Porter v. Zook (898 F.3d 408, 2018)

THACKER, Circuit Judge:

This death penalty case is before us for the second time. In 2007 Thomas Alexander Porter ("Appellant") was convicted in Virginia state court of capital murder for killing a Norfolk law enforcement officer, Stanley Reaves. He was sentenced to death.

After he pursued direct and collateral review in state court, Appellant filed the operative 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition in the district court, raising a host of challenges to his conviction and sentence. Chief among them was a claim that one of the jurors was biased against him. Specifically, when asked at voir dire whether any jurors had relatives in law enforcement, the juror did not disclose that his brother was a law enforcement officer in the jurisdiction adjacent to Norfolk.

The district court dismissed the § 2254 petition. See Porter v. Davis , No. 3:12-cv-550, 2014 WL 4182677, at *52 (E.D. Va. Aug. 21, 2014) ("Porter I "). Appellant filed a plenary appeal of that dismissal, and we dismissed the appeal and remanded for further consideration of Appellant's actual bias claim, which the district court failed to address in the first instance. See Porter v. Zook , 803 F.3d 694 (4th Cir. 2015) (" Porter II "). On remand, the district court dismissed Appellant's actual bias claim as a matter of law without holding an evidentiary hearing. See Porter v. Zook , No. 3:12-cv-550, 2016 WL 1688765, at *1 (E.D. Va. Apr. 25, 2016) (" Porter III "). We now consider an appeal of that decision and the dismissal of his other claims.

Although we affirm on the majority of Appellant's claims, we are constrained to remand once again on the juror bias issue. In dismissing the actual bias claim, the district court failed to recognize the applicability of Supreme Court precedent requiring a hearing in these circumstances; erected inappropriate legal barriers and faulted Appellant for not overcoming them; and ignored "judicially-recognized factors" in determining whether a hearing is necessary. United States v. Henry , 673 F.3d 285, 291 (4th Cir. 2012). We likewise conclude that the district court erred in Porter I by dismissing Appellant's separate but related juror bias claim brought pursuant to McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood , 464 U.S. 548, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984).

We therefore affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand with instructions that the district court allow discovery and hold an evidentiary hearing on Appellant's two separate juror bias claims.

I.

A.

In Virginia state court on March 7, 2007, Appellant was convicted of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, grand larceny of a firearm, and capital murder for killing a law enforcement officer in order to interfere with the performance of his official duties. The following facts were adduced at Appellant's trial:

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on October 28, 2005, Porter and Reginald Copeland traveled in Porter's Jeep to the Park Place apartment complex located at 2715 DeBree Avenue in the City of Norfolk to inquire about purchasing marijuana. Porter was carrying a concealed, nine-millimeter Jennings semi-automatic pistol. The two men entered the apartment of Valorie Arrington, where several people were present, including Valorie and her daughters, Latoria and Latifa ....

Once inside, Porter began arguing with the women, brandishing his gun, and threatening that he might shoot one of them if provoked. Copeland left the residence, but Porter remained behind, locking the door so Copeland could not reenter. After being locked out of Valorie's apartment, Copeland walked away from the apartment complex and happened upon three uniformed police officers a block away, including Norfolk Police Officer Stanley Reaves. Copeland reported Porter's behavior to Officer Reaves and directed him to Valorie's apartment.

Officer Reaves drove his police cruiser to the front curb of the apartment building, parked the car, and walked across the grass towards the sidewalk leading from the street to the apartment door. As Officer Reaves approached the apartment, Porter left Valorie's apartment and began walking away. Officer Reaves confronted Porter, grabbed Porter's left arm, and instructed him to take his hands out of his pockets. Porter then drew his concealed weapon from his pocket and fired three times, killing Officer Reaves. Porter took Officer Reaves' service pistol and then fled in his Jeep.

Several eyewitnesses, along with Porter, testified at trial and provided various descriptions of the events leading up to and immediately following Officer Reaves' death. ...

Copeland testified that he and Porter entered Valorie's apartment because she was Copeland's friend and because he had smoked marijuana with her before. ... [A]t some point in the conversation Porter began arguing with one of the women.

Copeland "didn't know what to do" but left the apartment and "ran down [to the next block] and told [Officer Reaves, ']Look, there is a man up in the house with some girls, and he shouldn't be in there.' " Copeland described the apartment building to Officer Reaves, and Officer Reaves drove his patrol car to the building with Copeland "running behind" the vehicle. Officer Reaves arrived at the building before Copeland, and as Copeland approached he saw "Officer Reaves in the car and Porter was coming out [of] the building." Copeland identified Porter to Officer Reaves, and Officer Reaves instructed Copeland to stay back and then approached Porter. Moments later, Porter and Officer Reaves disappeared from Copeland's viewpoint behind a parked van, but Copeland "heard gunshots and started running," and he "ran and told the [other] officers what happened."

...

Simone Coleman testified that she was walking on the sidewalk near the apartment complex when she saw Officer Reaves' patrol car arrive. Coleman watched as Officer Reaves stepped out of his patrol car, and she saw Porter walking across the grass from the apartment, coming to "within a few feet" of her. She testified that Porter's hands were "[i]n his pockets" as Coleman passed by, and she "was looking back" to watch the confrontation between Officer Reaves and Porter. Coleman heard Officer Reaves instruct Porter to "take his hands out of his pockets," and then Officer Reaves "grabbed Mr. Porter's left arm." Coleman testified that Officer Reaves "didn't have a gun out," and that Porter, in response to Officer Reaves grabbing his arm, pulled a gun out of his pocket, pointed the gun at Officer Reaves' head, and pulled the trigger. Coleman watched Officer Reaves collapse to the ground, and she testified that Porter then shot Officer Reaves two more times. Coleman identified Porter in court as the man who killed Officer Reaves.

Selethia Anderson, who lived across the street from the apartment complex, was sitting on her front porch when she saw Officer Reaves arrive. Anderson testified that she watched Officer Reaves exit his vehicle and walk towards Porter as Porter was leaving the apartment complex. She described how Officer Reaves confronted Porter and "used his right hand to grab [Porter's] left hand," and then Porter immediately reached into his hoodie pocket with his right hand, pulled out a gun, and shot Officer Reaves in the head. Anderson testified that after Officer Reaves fell, Porter shot him twice more "between the back of the head and neck." According to Anderson, Porter knelt over Officer Reaves' body after the shooting, and when Porter left the scene, he was carrying a "bigger gun" than the one he had used to shoot Officer Reaves. Anderson identified Porter in court as the man who shot Officer Reaves.

Valorie testified that she was in her apartment that afternoon when Copeland arrived with Porter. According to Valorie, the two men "came for some marijuana" but the women did not have any, and asked the men to leave. Copeland agreed to leave, but Porter stayed inside, locked the door and kept Copeland outside. Valorie testified that she felt scared because Porter had "locked us in our own house." Valorie asked Porter why his hands were in his sweatshirt pocket, and Porter responded by pulling out his gun and asking, "[s]o are you going to give me the bag of weed or what?" Valorie testified that she uttered a prayer, and when Porter realized she was a Muslim, he told the women that they were "lucky" and he put away the gun. When Porter realized a police car had arrived, he left the apartment and ran "like some horses going down the stairs." Moments later, Valorie heard gunshots.

Latoria's testimony confirmed that Porter entered Valorie's apartment along with Copeland, and that Copeland left the apartment but Porter remained inside, locking the door. Latoria testified that Porter threatened that he would "get to clapping" if any of the women made a sudden move, and she explained that "clapping" was a term for "shooting." She testified that she looked out the window, noticed Officer Reaves arrive in his patrol car, and asked, "Why is Reggie [Copeland] talking to the police officer?" Latoria testified that Porter then immediately exited the apartment, and she watched through the window as Officer Reaves approached Porter, grabbed Porter's arm, and then Porter "reach[ed] into his right pocket and he pull[ed] out his gun and he shot him." Latoria testified that Officer Reaves did not have a weapon drawn when Porter shot him.

...

After killing Officer Reaves, Porter traveled to New York City where he was apprehended one month later in White Plains, New York. The murder weapon was found in his possession at the time of his arrest. Officer Reaves' gun was eventually located in Yonkers, New York.

The autopsy report revealed that Officer Reaves suffered three close-range wounds to his head: one to the forehead, one to the left back of the head, and a flesh wound near the right ear. "The cause of death was two separate close range gunshot wounds to the head."

Porter did not dispute that he shot Officer Reaves, but his version of the events differed from that of the eyewitnesses. Porter testified in his own defense that he drove to Valorie's apartment with Copeland "[t]o get a bag of marijuana" because Copeland was his "means of getting marijuana." Porter parked the vehicle outside the apartment, and he "grabbed the gun out of the glove compartment box" before leaving the vehicle "[b]ecause the area ... is a bad area." Porter testified that he gave Copeland $10 to purchase marijuana, and that he waited outside while Copeland went inside to make the purchase.

Porter testified that after a few minutes had passed, Copeland emerged from an upstairs apartment and invited him inside. Porter confirmed that Copeland left the apartment, but Porter denied locking the door and keeping Copeland outside. Porter also denied brandishing his gun inside the apartment or making a statement about shooting any of the women. Porter claimed that he left the apartment when he learned from the women that Copeland had not paid them for marijuana, and he denied that any of the women knew about Officer Reaves' arrival because "[w]asn't nobody even looking out the window."

Porter testified that he left the apartment and was walking to his vehicle "when Officer Reaves stepped in front of me and grabbed me." Porter and his counsel then had the following exchange:

Q. Did anything else happen when he did that?

A. Yes. I seen him pulling his gun.

Q. What do you mean, you saw him pulling his gun?

A. Well, when he grabbed me with his left arm on my left arm, we were still standing face to face. I seen him pulling his gun. That's when I put my hands up in the air and backed up, looking at him, like, "What [are] you doing?"

Q. You just described that you put your hands up in the air?

A. Yes.

Q. And at that point, what happened?

A. Well, I got my hands in the air when he finally gets the gun out and point it at me. I take my hands down and pull my gun and started shooting.

Q. Why did you do that, Mr. Porter?

A. Because I was scared. I thought he was going to kill me because he looked angry at the time, so I was just worried for my safety.

Porter testified on direct examination that he could not remember how many times he pulled the trigger, but after he shot Officer Reaves, he bent down, picked up Officer Reaves' gun and ran. Porter explained that he left the scene because he "was scared" because he realized he "just killed an officer."

Porter testified repeatedly on cross-examination that he "never wanted to kill anybody" but he also admitted that he "pulled out the gun" and "shot [Officer Reaves] in the forehead." Porter and opposing counsel had this exchange on cross-examination:

Q. You meant to hit Stanley Reaves with a bullet, didn't you?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. All right. And you took aim-therefore, you took aim at him, correct?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. You took aim at a part of his body, correct?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And the part of his body that you took aim at and then before pulling the trigger from less than six inches away was directly into his forehead, correct?

A. Yes, sir.

....

Q. And you agree that you knew you were aiming at his head, correct?

A. Yes, sir.

Porter also had this exchange on cross-examination:

Q. You admit that you ... pulled your gun out?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And that you shot him in the head?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. You admit that you stole his gun?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. So according to your version of events, you claim that Officer Reaves pulled his gun, correct?

A. Yes.

Q. And the only thing about the crime that's alleged you committed, the capital murder of Officer Stanley Reaves, using a gun to commit that murder and stealing Officer Reaves' gun, the only part of the crime that we're here that you're on trial for that you dispute, really, is the reason why you shot Officer Reaves; is that correct?

A. Yes.

Porter v. Commonwealth of Va. , 276 Va. 203, 661 S.E.2d 415, 419-23 (2008). On March 14, 2007, a jury assigned the death penalty after finding there was a probability that Appellant "would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing serious threat to society." J.A. 1579 (quoting Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-264.2 ). Appellant received terms of imprisonment totaling 22 years on the remaining convictions.

The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed Appellant's conviction and death sentence on June 6, 2008, see Porter , 661 S.E.2d at 419, and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari, see Porter v. Virginia , 556 U.S. 1189, 129 S.Ct. 1999, 173 L.Ed.2d 1097 (2009). Appellant then filed a state habeas petition on August 10, 2009, attacking his conviction on the following grounds: (1) juror bias; (2) the Commonwealth failed to disclose exculpatory information, in violation of Brady v. Maryland , 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and presented false testimony or allowed it to go uncorrected in violation of Napue v. Illinois , 360 U.S. 264, 79 S.Ct. 1173, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959), and Giglio v. United States , 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972) ; (3) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in numerous ways; and (4) the trial judge was biased against Appellant based on his former career as a prosecutor. See Porter v. Warden , 283 Va. 326, 722 S.E.2d 534, 538-50 (2012). The Supreme Court of Virginia rejected his arguments and dismissed his habeas petition. See id. at 550.

On July 30, 2012, the district court granted Appellant's motion for stay of execution and entered a briefing schedule, directing Appellant to file his federal habeas petition within 70 days. On October 9, 2012, Appellant filed a federal habeas petition and on May 10, 2013, he amended his petition to add defaulted claims pursuant to Martinez v. Ryan , 566 U.S. 1, 132 S.Ct. 1309, 182 L.Ed.2d 272 (2012) (2012) (holding that the ineffective assistance of initial post-conviction review counsel may establish cause for defaulting an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim). See J.A. 2515-2618 ("Amended Petition"). The claims in the Amended Petition are as follows:

Claim I : Juror Misconduct Violated Porter's Right to an Impartial Jury and to Due Process

Claim II : The Prosecution Violated Brady Regarding Reaves's History of Unprofessional Conduct

Claim III : The Prosecution Violated Brady and Napue Regarding Selethia Anderson

Claim IV : Counsel Unreasonably Failed To Have Reaves's Holster Examined For Fingerprints

Claim V : Trial Counsel Unreasonably Failed to Call Powerful Exculpatory Testimony to the Jury's Attention in Closing

Claim VI : Counsel Unreasonably Failed to Obtain a Jury Instruction on First-Degree Murder

Claim VII : Trial Counsel Failed to Investigate Reaves's History of Unprofessional Conduct

Claim VIII : Counsel Failed to Conduct an Adequate Investigation into Porter's Chaotic and Abusive Childhood and Failed to Present the Evidence They Had Uncovered

Claim IX : Counsel Failed to Reasonably Investigate the Prosecution's Aggravating Evidence

Claim X : Counsel Failed to Investigate and Present Evidence of Porter's Correctional Experiences

Claim XI : The State Court Violated Porter's Rights Under the 8th and 14th Amendments by Denying Porter the Assistance of a Risk Assessment Expert

Defaulted Claims:

Claim XII : The Prosecution Withheld Material Evidence Impeaching a Penalty-Phase Witness

Claim XIII : Counsel Unreasonably Failed to Protect Porter's Constitutional Right to Testify

Claim XIV : Counsel Unreasonably Failed to Assert that His Proposed Risk Assessment Would Be of the Same Nature as that Contained in his Expert's Declaration

Claim XV : Counsel Unreasonably Failed to Object to Improper "Curative" Instructions and Comments by the Trial Court during his Closing that Denied Porter a Fair Sentencing

Claim XVI : Counsel Failed to Adequately Investigate the Shooting of Officer Reaves

Claim XVII : The Prosecution Withheld Material Evidence Impeaching a Guilt-Phase Witness

J.A. 2516-17.

The Warden filed a motion to dismiss on June 3, 2013, and the district court granted the motion on August 21, 2014, but it also issued a certificate of appealability "regarding all claims." Porter I , 2014 WL 4182677, at *52.

B.

We now turn to the specific factual and procedural background of Appellant's Claim I, the juror bias claim.

1.

During voir dire, the state trial court sitting in Arlington told the prospective jurors that Appellant's trial would "involve[ ] a charge of capital murder" of a "Norfolk police officer," J.A. 223, 227, and the case was moved from Norfolk because "we've had some publicity and wanted to try to select jurors who have not seen or heard any substantial information about the case," id . at 222. Defense counsel later asked the jury panel, "Have you, any member of your family or close personal friend worked for or with any law enforcement organization, either as an employee or on a volunteer basis?" Id . at 250-51. Juror Bruce Treakle responded, "My nephew is an Arlington County police officer." Id. at 251. He said this relationship would not affect his ability to be impartial. He said nothing further. Juror Treakle was ultimately selected to sit on the jury that convicted Appellant and sentenced him to death.

On May 30, 2009, after Appellant's direct appeal, state habeas counsel Maryl Sattler interviewed Juror Treakle. Sattler, a law student at the time, produced an affidavit memorializing her interview. See J.A. 1718-20 (the "Sattler Affidavit"). According to the Sattler Affidavit, Juror Treakle said that sitting through Officer Reaves's wife's testimony at trial "had been difficult for him." Id . at 1719. He explained that Officer Reaves's wife's testimony was "moving" and "very emotional" for him "because [Juror Treakle's] brother is a sheriff's officer" in the Norfolk area. Id . He also "expressed sympathy for law enforcement officers." Id .

2.

Upon discovering this information, Appellant alleged in his state habeas petition that his rights to an impartial jury and due process were violated "by the participation of a juror who concealed during voir dire that his brother," like Officer Reaves, "was a veteran law enforcement officer." J.A. 1651. Appellant also alleged that Juror Treakle's brother worked in Chesapeake, the jurisdiction adjacent to Norfolk. Officer Reaves and his family also lived in Chesapeake, and at the time of Officer Reaves's murder, community members were mourning the death of another officer similarly killed in the line of duty. And significantly, after Officer Reaves's murder, Chesapeake and Norfolk law enforcement officers joined in a manhunt for Appellant. Indeed, Officer Reaves's wife wrote a letter in the local newspaper thanking the Chesapeake Police Department for its support in the aftermath of her husband's death.

Appellant raised three theories of juror bias in the state habeas petition based on these allegations: (1) actual bias; (2) implied bias; and (3) juror silence foreclosing counsel's ability to conduct an adequate voir dire pursuant to McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood , 464 U.S. 548, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984). The state habeas court dismissed the claim, explaining:

In determining whether to grant a new trial based on an allegation that a juror was dishonest during voir dire, this Court applies the two-part test enunciated in McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood , 464 U.S. 548, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984), which states that

to obtain a new trial in such a situation, a party must first demonstrate that a juror failed to answer honestly a material question on voir dire, and then further show that a correct response would have provided a valid basis for a challenge for cause. The motives for concealing information may vary, but only those reasons that affect a juror's impartiality can truly be said to affect the fairness of a trial.

Id. at 556, 104 S.Ct. 845.

...

The record demonstrates that Juror T[reakle] answered truthfully that he had a nephew who was an Arlington County Police Officer, Arlington County being the jurisdiction where the case was being tried following a change of venue, and that he was not asked, nor did he have the opportunity to answer, if he had any additional relationships with law enforcement officers. Thus, petitioner has failed to demonstrate that Juror T[reakle] failed to answer honestly a material question during voir dire.

Porter v. Warden , 283 Va. 326, 722 S.E.2d 534, 539 (2012) (some citations omitted). By this analysis, the state habeas court addressed Appellant's McDonough juror bias claim, but it failed to address Appellant's actual bias claim.

In the Amended Petition, Appellant raised both an actual bias claim and a McDonough claim. In dismissing that petition, the district court likewise failed to address actual bias, but it did reject the McDonough claim, stating:

It is clear that Juror Treakle did not volunteer false information. The main question of import is whether Juror T[reakle]'s omission of an additional family member that was a law enforcement officer amounted to a "material omission." McDonough provides for relief only where a juror gives a dishonest response to a question actually posed, not where a juror innocently fails to disclose information that might have been elicited by questions counsel did not ask.

...

It may be true that officers from the Chesapeake Sherriff's Office were more involved in his case than officers in Arlington County. However, [Appellant] presents only circumstantial evidence of bias, and a showing of implied bias is a very high bar.

Porter I , 2014 WL 4182677 at *11 (internal quotation marks omitted). The district court also denied Appellant's request for an evidentiary hearing as unnecessary.

Appellant appealed the dismissal of his § 2254 petition. We dismissed the appeal on October 20, 2015, because the district court failed to address and resolve Appellant's actual bias claim, and therefore, we did not possess jurisdiction. See Porter II , 803 F.3d at 695. Specifically, we explained:

[T]he district court dismissed [Appellant]'s petition without ruling on or seeming to recognize [Appellant]'s actual bias claim. Instead, the portion of the court's opinion devoted to juror bias addresses only the McDonough test for juror misconduct during voir dire .... It does not acknowledge a distinct actual bias claim, and it never passes on a central component of that claim: the law-student affidavit that has Treakle drawing a connection between his relationship with his brother and his response to certain trial testimony.

Id . at 698-99. We remanded the case "so that [the district court] can decide [Appellant]'s actual bias claim," and instructed that "the district court may consider any argument or defense properly raised by [Appellant] or the Warden, and may conduct an evidentiary hearing or any other proceedings it deems necessary to resolve the claim." Id. at 699.

On remand, the district court ordered further briefing on the actual bias issue. After briefing, it dismissed the actual bias claim without an evidentiary hearing on April 25, 2016, reasoning:

(1) that [Appellant] exhausted his actual bias claim by fairly presenting the same to the Supreme Court of Virginia; (2) that the Supreme Court of Virginia decided the merits of the actual bias claim; and, (3) that under either the deferential standard set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)-(2), or a de novo standard of review, the actual bias claim lacks merit and may be dismissed without conducting an evidentiary hearing.

Porter III , No. 3:12-cv-550, 2016 WL 1688765, at *1 (E.D. Va. Apr. 25, 2016) (footnote omitted). The district court denied Appellant's motion to alter or amend the judgment, and denied a certificate of appealability ("COA") on this issue on September 22, 2016. But this court granted Appellant's request to expand his original COA to include the actual bias claim, and this appeal followed.

Because we have yet to rule on the remaining non-juror claims, and because we did not remand those claims to the district court in Porter II , we retain jurisdiction and in the interest of expediency, see fit to address them at this juncture.

II.

Pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA"), we generally apply a highly deferential standard of review to federal habeas petitions challenging state court decisions:

An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim-

(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or

(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.

28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)-(2). However, "where a state court has not considered a properly preserved claim on its merits, a federal court must assess the claim de novo." Monroe v. Angelone , 323 F.3d 286, 297 (4th Cir. 2003) (footnote omitted). We also review for abuse of discretion a district court's failure to conduct an evidentiary hearing or to authorize discovery in a § 2254 proceeding. Conaway v. Polk , 453 F.3d 567, 582 (4th Cir. 2006).

III.

Juror Claims

Appellant's § 2254 petition raises two juror claims: actual bias and bias based on McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood , 464 U.S. 548, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984). The two are "distinct" because "while a McDonough claim requires a showing of juror misconduct, an actual bias claim may succeed 'regardless of whether the juror was truthful or deceitful.' " Porter II , 803 F.3d 694, 698 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting Jones v. Cooper , 311 F.3d 306, 310 (4th Cir. 2002) ). We address these claims in turn.

A.

The Actual Bias Claim

1.

Was the State Habeas Court Decision "On the Merits"?

As explained above, whether the state habeas court adjudicated the actual bias claim on the merits dictates our standard of review. Thus, we turn to that question first.

The district court stated that the state habeas court "did not address whether Bruce Treakle was actually biased in connection with the juror bias claim." J.A. 2942. However, it nonetheless concluded that the state habeas court adjudicated the actual bias claim on the merits by addressing the issue in the wholly distinct context of Appellant's ineffective assistance of counsel ("IAC") claim. In the state habeas court, Appellant claimed that trial and appellate counsel were ineffective pursuant to Strickland v. Washington , 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), because they failed to raise the issue that Treakle "was biased due to his brother's employment as a law enforcement officer." Porter , 722 S.E.2d at 549. In disposing of this IAC claim, the state habeas court stated:

[The IAC claim] satisfies neither the "performance" nor the "prejudice" prong of the two-part test enunciated in Strickland . The record, including the trial transcript and [an] affidavit of counsel, demonstrates that counsel did not know that Juror T[reakle] had a brother in law enforcement. More importantly, [Appellant] has provided no admissible evidence that Juror T[reakle] was biased against [Appellant] as a result of his brother's employment.

Id . The district court cited to this passage and explained, "Specifically, the Supreme Court of Virginia adjudicated the merits of [Appellant]'s actual bias claim when it found that '[Appellant] has provided no admissible evidence that Juror T[reakle] was biased against [Appellant] as a result of his brother's employment.' " Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *7 (quoting Porter , 722 S.E.2d at 549 ). We find this conclusion to be erroneous. The state court's disposition on Appellant's IAC claim was not an adjudication on the merits of his separate actual bias claim.

a.

To begin, IAC claims are subject to a substantially different-and more demanding-standard of proof than actual bias claims. In order to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel in a habeas proceeding under Strickland , a petitioner must demonstrate first, "counsel's performance was deficient," and second, "the deficient performance prejudiced the defense." 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Deficient performance "requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment." Id. Prejudice "requires showing that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable." Id. In contrast, on the merits of an actual bias claim, Appellant must prove that a juror, because of his or her partiality or bias, was not "capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence before it." Smith v. Phillips , 455 U.S. 209, 217, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982). Thus, what a petitioner must prove to succeed in a Strickland claim-that not only did counsel make grave errors, but that those errors affected the outcome of the proceedings-is a much higher bar that what he must prove on an actual bias claim.

Moreover, the Strickland inquiry focuses on counsel's representation measured against established professional norms, but the actual bias inquiry focuses on a juror's lack of partiality, for which "the Constitution lays down no particular tests and procedure." Frazier v. United States , 335 U.S. 497, 511, 69 S.Ct. 201, 93 L.Ed. 187 (1948). Supreme Court case law contemplates further fact finding once sufficient allegations of juror bias have been made, whereas Strickland claims are generally based on a concluded and comprehensive record. And at this juncture Appellant is, at base, requesting discovery and an evidentiary hearing on his allegations of juror partiality-an even lower bar than proving a juror was actually biased against him. As explained further below, Appellant need only demonstrate that he diligently pursued his actual bias claim in state court; his allegations, if true, could entitle him to relief; and he fulfills at least one of six factors set forth in Townsend v. Sain , 372 U.S. 293, 83 S.Ct. 745, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1963). See Juniper v. Zook , 876 F.3d 551, 563 (4th Cir. 2017). We thus decline the invitation to conflate the IAC and actual bias standards for purposes of § 2254(d).

b.

In concluding that the actual bias claim was adjudicated on the merits, the district court relied on Sturgeon v. Chandler , 552 F.3d 604, 612 (7th Cir. 2009), and Albrecht v. Horn , 485 F.3d 103, 116 (3d Cir. 2007). Sturgeon held that where a state court evaluated a defendant's right to a competency hearing in the context of an IAC claim, rather than a stand-alone claim, "the merits were effectively reached" because "[t]he court could not have decided the same ... question any differently" in the context of the stand-alone claim. 552 F.3d at 612. But the state court in this case could have concluded that Appellant produced evidence of actual bias sufficient for a hearing, while still deciding that no evidence of bias existed at the time of trial or appeal to support a claim that trial counsel acted unreasonably. In fact, one of the state habeas court's reasons for denying the Strickland claim was that trial counsel did not know at the time of trial that Juror Treakle had a brother in law enforcement. This conclusion certainly does not preclude a finding that an actual bias hearing is warranted.

Similarly, in Albrecht , the Third Circuit reasoned that the state habeas court addressed a claim that jury instructions were ambiguous "on the merits" in a related IAC claim. 485 F.3d at 116. That court explained, "The state Supreme Court identified the correct governing legal principle, and then purported to apply it, which constitutes an adjudication on the merits sufficient for purposes of the statute." Id. (citation omitted). But here, the state habeas court did not recognize the governing legal principle with regard to the actual bias claim, especially Appellant's requests for an evidentiary hearing on that claim. See Smith , 455 U.S. at 215, 102 S.Ct. 940 (The Supreme Court "has long held that the remedy for allegations of juror partiality is a hearing in which the defendant has the opportunity to prove actual bias."). In fact, the state habeas court failed to even recognize that Appellant lodged an actual bias claim separate from his McDonough claim.

Thus, Sturgeon and Albrecht are not only nonbinding, they are also inapposite, and we decline to follow them. For these reasons, we hold that Appellant's actual bias claim was not heard "on the merits." As such, this court and the district court are not bound by the deference afforded in § 2254(d), but rather, may conduct our review of the actual bias issue de novo. See Monroe , 323 F.3d at 297.

2.

The District Court's Dismissal of the Actual Bias Claim

Employing a de novo standard of review, we hold that the district court erred in dismissing the actual bias claim as a matter of law without conducting discovery and holding an evidentiary hearing. We recognize that in our remand to the district court in Porter II , we stated the district court "may conduct an evidentiary hearing or any other proceedings it deems necessary to resolve the claim." 803 F.3d at 699 (emphasis supplied). Nonetheless, in reviewing anew the district court's latest decision, we conclude that its reasoning for dismissing the actual bias claim without an evidentiary hearing is contrary to law. First, the district court failed to appreciate that this case is controlled by Williams v. Taylor , in which the Supreme Court held that a hearing was warranted. Second, it held Appellant to unreasonable standards. Third, it misinterpreted the effect of Federal Rule of Evidence 606(b). And finally, it failed to apply the proper analysis to Appellant's hearing request.

a.

"[T]he Sixth Amendment, made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, requires that a state provide an impartial jury in all criminal prosecutions." Jones , 311 F.3d at 310 (citing Irvin v. Dowd , 366 U.S. 717, 722, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961) ). "If 'even one partial juror is empaneled' and the death sentence is imposed, 'the State is disentitled to execute the sentence.' " Id . (alteration omitted) (quoting Morgan v. Illinois , 504 U.S. 719, 727, 112 S.Ct. 2222, 119 L.Ed.2d 492 (1992) ). The Supreme Court "has long held that the remedy for allegations of juror partiality is a hearing in which the defendant has the opportunity to prove actual bias." Smith , 455 U.S. at 215, 102 S.Ct. 940 ; see also id . at 222, 102 S.Ct. 940 (O'Connor, J., concurring) ("[I]n most instances a postconviction hearing will be adequate to determine whether a juror is biased."). And "[p]reservation of the opportunity to prove actual bias is a guarantee of a defendant's right to an impartial jury." Dennis v. United States , 339 U.S. 162, 171-72, 70 S.Ct. 519, 94 L.Ed. 734 (1950) (emphasis supplied).

Nonetheless, "[d]etermining whether a juror is biased or has prejudged a case is difficult, partly because the juror may have an interest in concealing his own bias and partly because the juror may be unaware of it." Smith , 455 U.S. at 221-22, 102 S.Ct. 940 (O'Connor, J., concurring).

"Impartiality is not a technical conception. It is a state of mind. For the ascertainment of this mental attitude of appropriate indifference, the Constitution lays down no particular tests and procedure is not chained to any ancient and artificial formula." Frazier , 335 U.S. at 511, 69 S.Ct. 201. To be sure, "due process does not require a new trial every time a juror has been placed in a potentially compromising situation." Smith , 455 U.S. at 217, 102 S.Ct. 940. Rather, "[d]ue process means a jury capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence before it, and a trial judge ever watchful to prevent prejudicial occurrences and to determine the effect of such occurrences when they happen." Id . Again, this determination "may properly be made at a hearing." Id . (citing Remmer v. United States , 347 U.S. 227, 74 S.Ct. 450, 98 L.Ed. 654 (1954) ).

A court is not, however, "obliged to hold an evidentiary hearing any time that a defendant alleges juror bias." Billings v. Polk , 441 F.3d 238, 245 (4th Cir. 2006). But in determining that a hearing was not warranted here, the district court failed to recognize the applicability of a significant actual bias decision, Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 420, 120 S.Ct. 1479, 146 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). In Williams , the Supreme Court addressed a claim of bias where a juror, when asked if she was related to anyone on the witness list and where her ex-husband was listed as a witness, remained silent, "indicating the answer was 'no.' " 529 U.S. at 440, 120 S.Ct. 1479. Then, when asked if she had ever been represented by any of the attorneys involved in the case, she said nothing, even though she had been represented by the prosecutor during her divorce. See id. at 440-41, 120 S.Ct. 1479.

The Court reasoned that even though the juror may not have been technically "related" to her ex-husband at the time of the trial, "her silence ... could suggest to the finder of fact an unwillingness to be forthcoming; this in turn could bear on the veracity of her explanation for not disclosing that [the prosecutor] had been her attorney." Williams , 529 U.S. at 441, 120 S.Ct. 1479. The Court characterized the juror's silence on the second question to be "misleading as a matter of fact," and coupled with the prosecutor's failure to speak up, the omissions as a whole "disclose[d] the need for an evidentiary hearing." Id . at 442, 120 S.Ct. 1479. At such a hearing, the Court explained, the petitioner "could establish that [the juror] was not impartial." Id .

This case falls squarely within the confines of Williams . Juror Treakle remained silent regarding the fact that his brother was a law enforcement officer, in the neighboring jurisdiction no less. In addition, Juror Treakle told counsel after the verdict that he felt "sympathy for law enforcement officers" and found Mrs. Reaves's testimony "moving" and "very emotional" because of the fact that he had a brother who worked as a law enforcement officer. J.A. 1719. Mrs. Reaves was the State's first witness. Her testimony set the tone for the entire trial. Moreover, the jury venire was told that the victim was a law enforcement officer and that the case originated in Norfolk. To withhold information that one's brother was an officer in the adjacent jurisdiction certainly "suggest[s] ... an unwillingness to be forthcoming," and at the very least, "disclose[s] the need for an evidentiary hearing." Williams , 529 U.S. at 441-42, 120 S.Ct. 1479. The district court failed to recognize the applicability of Williams and therefore erred in dismissing Appellant's actual bias claim as a matter of law without a hearing.

b.

The district court also erred by erecting three legal hurdles out of whole cloth and then faulting Appellant for not overcoming them: (1) it placed an insurmountable burden on counsel conducting voir dire; (2) it held Appellant to an evidentiary standard that is both unwarranted and scarcely possible without the chance for discovery; and (3) it made assumptions adverse to Appellant about Juror Treakle's answers without the benefit of Juror Treakle's in-court testimony.

i.

First, the district court stated, "[C]ounsel ... did not ask Treakle ... to identify every member of his family who had a connection to law enforcement" and "did not engage in any searching scrutiny of how each individual law enforcement relationship may play out with respect to the particular evidence to be introduced." Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *11 (emphasis supplied). And it categorized counsel's voir dire as seeking merely "a general assurance ... that [one's] connection to law enforcement personnel would not impair his or her ability to remain impartial." Id .

This analysis is erroneous. Counsel specifically asked, "Ha[s] ... any member of your family ... worked for any law enforcement organization" as "an employee"? Id . at *2. We have held that if a juror is asked a specific question which encompasses two answers, a juror "fail[s] to answer honestly a material question on voir dire" if he only mentions one of them. Conaway v. Polk , 453 F.3d 567, 585 (4th Cir. 2006). Moreover, the district court places a burden on trial counsel uncontemplated by the Supreme Court or this court-that counsel must keep asking questions until the juror gives a complete answer, without knowing whether the answer is complete. Indeed, counsel had no opportunity to ask whether Juror Treakle could be impartial even though his brother was an officer in the jurisdiction adjacent to the scene of the crime . In other words, defense counsel had no chance to "engage in any searching scrutiny" of Juror Treakle's relationship with his brother because he did not know about it. Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *11. Counsel is entitled to expect that when venire panel members take an oath to answer truthfully all questions put to them in voir dire, they will indeed tell the whole truth.

ii.

Second, the district court held Appellant to an incorrect and insurmountable evidentiary standard when it stated, "The record fails to plausibly suggest that [Juror] Treakle deliberately omitted material information in response to questions asked on voir dire." Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *11 (internal quotation marks omitted). How could Appellant meet this standard without discovery or a hearing? "[I]t would create a 'classic catch-22' if a [habeas] defendant were obliged to submit admissible evidence to the [district] court in order to be accorded an evidentiary hearing, when the defendant is seeking the hearing because he cannot, without subpoena power or mechanisms of discovery, otherwise secure such evidence." Conaway , 453 F.3d at 584. The district court further opined, "Perhaps if [Juror Treakle's brother] had been murdered or shot in the line of duty one could doubt [Juror] Treakle's assurances that he could remain impartial in the trial of [Appellant] for the capital murder of a police officer." Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, *12. But suggesting that bias could only arise if Juror Treakle's brother himself had been a victim not only undermines the district court's own analysis, but it creates an unworkable inquiry that flies in the face of Williams , Smith , and Conaway .

iii.

Third, at the motion to dismiss stage, a district court must "accept a petitioner's well-pleaded allegations as true, and ... draw all reasonable inferences therefrom in the petitioner's favor." Conaway , 453 F.3d at 582. However, here the district court ignored this standard and made assumptions adverse to Appellant about Juror Treakle's answers at voir dire. For example, the district court called Juror Treakle "honest" (twice) and "forthright." Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *12-13. He found that Juror Treakle "did not intentionally conceal the fact that he had a brother who was a deputy sheriff." Id . at *12. These determinations are not only contrary to the legal standard, but should be properly made after an evidentiary hearing . See Teleguz v. Zook , 806 F.3d 803, 811 (4th Cir. 2015) (explaining earlier remand was appropriate for the district court to make credibility determinations at "an evidentiary hearing"). The district court assumed Juror Treakle did not purposely lie based on a cold record as opposed to the efficacy of a live hearing. It reasoned, "[Appellant]'s suggestion that [Juror] Treakle volunteered information about his nephew, who was a police officer, but not about his brother, who was a deputy sheriff, for fear of losing his place on the jury suggests a cageyness that is refuted by the record." Porter III , 2016 WL 1688765, at *11. But the "record" to which the district court refers is woefully undeveloped and incomplete. Appellant has not had a chance to develop the record and prove that Juror Treakle, rather than somehow simply forgetting about his brother, purposely omitted or concealed his relationship.

The dissent's logic suffers from the same fatal flaw. It states, "There is no evidence in the record that Treakle was aware of the community's feelings or that he had ever spoken to his brother about the case," and "Pernell's affidavit does not suggest any communication between the brothers." Post at 447 n.4. But Appellant was never given a chance to ask Juror Treakle or his brother these crucial questions. Thus, "the dissent ignores a critical component underlying the Supreme Court's concern in cases involving juror bias-that without a hearing, a criminal defendant is deprived of the opportunity to uncover facts that could prove a Sixth Amendment violation." Barnes v. Joyner , 751 F.3d 229, 250 (4th Cir. 2014).

c.

The district court also relied on the general rule that juror testimony may not be used to impeach a verdict. If Juror Treakle is called to the stand in an evidentiary hearing, some of his testimony may be barred by Federal Rule of Evidence 606(b), which provides:

During an inquiry into the validity of a verdict ..., a juror may not testify about any statement made or incident that occurred during the jury's deliberations; the effect of anything on that juror's or another juror's vote; or any juror's mental processes concerning the verdict .... The court may not receive a juror's affidavit or evidence of a juror's statement on these matters.

Fed. R. Evid. 606(b)(1). There are three exceptions to this general rule, however. A juror may testify about whether:

(A) extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention;

(B) an outside influence was improperly brought to bear on any juror; or

(C) a mistake was made in entering the verdict on the verdict form.

Fed. R. Evid. 606(b)(2). The Supreme Court has held, " Rule 606(b) applies to juror testimony during a proceeding in which a party seeks to secure a new trial on the ground that a juror lied during voir dire." Warger v. Shauers , --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 521, 525, 190 L.Ed.2d 422 (2014). However, the Court also recognized, "[I]f jurors lie in voir dire in a way that conceals bias, juror impartiality is adequately assured by the parties' ability ... to employ nonjuror evidence even after the verdict is rendered." Id. at 529. The Sattler Affidavit, as well as other nonjuror evidence, is being offered here in order to demonstrate actual bias.

Additionally, after discovery, should Juror Treakle be called to testify in an evidentiary hearing, Appellant ought to be able to ask questions regarding external prejudicial information or "whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear," Barnes , 751 F.3d at 257 (quoting Tanner v. United States , 483 U.S. 107, 117, 107 S.Ct. 2739, 97 L.Ed.2d 90 (1987) )-for example, pressure from Appellant's family or from other members of the Chesapeake police. Thus, although Rule 606(b) may prevent certain testimony from being solicited in an evidentiary hearing, it would not preclude Appellant or other jurors from testifying altogether.

d.

Finally, in considering whether Appellant was entitled to a hearing, the district court failed to apply the proper analysis, which is itself a legal error and abuse of discretion. See United States v. Henry , 673 F.3d 285, 291 (4th Cir. 2012) ("A district court abuses its discretion when it ... fails to consider judicially-recognized factors limiting its discretion ...."); In re Wray , 433 F.3d 376, 378 n.* (4th Cir. 2005) ("[A]n error of law by a district court is by definition an abuse of discretion."). We have held:

A petitioner who has diligently pursued his habeas corpus claim in state court is entitled to an evidentiary hearing in federal court, on facts not previously developed in the state court proceedings, if the facts alleged would entitle him to relief, and if he satisfies one of the six factors enumerated by the Supreme Court in Townsend v. Sain , 372 U.S. 293, 313, 83 S.Ct. 745, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1963).

Juniper v. Zook , 876 F.3d 551, 563 (4th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted); see also Fullwood v. Lee , 290 F.3d 663, 681 (4th Cir. 2002).

First, Appellant "diligently pursued his [actual bias] claim in state court" by raising it as a distinct claim in his petition and requesting a hearing on that claim at least twice, to no avail. See J.A. 1651 (August 2009, state habeas petition); 2374 (February 2012, motion for evidentiary hearing in state habeas court). Second, he has alleged facts that, if true, "might well entitle him to relief." Fullwood , 290 F.3d at 681. Under Williams , a juror's silence about a matter of importance to the trial "could suggest ... an unwillingness to be forthcoming; this in turn could bear on the veracity of [the juror's] explanation for" nondisclosure, which leads to "the need for an evidentiary hearing." 529 U.S. at 441-42, 120 S.Ct. 1479. If, at that hearing, the court determines that Juror Treakle was biased and unwilling or unable to decide the case "solely on the evidence before [him]," Smith , 455 U.S. at 217, 102 S.Ct. 940, then Appellant might well be entitled to relief. Cf. Conaway , 453 F.3d at 582, 588, 590 (requiring evidentiary hearing where allegations of juror dishonesty under McDonough give rise to inference of bias that would affect fairness of trial).

Finally, the district court did not even mention the Townsend factors. Yet Appellant clearly satisfies the fifth Townsend factor-which is "the material facts were not adequately developed" in state court. 372 U.S. at 313, 83 S.Ct. 745 ; see also Fullwood , 290 F.3d at 681 (explaining that § 2254 petitioner met the fifth Townsend factor where he "raised troubling allegations" of juror influence "but was not afforded a hearing to develop the issue").

Of course, it is not clear at this stage whether a finding of actual bias is appropriate. What is clear, however, is that the failure of the state habeas court to permit Appellant to adequately develop the facts entitles him to discovery and an evidentiary hearing-a hearing he requested at multiple junctures, see J.A. 1651 (state habeas petition); 2374 (motion for evidentiary hearing in state habeas court on juror issue); 2529, 2534 (evidentiary hearing requested in district court); Brief, Porter v. Zook , No. 3:12-cv-550 (E.D. Va. filed Nov. 9, 2015), ECF No. 93 at 9 (request for hearing and discovery in district court after Porter II remand).

For these reasons, we hold that the district court erred in dismissing the actual bias claim as matter of law without discovery and a proper hearing. We, therefore, vacate and remand with instructions to provide Appellant this opportunity.

B.

The McDonough Claim

Appellant's McDonough claim meets the same fate. To prove a juror bias claim under McDonough , the petitioner must show: (1) "a juror failed to answer honestly a material question on voir dire," and (2) "a correct response would have provided a valid basis for a challenge for cause." McDonough , 464 U.S. at 556, 104 S.Ct. 845. Because the state habeas court addressed this issue on the merits, we review under the deferential AEDPA standard, which requires Appellant to demonstrate that the state habeas court's decision "was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).

Even under this deferential standard, the state habeas court unreasonably applied clearly established federal law. Both the state habeas and district courts concluded that Juror Treakle did not fail to "honestly" answer the relevant voir dire question because he does, in fact, have a nephew in law enforcement in Arlington. See Porter , 722 S.E.2d at 539 ("Juror T[reakle] answered truthfully that he had a nephew who was an Arlington County Police Officer ... and ... he was not asked, nor did he have the opportunity to answer, if he had any additional relationships with law enforcement officers."); J.A. 2819 (Juror Treakle's "failure to advise that he had additional relationships with law enforcement officers did not amount to a deliberate omission of material information." (emphasis supplied)). This is an unreasonable application of McDonough .

1.

In Conaway v. Polk , this court addressed a strikingly similar case on § 2254 review. The issue in Conaway was whether a juror was biased under McDonough for failing to disclose that he was a relative of the key prosecution witness, a man named Harrington, when asked if he knew anyone on the witness list or recognized any names. 453 F.3d at 573. He did, however, acknowledge that he knew another person on the witness list. The trial hinged on a credibility determination between the defendant Conaway and Harrington, and Conaway was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. See Conaway , 453 F.3d at 573-75. On the first prong of McDonough , we concluded that the state habeas court unreasonably applied clearly established federal law in dismissing the claim. We reasoned that an allegation that the juror "failed to disclose" he was Harrington's relative was "sufficient under McDonough to state a constitutional claim for relief." Conaway , 453 F.3d at 585. This is true even though that juror swore that nothing would affect his ability to render an impartial verdict. See id . Therefore, we have viewed the "honesty" aspect of the first McDonough prong as encompassing not just straight lies, but also failures to disclose. The State has offered no principled distinction between Appellant's McDonough claim and the one in Conaway .

The dissent attempts to distinguish Conaway by explaining that in the case at hand, "[t]here are not 'multiple questions' that could 'candidly be answered' only by acknowledging that [Treakle's] brother was a sheriff's deputy." Post at 444. But Conaway 's holding did not hinge on the fact that counsel asked more than one question; rather, that holding depended on the fact that the juror did not answer truthfully the questions posed to him. Indeed, McDonough itself states that the first prong is satisfied if the "juror failed to answer honestly a material question on voir dire." McDonough , 464 U.S. at 556, 104 S.Ct. 845 (emphasis supplied). Here, the question was straightforward: "Have you, any member of your family or close personal friend worked for or with any law enforcement organization, either as an employee or on a volunteer basis?" J.A. 250-51. Broken down, the question asked was: Has any member of your family worked for a law enforcement organization? The dissent faults counsel for failing to ask a follow up question or a more specific question, see post at 444-45, but that position creates a situation where counsel must necessarily assume that jurors who have taken an oath are, at best, withholding critical information, and at worst, lying. Point blank, Juror Treakle did not candidly answer counsel's question. Appellant is entitled to find out why.

2.

We also cannot say as a matter of law that the McDonough claim should be dismissed based on the second prong. This prong requires that Appellant would have had a "valid basis for a challenge for cause" of Juror Treakle. McDonough , 464 U.S. at 556, 104 S.Ct. 845. Because we cannot surmise which follow up questions (and answers) may have followed from Juror Treakle's correct answer that his brother worked in law enforcement in Chesapeake, we cannot say as matter of law that Appellant would not have had a valid basis to challenge for cause. This is a matter that must be further explored in an evidentiary hearing upon remand.

C.

In sum, the district court erred in dismissing the actual bias claims in Porter III without discovery and a hearing, and it also erred in Porter I by failing to follow Conaway and dismissing the McDonough claims without a hearing. We vacate and remand so that Appellant, once and for all, may be able to investigate his bias claims.

IV.

Non-Juror Claims

Appellant raises a host of other challenges to the state court proceedings and dismissal of the Amended Petition. Except for the defaulted Martinez claims, discussed in Part IV.D. infra , all of the following claims were adjudicated on the merits in state court, and thus, we are tasked with deciding whether the state habeas court's decision "was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States," or "resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)-(2).

A.

Risk Assessment Testimony

Appellant claims that the state habeas court unreasonably applied clearly established federal law when it denied Appellant the opportunity to present individualized risk assessment testimony as mitigating evidence in the penalty phase of his trial. The district court was correct in rejecting this claim.

Before trial, Appellant moved for the appointment of Dr. Mark Cunningham "as an expert on the assessment of the risk of violence by prison inmates and, in particular, the risk of future dangerousness posed by [Appellant] if incarcerated in a Virginia penitentiary for life." J.A. 66. The expert would have examined Appellant's history and determined the likelihood of violence in a prison setting. The trial court denied the motion, explaining "the Virginia Supreme Court has consistently upheld the denial of use of public funds for such an expert, as it's not considered to be ... proper mitigation evidence." Id. at 206. In addition, the trial court decided that the testimony would not be "particular[ized]" to Appellant but rather, "very general testimony" about prisons and