Henry L. Watson, III v. Kenya Mason, Warden

relieved of its burden to disprove it; and violated Lockett when the State’s statutory interpretation barred consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence.

1. Whether a conflict between a criminal statute and its corresponding jury instruction creates statutory vagueness and ambiguity requiring judicial review of legislative history under the Due Process Clause.

2. Whether trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance under Strickland by pursuing an improper civil remedy and failing to object to the jury’s disregard of the instruction and the State’s post-verdict reinterpretation of the statute.

3. Whether, under Estelle v. McGuire, a state law violation that categorically barred the jury’s consideration of self-defense under Wis. Stat. § 939.48(3) and contradicted Wisconsin Jury Instruction 820 rises to a federal constitutional violation requiring review by this Court.