Karl D. Roberts v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Roberts’s amended petition for postconviction relief after rejecting nine claims involving competency, ineffective assistance, juror bias, courtroom atmosphere, mitigation, and eligibility for the death penalty. Applying clear-error review and the two-part ineffective-assistance standard, the court concluded that Roberts either failed to establish deficient performance or prejudice, raised procedurally barred claims, or sought relief unavailable under existing law. The court also declined to recognize a categorical constitutional bar to executing persons with schizophrenia or traumatic brain injury.