Whether a jury foreman's introduction of a religious text during capital murder trial deliberations constitutes an improper external influence warranting habeas relief

CAPITAL CASE 1. When a jury foreman in a capital murder trial brings a religious text to the jury room during punishment phase deliberations and reads passages concerning imposition of the death penalty to his fellow jurors, c ould reasonable jurists debate whether the jury has been exposed to an external influence under clearly established federal law? 2. When deciding whether to grant a certificate of appealability, should a circuit court look to whether the district court’s resolution of the claim at issue is reasonably debatable in light of thenexisting circuit precedent ?