Whether the court of appeals improperly denied the Petitioner a certificate of appealability

QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW 1. Whether the court of appeals improperly denied the Petitioner a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) on his claim that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to properly object to testimony referring to the “word on the street” identifying the Petitioner as the shooter — testimony that violated the Petitioner’s Confrontation Clause rights. 2. Whether a freestanding claim of actual innocence is cognizable in a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 proceeding. il B. PARTIES INVOLVED The parties involved are identified in the style of the case. iii