Did the appellate court err in affirming the denial of Sansing's petition on this meritorious claim?

QUESTION PRESENTED John Edward Sansing pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other felonies with no agreements offered by the state. During the sentencing proceedings, the victim’s 10-year-old daughter twice asked the court not to sentence Sansing to death. The trial court refused to consider her statements and imposed a death sentence. On appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court, Sansing argued that the trial court erred in refusing to consider this information because it was both relevant and mitigating. The Arizona Supreme Court unreasonably applied clearly established federal law in denying Sansing’s claim, but both the district court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied this claim during Sansing’s federal habeas proceedings. Did the appellate court err in affirming the denial of Sansing’s petition on this meritorious claim? i