challenge to the state court's findings of fact, arguing that four of the exceptions to the presumption of correctness enumerated in Sec. 2254(d) are applicable.⁷  Andrews' challenges can be grouped into two categories: those based on the inadequacy of the procedures or other aspects of the state hearing (exceptions under Secs. 2254(d) (2), (3) and (6)) and those based on the merits of the state court's findings (exceptions under Sec. 2254(d) (1)).

* The first category of challenges requires us to determine whether certain alleged procedural irregularities at the hearing rendered the presumption inapplicable. E.g., Black v. Collins, 962 F.2d 394, 400 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S. Ct. 2983, 119 L. Ed. 2d 601 (1992). Andrews specifically contends that the state court "refused to allow [him] to conduct any discovery and also refused to provide [him] with the means to present all of the evidence that supported [his] claims." Andrews, however, fails to cite any authority supporting his contentions.⁸ 

Texas law leaves discovery decisions to the sound discretion of the habeas court. See Tex.Code Crim.Pro.Ann. art. 11.07(2) (d) (West Supp.1994) (stating that "the court may order affidavits, depositions, interrogatories, and hearings, as well as using personal recollection" to resolve "controverted, previously unresolved facts") (emphasis added). In federal court, " [d]iscovery decisions in habeas proceedings ... [also] are left entirely to the sound discretion of the district court." Duff-Smith v. Collins, 973 F.2d 1175, 1180 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 1958, 123 L. Ed. 2d 661 (1993); see also 28 U.S.C. § 2254, Rule 6 (governing the availability of discovery in federal habeas proceedings); Willie v. Maggio, 737 F.2d 1372, 1395 (5th Cir.) (holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying motion for discovery), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1002, 105 S. Ct. 415, 83 L. Ed. 2d 342 (1984). Moreover, Andrews wholly fails to explain how the state court "refused to provide [him] with the means to present all of the evidence." E.g., Smith v. Estelle, 711 F.2d 677 (5th Cir. 1983) (noting that a habeas applicant need not be given the opportunity to present live testimony), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 906, 104 S. Ct. 1685, 80 L. Ed. 2d 159 (1984). Finally, in reviewing the record, we note that the state court allowed Andrews to present evidence and witnesses, to fully cross-examine witnesses called by the state, and, after the hearing's conclusion, to submit affidavits from two persons who did not appear at the hearing. Accordingly, we conclude that Andrews received a full and fair hearing.

B

The second challenge raised by Andrews requires us to determine whether the state court actually resolved the factual issues presented by Andrews' petition. Andrews contends that although he filed an amended petition "conform [ing] his allegations to the evidence presented at the hearing," the state habeas court's factual findings tracked the allegations raised in his original state petition. Andrews neglects to mention, however, that the state court refused to consider Andrews' "extremely belated" amended petition because it found that Andrews had abused the habeas corpus process by filing the petition. Moreover, Andrews does not challenge that finding. Consequently, we conclude that the state court actually resolved the merits of all disputed factual issues presented by Andrews' habeas petition.⁹ 

III

Andrews argues that the district court erred in presuming correct the trial court's finding that he was competent to stand trial because he did not receive a full and fair hearing and the material facts were not adequately developed at the hearing that was held. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) (2), (3), (6). Accordingly, Andrews urges us to reverse the judgment of the district court and remand for a new evidentiary hearing.

The Sec. 2254(d) presumption of correctness is not rendered inapplicable merely because the state habeas court did not allow Andrews to conduct discovery before it held the evidentiary hearing. See part II.A. supra. Moreover, the record indicates that the material facts pertaining to Andrews' incompetency claim were adequately developed during the hearing.¹⁰  Consequently, we conclude that the state habeas court afforded Andrews a full and fair hearing, that the state court's finding that Andrews was competent to stand trial was entitled to the presumption of correctness, and that the district court was not required to conduct a second evidentiary hearing.

IV

Andrews contends that the trial court erred by not reopening voir dire after defense counsel learned that one of the jurors was related to Joe Granado, the victim. Shortly before trial was to begin, the prosecution informed defense counsel that juror Curtis Tomplait's daughter had been married to the victim's grandson, who was deceased at the time of trial.¹¹  Defense counsel then moved for a mistrial or, alternatively, to reopen voir dire and question Tomplait as to his relationship to the victim. The trial court denied both requests. Andrews argues that the trial court thus "forced him to present his case before a juror with an apparent bias against him, in violation of ... the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments." At bottom, Andrews' contention is that we must, as a matter of law, impute bias to juror Tomplait.¹² 

As an initial matter, we note that " [t]he Supreme Court has never explicitly adopted or rejected the doctrine of implied bias." Tinsley, 895 F.2d at 527. Moreover, the Court has not looked favorably upon attempts to impute bias to jurors. E.g., Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 102 S. Ct. 940, 71 L. Ed. 2d 78 (1982) (refusing to impute bias to a juror where the juror sought employment with the prosecutor's office during trial); Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 74 S. Ct. 450, 98 L. Ed. 654 (1954) (attempted bribe of juror did not require a finding of implied bias). However,

there are some extreme situations that would justify a finding of implied bias. Some examples might include a revelation that the juror is an actual employee of the prosecuting agency, that the juror is a close relative of one of the participants in the trial or the criminal transaction, or that the juror was a witness or somehow involved in the criminal transaction.

Smith, 455 U.S. at 222, 102 S. Ct. at 948 (O'Connor, J., concurring) (emphases added); see United States v. Scott, 854 F.2d 697, 699 (5th Cir. 1988) (same).

Based on the record before us, we do not believe that Tomplait's presence on the jury deprived Andrews of his right to present his case to an impartial jury. First, when asked during individual voir dire whether he knew of "any reason [why he] could not be a fair and impartial juror," Tomplait replied that he did not. Second, Tomplait was not at any time directly related to the victim, and his daughter's relationship with the victim's grandson had ended prior to the time of trial. Third, Andrews does not allege that the grandson was alive when the victim was killed. Fourth, the record contains no evidence suggesting that Tomplait, at the time of trial, even knew he had at one time been related to Granado.¹³  Finally, there is absolutely no evidence suggesting that Tomplait's "tenuous relationship"--as described by the state habeas court--had any effect on the proceedings.¹⁴  Accordingly, we refuse to impute bias to juror Tomplait. See Jones v. Butler, 864 F.2d 348, 362 (5th Cir. 1988) (trial court correctly denied a defense challenge for cause to a prospective juror who "had lived near the victim and knew her by sight, had visited the funeral home to view her body, ..., and had worked [ten] years earlier as a hospital lab clerk for a doctor who testified for the State"), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S. Ct. 8, 115 L. Ed. 2d 1093 (1991); Howard v. Davis, 815 F.2d 1429, 1431 (11th Cir.) (no new trial when trial court refused to excuse juror who was a "close friend" of the murder victim), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 864, 108 S. Ct. 184, 98 L. Ed. 2d 136 (1987).

V

Andrews complains that the prosecution utilized its peremptory challenges in a racially discriminatory manner, violating Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986).¹⁵  The record reflects that Andrews' counsel did not raise a Batson-type objection at trial.¹⁶  Andrews' failure to timely object at trial to the prosecutor's use of his peremptory challenges is a constitutional bar to his Batson challenge. Harris v. Collins, 990 F.2d 185, 187 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 3069, 125 L. Ed. 2d 746 (1993); Wilkerson v. Collins, 950 F.2d 1054, 1063 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 3035, 125 L. Ed. 2d 722 (1993).

Andrews attempts to circumvent the federal contemporaneous-objection rule by asserting that the rule "has no application to the present case because the state [habeas] court conducted a full-blown evidentiary hearing on the Batson claim." However, "the fact that the state habeas court later considered on the merits the prosecutor's alleged racial use of peremptory challenges does not cure the defect, fatal to federal review, of failure to object timely to the peremptory strike." Harris, 990 F.2d at 187; see also Wilkerson, 950 F.2d at 1063; Jones, 864 F.2d at 369-70. Accordingly, review of Andrews' Batson claim is barred and we need not address the merits of the claim.

VI

Andrews asserts that he received ineffective assistance of counsel during the guilt-innocence and punishment stages of his trial and on direct appeal of his conviction, thereby violating his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. We review a claim of ineffective assistance under the standards announced by the Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). "First, a defendant must demonstrate that 'counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,' with reasonableness being judged under professional norms prevailing at the time counsel rendered assistance." Black, 962 F.2d at 401 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S. Ct. at 2064). In reviewing an ineffective assistance claim, we must "judge [ ] the conduct of the defense according to the objective standard of the reasonable attorney," Kyles v. Whitley, 5 F.3d 806, 819 (5th Cir. 1993), cert. granted, --- U.S. ----, 114 S. Ct. 1610, 128 L. Ed. 2d 338 (1994), and "give great deference to counsel's assistance, strongly presuming that counsel has exercised reasonable professional judgment." Ricalday v. Procunier, 736 F.2d 203, 206 (5th Cir. 1984). Accordingly, "strategic choices made after thorough investigation of law and facts relevant to plausible options are virtually unchallengeable; and strategic choices made after less than complete investigation are reasonable precisely to the extent that reasonable professional judgments support the limitations on investigation." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690-91, 104 S. Ct. at 2066. Second, if counsel was ineffective, " [t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome."¹⁷  Id. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068.

* Andrews argues that his appointed counsel at trial--Walter Sekaly and Harold Laine, Jr.--rendered ineffective assistance at the guilt-innocence stage of his trial for several reasons. First, Andrews contends that counsel should have put into evidence the results of a forensic test administered to a hair found in the black cap discovered at the murder scene; Andrews contends that the results demonstrate that the Playboy cap did not belong to Andrews, and, therefore, that he could not have left it at the scene of the crime. Andrews' defense at trial was that Malcolm Davis and Elliott Johnson were the triggermen, and it is undisputed that Johnson was the shorter man wearing the red cap whom Morales saw fleeing the scene. Andrews thus contended during closing arguments that the taller man described by Morales was Malcolm Davis. The results of the hair test, however, indicated that the hair found in the cap matched neither that of Davis nor of Andrews. Thus, while the test results may have provided some assistance to Andrews, they also would have undermined his defense that it was Davis who murdered Granado. Consequently, counsel's decision not to bring the test results to the attention of the jury was not unreasonable.

Andrews next points to counsel's error in not using a police report to attack Mayon's credibility regarding her identification of Andrews as the purchaser of the new Playboy cap. Detective Charles Little's report, however, would not have impeached Mayon because it did not contradict any aspect of Mayon's testimony. While the report states that the owner of the store could not identify Andrews as the person who purchased the black cap on the day of the murder, Mayon testified that it was the manager's wife--not the owner of the store--who sold Andrews the cap. Thus, whether the owner could or could not identify Andrews is irrelevant.¹⁸ 

Andrews further argues that counsel erred by not attacking the credibility of Morales. Andrews contends that her testimony could have been impeached by two newspaper articles, one of which stated that she told a reporter she did not see anyone leaving Granado's store and the second of which reported that Beaumont Police Lieutenant Bruce Thomason said Morales saw two men wearing blue jeans leaving the scene. Assuming arguendo that counsel was ineffective, Andrews has failed to demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, had counsel questioned Morales about the articles, the result of the proceeding would have been different.

Andrews next contends that counsel committed error of constitutional dimension by failing to make a Batson-type objection to the prosecution's use of its peremptory challenges to strike blacks from the jury. In Swain v. Alabama, 380 U.S. 202, 220-26, 85 S. Ct. 824, 835-39, 13 L. Ed. 2d 759 (1965), the Supreme Court held that the systematic use by prosecutors of peremptory challenges to strike black jurors on account of race violated the Equal Protection Clause.¹⁹  We previously have held that the decision in Swain provided defendants with the tools to construct a Batson claim prior to the decision in Batson. See Jones, 864 F.2d at 364. Pre-Batson Texas courts, however, routinely rejected such claims. See, e.g., Evans v. State, 622 S.W.2d 866 (Tex.Crim.App.1981); Metters v. State, 695 S.W.2d 88, 89 (Tex.Ct.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1985). Consequently, counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise a claim that Texas courts repeatedly had rejected. Cf. Ellis v. Lynaugh, 873 F.2d 830, 840 (5th Cir.) ("The Constitution does not require appellate counsel to raise every nonfrivolous ground that might be pressed upon appeal."), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 970, 110 S. Ct. 419, 107 L. Ed. 2d 384 (1989).

B

Andrews next submits that he was denied effective assistance of counsel at the punishment stage of his trial because counsel failed to investigate factors in his background that would have produced "highly probative" mitigating evidence. Andrews asserts that had counsel made such an investigation, they would have discovered substantial mitigating evidence.²⁰  Andrews further contends that this failure to investigate and present mitigating evidence renders the outcome of the punishment phase unreliable.

* We initially address Andrews' claim that counsel failed to conduct a reasonable investigation into his background and mental condition. These allegations are not sufficient to demonstrate that Andrews was denied the effective assistance of counsel. See Wilkerson, 950 F.2d at 1064-65 (rejecting similar allegations). "We must strongly presume that trial counsel rendered adequate assistance and that the challenged conduct was the product of reasoned trial strategy."²¹  Id. at 1065. As the state habeas court recognized, Andrews' trial counsel and their investigator contacted at least 27 people, none of whom were able to provide information or evidence useful to Andrews. Trial counsel also interviewed Andrews, his wife, and his mother without discovering any helpful evidence. Furthermore, trial counsel testified that they had no reason to suspect that Andrews' mental capacity was "in any fashion impaired." Id. Because counsel had no reason to believe that pursuing further investigations into Andrews' mental capacity or his background would be useful, "counsel's failure to pursue those investigations may not ... be challenged as unreasonable." Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 795, 107 S. Ct. 3114, 3126, 97 L. Ed. 2d 638 (1987); see also Cantu v. Collins, 967 F.2d 1006, 1016 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 3045, 125 L. Ed. 2d 730 (1993).²² 

Finally, assuming arguendo that counsel's performance was deficient, Andrews has not demonstrated that presentation of the allegedly mitigating evidence would have affected the outcome of his trial. See Wilkerson, 950 F.2d at 1065 (noting that the petitioner must affirmatively prove prejudice under Strickland) . In light of the evidence presented at trial,²³  Andrews "has failed to show evidence of sufficient quality and force to raise a reasonable probability that, had it been presented to the jury, a life sentence would have resulted." Id.; see also Callins v. Collins, 998 F.2d 269, 279 (5th Cir. 1993) (noting that the circumstances of the murder and the defendant's other violent conduct "would have overwhelmed the minimal mitigating evidence that Callins how argues should have been introduced at the capital sentencing phase"), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S. Ct. 1127, 127 L. Ed. 2d 435 (1994). Because Andrews has failed to meet the prejudice prong of the Strickland test, he is not entitled to relief.

2

We next address Andrews' complaint that his trial counsel failed to adequately indicate to the jury the mitigating circumstance of his low intelligence. At the evidentiary hearing in the instant case, Andrews offered expert testimony suggesting that his IQ was 68,²⁴  on the upper borderline of mild retardation. See Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 308 n. 1, 109 S. Ct. 2934, 2941 n. 1, 106 L. Ed. 2d 256 (1989) (noting that individuals with IQ scores between 50 and 70 have "mild" retardation). A psychiatrist testifying for the state expressed the view that Andrews "probably" was in the borderline range of normal, with an IQ of between 70 and 80. Other evidence generally was consistent with the conclusion offered by the state's psychiatrist, and the state habeas court found that Andrews "most likely fell in the borderline area between mild mental retardation and dull normal intelligence." Consequently, Andrews' claim is without merit. See Smith v. Black, 904 F.2d 950, 977 (5th Cir. 1990) (finding that counsel was not deficient in failing to alert the jury in a capital case to the defendant's IQ of 70), vacated on other grounds, --- U.S. ----, 112 S. Ct. 1463, 117 L. Ed. 2d 609, aff'd in relevant part, 970 F.2d 1383 (5th Cir. 1992).²⁵ 

Finally, [t]he likely impact of testimony regarding [Andrews'] intelligence ... would have been tempered by his trial strategy of insisting on his complete innocence ..., a theory that also proved the linchpin of [his argument for mitigation]. There is no suggestion that [Andrews'] alleged deficiencies were such [that would] alert defense counsel to the inferiority of such a strategy.

Id. Accordingly, Andrews' "claim presents neither a sufficient deficiency nor consequent prejudice to support a finding of constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel." Id. at 978; see also Motley v. Collins, 3 F.3d 781, 786 (5th Cir. 1993) (noting that "the failure to introduce evidence of [the defendant's organic] brain damage would have been a reasonable strategic decision; after all, such evidence is double-edged--in that it may have militated in favor of a 'yes' answer to the future dangerousness special issue."); King v. Puckett, 1 F.3d 280, 285 (5th Cir. 1993) (concluding "that the failure to offer mitigating evidence in the form of King's diminished mental capacity" did not affect "the outcome of his sentencing"); Duhamel v. Collins, 955 F.2d 962, 966 (5th Cir. 1992) (finding that evidence of a defendant's moderate retardation was "weak" mitigating evidence).

C

Andrews next contends that the representation provided by his appellate counsel--also Sekaly and Laine--was constitutionally deficient because they did not raise two issues on direct appeal.

Andrews first contends that had counsel raised the issue of juror Tomplait's apparent bias against him on direct appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals would have reversed his conviction. Andrews bases his contention on Stockton v. State, 148 Tex.Crim. 360, 187 S.W.2d 86 (App.1945). In Stockton, the defendant killed a prison guard during an escape attempt. The trial court denied Stockton's challenge for cause of a prospective juror who "was related to the deceased's daughter by affinity in the third degree."²⁶  187 S.W.2d at 88. The Court of Criminal Appeals held that while "the trial court should have sustained [Stockton's] challenge for cause, [it] would not base a reversal hereof on this matter alone." Id. Moreover, it is undisputed that Tomplait was not disqualified for cause under Texas law. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 35.16(c) (1). Thus, Andrews, by relying on Stockton, has not shown that counsel acted unreasonably or that there is a reasonable probability that the result of his appeal would have been different had counsel raised the issue of juror bias.

The second issue Andrews faults appellate counsel for failing to raise--the Fourth Amendment claim, see part XIV. infra--was addressed on the merits on state habeas review and found to be without merit. Consequently, Andrews was not prejudiced by counsel's failure to raise the claim on direct appeal.

VII

Andrews next argues that the prosecution withheld three pieces of purportedly exculpatory evidence, in violation of his due process rights.²⁷  Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 1196, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963), "the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or punishment." The prosecution also must disclose evidence useful to the defendant for impeachment purposes. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676, 105 S. Ct. 3375, 3380, 87 L. Ed. 2d 481 (1985). Thus, to establish a valid Brady claim, a defendant must establish that (1) the state suppressed evidence that was both (2) favorable to the accused and (3) material. Edmond v. Collins, 8 F.3d 290, 293 (5th Cir. 1993). " [E]vidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A 'reasonable probability' is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome." Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S. Ct. at 3383.

Although Andrews has failed to demonstrate the existence of any prior inconsistent statements made by Morales, and did not seek their production at trial after Morales testified, he points to a newspaper article paraphrasing Beaumont Police Lt. Bruce Thomason's statement that " [t]he only description [Morales] could give police was that one man was wearing a red cap and both were wearing blue jeans." Because the record does not support a finding that Morales made any such statements, see part VI.A. supra, Andrews has failed to state a Brady claim. Moreover, " [a]lthough exculpatory and impeachment evidence falls within the purview of Brady, neutral evidence does not." United States v. Dillman, 15 F.3d 384, 390 (5th Cir. 1994). Consequently, the prosecution was under no duty to disclose that Moore and Quimby could not identify Andrews as the man they saw with Johnson.²⁸  See Hughes v. Hopper, 629 F.2d 1036, 1040 (5th Cir. 1980) (holding that the prosecution has no duty under Brady to disclose that a certain witness could not positively identify the defendant), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 933, 101 S. Ct. 1396, 67 L. Ed. 2d 367 (1981); United States v. Rhodes, 569 F.2d 384, 388 (5th Cir.) (same), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 844, 99 S. Ct. 138, 58 L. Ed. 2d 143 (1978). Finally, any testimony that could have been offered by Nancy Verzone was largely cumulative to that of Detective Charles Little.²⁹  See Edmond, 8 F.3d at 294. Finally, in light of the entire record, we cannot conclude that the suppressed evidence would, in reasonable probability, have moved the jury to embrace the theory it otherwise discarded--that Malcolm Davis was the taller triggerman. See Kyles, 5 F.3d at 815. The jury was more than adequately exposed to the defense's theory that Malcolm Davis was in fact the killer and that Andrews was not. The jury, however, refused to infer reasonable doubt from that possibility, and Andrews has "failed to undermine the overwhelming evidence of guilt at trial." Id. at 817. Accordingly, "we are not persuaded that it is reasonably probable that the jury would have found in [Andrews'] favor if exposed to any or all of the undisclosed materials." Id.

VIII

* Andrews asserts that the trial court improperly excused for cause prospective juror Frank Landry. This error, he contends, violated his rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. Under those amendments,

a sentence of death cannot be carried out if the jury that imposed or recommended it was chosen by excluding veniremen for cause simply because they voiced general objections to the death penalty or expressed conscientious or religious scruples against its infliction.

Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 521-22, 88 S. Ct. 1770, 1776-77, 20 L. Ed. 2d 776 (1968). However, a prospective juror may be excused for cause if his "views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath." Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 45, 100 S. Ct. 2521, 2526, 65 L. Ed. 2d 581 (1980); see also Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S. Ct. 844, 83 L. Ed. 2d 841 (1985). The presumption of correctness conditionally required under Sec. 2254(d) applies to the trial court's determination regarding a challenge for cause because "such a finding is based upon determinations of demeanor and credibility that are peculiarly within a trial judge's province." Witt, 469 U.S. at 428, 430, 105 S. Ct. at 854, 855.

A review of Landry's voir dire examination indicates that Landry stated several times that he did not believe in the death penalty. Landry also stated that he could not impose the death penalty under any circumstances, that he could not answer each of the special issues affirmatively "no matter what" the evidence was, and that he could not take the juror's oath because he could not follow the law of Texas that provides for the death penalty. In response to a question by defense counsel, Landry stated that he would answer special issue number two "no" because he could not predict the future. In response to subsequent questions by the prosecutor, Landry reaffirmed both his belief that he could not assess the death penalty under any circumstances and that he would answer the special issues in such a way as to ensure that the defendant would not receive the death penalty.³⁰  Because the record supports the conclusion of both the trial court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, on direct review, that prospective juror Landry was excludable under Witherspoon, we presume that it is correct. See Russell v. Collins, 998 F.2d 1287, 1293-94 (5th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S. Ct. 1236, 127 L. Ed. 2d 580 (1994); Drew v. Collins, 964 F.2d 411, 417 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 3044, 125 L. Ed. 2d 730 (1993). Moreover, Andrews fails present "clear and convincing evidence overcoming this presumption." Kelly v. Lynaugh, 862 F.2d 1126, 1134 (5th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 925, 109 S. Ct. 3263, 106 L. Ed. 2d 608 (1989). Accordingly, Andrews' claim is without merit.

B

Andrews next contends that the trial court erred in excusing prospective juror Anthony Crook for cause. The trial court excused Crook pursuant to the prosecution's motion because Crook testified during voir dire that he could not consider imposing probation as the sentence in a murder case, even though Texas law allows such a sentence.³¹  Andrews argues that because probation is not a sentencing option in capital murder cases and "there was not even a remote possibility that a lesser included offense of murder [sic] would be submitted to the jury," the trial court erred in excluding Crook.

While, with the benefit of hindsight, it may be clear that the evidence does not support a murder instruction, we conclude that it was not apparent, at the time of jury selection, that the trial court would not be required to submit such an instruction. Indeed, Andrews' federal habeas petition contended that the trial court's refusal to submit instructions regarding "the lesser included offenses of murder, robbery, and theft" deprived Andrews of his constitutional rights. Moreover, the parties during jury selection appear to have been operating under the assumption that Andrews, if convicted, may have been eligible to receive a sentence of probation. See 5 Transcript of Individual Voir Dire at 590-611 (where the parties extensively question Crook about his views regarding probation); see also Nethery v. State, 692 S.W.2d 686, 691 (Tex.Crim.App.1985) (holding that the prosecution, in a capital murder case, properly challenged for cause potential jurors who "expressed a bias against the minimum punishment for the lesser included offense of murder), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1110, 106 S. Ct. 897, 88 L. Ed. 2d 931 (1986). Consequently, the trial court did not err in excusing Crook for cause.

C

Andrews argues that the trial court erred by refusing to exclude for cause prospective jurors David Malcolm Simon and Jerry Sessions.³²  Andrews further contends that the district court erred by according the Sec. 2254 presumption of correctness to the trial court's findings that Simon and Sessions were not excludable for cause.³³  We agree that there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting the trial court's decisions and, therefore, that the district court did not err in presuming those findings to be correct.

IX

Andrews challenges the prosecution's use of peremptory challenges to exclude any juror who expressed "even the slightest qualms about the death penalty," arguing that such use violates the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The district court held this claim to be procedurally barred. Andrews contends that this ruling was in error because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals did not clearly and expressly rely on a procedural bar and, even if it did, any procedural default was the result of ineffective assistance of counsel.

On application for the writ of habeas corpus, federal courts will not review a state court's holding on a federal law claim if that holding rests upon a state law ground that is both independent of the merits of the federal claim and adequate to support the state court's judgment. Sawyers v. Collins, 986 F.2d 1493 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 2405, 124 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1993). Thus, " [w]hen a state-law default prevents the state court from reaching the merits of a federal claim, that claim cannot be reviewed in federal court." Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 111 S. Ct. 2590, 115 L. Ed. 2d 706 (1991).

Andrews argues that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals did not clearly and expressly rely on procedural default. We disagree. The state habeas court found that Andrews' claim was barred because he lodged no objection at the time of trial; the Court of Criminal Appeals determined that this conclusion was "supported by the record" and denied relief "on the basis of the trial court's findings and conclusions." See Ylst, 501 U.S. at ----, 111 S. Ct. at 2594 (holding that "where there has been one reasoned state judgment rejecting a federal claim, later unexplained orders upholding that judgment or rejecting the same claim rest upon the same ground"). Consequently, Andrews' claim is barred by procedural default.

Andrews attempts to avoid the procedural default rule by arguing that counsel's failure to make an objection at trial to the prosecution's use of peremptory challenges constitutes ineffective assistance.³⁴  However, "we have consistently held that in capital cases peremptory challenges may be used to exclude those [prospective jurors] who express hesitancy about imposing the death penalty but whose exclusion for cause is forbidden by Witherspoon. " United States v. Leslie, 783 F.2d 541, 552 n. 18 (5th Cir. 1986) (en banc), vacated on other grounds, 479 U.S. 1074, 107 S. Ct. 1267, 94 L. Ed. 2d 128 (1987), aff'd in relevant part, 813 F.2d 658 (5th Cir. 1987); see also Sonnier v. Maggio, 720 F.2d 401, 406-07 (5th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1051, 104 S. Ct. 1331, 79 L. Ed. 2d 726 (1984); Jordan v. Watkins, 681 F.2d 1067, 1070 & n. 2 (5th Cir. 1982). Failure to make an objection that we have explicitly rejected does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Consequently, Andrews' claim remains barred by procedural default.

X

Andrews contends that the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury in the guilt phase of his trial that it could convict him of the lesser-included offenses of theft or robbery. He asserts that this failure violated the Eighth Amendment and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. See Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 100 S. Ct. 2382, 65 L. Ed. 2d 392 (1980). In a capital trial, a defendant is constitutionally entitled to instructions on lesser-included offenses only if a "rational juror, given all the facts, [could acquit him] of capital murder and convict [ ] him of a lesser included offense." Cordova v. Lynaugh, 838 F.2d 764, 767 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1061, 108 S. Ct. 2832, 100 L. Ed. 2d 932 (1988). "This necessarily requires a showing that the facts of the case and the laws of the State warrant such an instruction." Hill v. Black, 920 F.2d 249, 252 (5th Cir. 1990) modified, 932 F.2d 369 (5th Cir. 1991). Because Andrews had made no attempt on appeal to make such a showing, we reject the argument that he was constitutionally entitled to instructions regarding any lesser-included offenses. See id.

XI

Andrews next contends that the Texas special issues did not permit the jury to consider or give mitigating effect to evidence of his good family relationship and low intelligence. Andrews points out that this mitigating evidence was placed before the jury when the prosecution introduced a letter written by Andrews and sent to his wife that allegedly demonstrates his good family relationship, low intelligence, and possible mental problems.³⁵ 

The Supreme Court upheld the Texas capital sentencing scheme in Jurek v. Texas, 428 U.S. 262, 96 S. Ct. 2950, 49 L. Ed. 2d 929 (1976), in part because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had indicated that the special issues would be broadly interpreted to allow a jury to consider any and all mitigating evidence introduced by a defendant.³⁶  However, in Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 109 S. Ct. 2934, the Court held that, in some cases, the Texas scheme would not permit the jury to give effect to certain mitigating evidence introduced by a defendant. Specifically, the Court found that the special issues did not provide the jury with "a vehicle for expressing its 'reasoned moral response' to" evidence of mental retardation and child abuse. Id. at 328, 109 S. Ct. at 2952. In such situations, the jury must be instructed "that it could consider and give effect to the mitigating evidence of ... mental retardation and abused background by declining to impose the death penalty." Id. "The language of Penry, although arguably worded broadly, has been interpreted narrowly." Motley, 3 F.3d at 788. Consequently, some mitigating factors, such as circumstances of the defendant's family background and positive character traits, are adequately covered by the second special issue. Graham v. Collins, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 892, 902, 122 L. Ed. 2d 260 (1993). In light of Graham, we conclude that the special issues provided the jury with a vehicle to consider any allegedly mitigating evidence regarding Andrews' family relationships.

Finally, although the letter cited by Andrews indicates that he may have had a lower-than-average IQ, it does not demonstrate that he is mentally retarded. See Penry, 492 U.S. at 328, 109 S. Ct. at 2952 (holding that a jury in a capital case must be permitted to "consider and give effect to the mitigating evidence of [a defendant's] mental retardation ") (emphasis added); Madden v. Collins, 18 F.3d 304, 307-08 (5th Cir. 1994) (holding that evidence of a learning disability did not establish a Penry claim because it was not "uniquely severe"). Because the letter does not demonstrate that Andrews was mentally retarded, it does not constitute mitigating evidence outside the scope of the special issues. Thus, the trial court was not required to provide the jury with a vehicle to consider it.

XII

Andrews argues that the "Texas death penalty statute discourage [s] the discovery and penalize [s] the use of mitigating evidence." Andrews specifically contends that the structure of the death penalty scheme "chilled" his trial attorneys' investigation and presentation of mitigating evidence, apparently evidence pertaining to his mental condition and family history.

We have rejected almost identical claims in Black, 962 F.2d at 407, and May v. Collins, 948 F.2d 162, 167-68 (5th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S. Ct. 907, 116 L. Ed. 2d 808 (1992). As in both Black and May Andrews premises his argument on the principle that " [t]he Texas sentencing procedure interferes dramatically with the defendant's choice of whether and how to present mental-health based evidence." Black, 962 F.2d at 394. We concluded in those cases that a constitutional violation does not result simply because the Texas death penalty scheme triggers certain tactical choices on the part of counsel. Id.; May, 948 F.2d at 167-68. Accordingly, May and Black squarely address and reject the argument presented by Andrews. See also Marquez v. Collins, 11 F.3d 1241, 1248 (5th Cir. 1994); Wilkerson, 950 F.2d at 1065.

XIII

Andrews asserts that the Texas special issues did not require the jury to find that he "killed, attempted to kill, or was a major participant in a crime who acted with reckless indifference for human life." Andrews therefore concludes that the former Texas death penalty statute is unconstitutional as applied to him because he raised the factual defense that he was not the triggerman and the jury could have sentenced him to death based solely upon his participation in planning the robbery.³⁷ 

In Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782, 797, 102 S. Ct. 3368, 3376, 73 L. Ed. 2d 1140 (1982), the Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment forbids imposition of the death penalty on a defendant "who aids and abets a felony in the course of which a murder is committed by others but who does not himself kill, attempt to kill, or intend that a killing take place or that lethal force will be employed."³⁸  In Skillern v. Estelle, 720 F.2d 839, 847-48 (5th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 873, 105 S. Ct. 224, 83 L. Ed. 2d 153 (1984), we held that a jury's affirmative answer to the first special issue--"whether the conduct of the defendant that caused the death of the deceased was committed deliberately and with the reasonable expectation that the death of the deceased or another would result"--satisfied the Enmund culpability requirement. See also Johnson v. McCotter, 804 F.2d 300, 302 (5th Cir. 1986) (following Skillern), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1042, 107 S. Ct. 1988, 95 L. Ed. 2d 827 (1987).³⁹  Here, the jury answered the first special issue in the affirmative, finding beyond a reasonable doubt that Andrews committed the acts that caused Granado's death deliberately and with the reasonable expectation that Granado's death would result.⁴⁰  Accordingly, Andrews' Enmund claim is without merit.⁴¹ 

XIV

Andrews asserts that the district court erred in ruling that his Fourth Amendment challenge to a search warrant used to gather evidence against him was not cognizable on habeas review because the state courts provided an opportunity for "full and fair" litigation of that challenge. See Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S. 465, 494, 96 S. Ct. 3037, 3052, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1067 (1976). Although the state trial court initially held that Andrews waived the claim by failing to raise it in a pretrial motion and refused to allow Andrews an evidentiary hearing on the matter, the court allowed Andrews to make a bill of exceptions to that ruling after trial.⁴²  On post-conviction review, the state habeas court found that although it erred at trial in determining that Andrews waived the claim, the evidence developed with regard to the bill of exceptions established that the search and seizure at issue was lawful.

We conclude that "the State has provided an opportunity for full and fair litigation of [Andrews'] Fourth Amendment claim." Id. After reviewing the record, we find that the material facts were adequately developed in state court, and Andrews has not alleged any "undeveloped evidence sufficient to call into question the 'reliability' of the state court's determination of [his] federal claims." Streetman v. Lynaugh, 812 F.2d 950, 958 (5th Cir. 1987) (quoting Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 312-13, 83 S. Ct. 745, 747, 9 L. Ed. 2d 770 (1963)). Moreover, the Stone v. Powell bar applies despite the trial court's initial decision to deny an evidentiary hearing.⁴³  Accordingly, the district court correctly held that Stone v. Powell bars Andrews' Fourth Amendment claim.

XV

Andrews argues that the trial court's failure to grant his motion for a change of venue violated his due process right to a fair trial before an impartial tribunal. Pointing to the "intense and inflammatory pretrial publicity" in Jefferson County about Granado's murder, Andrews contends that the pretrial publicity was so prejudicial as to make a fair trial in Jefferson County impossible. The district court found that because " [t]he publicity concerning the [murder] was largely factual" and Andrews failed to uncover any "deep or widespread prejudice" against him during voir dire, the trial court did not err in denying a change of venue.

We agree with the district court's assessments. "The Constitution does not require that jurors be completely unaware of the facts and issues to be tried...." Black, 962 F.2d at 409. Moreover, the record reflects that Andrews did not sustain his burden of demonstrating that the trial atmosphere was "utterly corrupted by press coverage." Dobbert v. Florida, 432 U.S. 282, 302, 97 S. Ct. 2290, 2303, 53 L. Ed. 2d 344 (1977); see also Black, 962 F.2d at 409. Accordingly, we reject Andrews' contention that his due process rights were violated.

XVI

Andrews next argues that the Eighth Amendment prohibits his execution because he is mentally retarded. Although the Supreme Court has explicitly rejected the claim that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the execution of mentally retarded persons, Penry, 492 U.S. at 334-35, 109 S. Ct. at 2955, Andrews argues that we should adopt the conclusion rejected by Penry because "there is now an emerging national consensus against executing mentally retarded persons."⁴⁴  However, the fact that three states, subsequent to Penry, have prohibited executing the mentally retarded does not provide evidence of a national consensus sufficient to override the command of Penry. Consequently, Andrews' claim is without merit.

XVII

Andrews raises various other claims of error in his brief but fails to argue the facts surrounding these issues or cite to controlling law. See Fed. R. App. P. 28(a). Accordingly, we consider those issues waived and will not address them. See Edmond, 8 F.3d at 292 n. 5; Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993).

XVIII

For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.