Petitioner Sawyers conviction and death sentence for a brutal murder became final in 1984. The Federal District Court denied his habeas corpus petition, which was based in relevant part on the argument that the prosecutors closing argument during the penalty phase of his trial diminished the jurys sense of responsibility for the capital sentencing decision, in violation of this Courts 1985 decision in Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320. While his appeal of the denial of habeas relief was pending, this Court decided Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, under which a new rule of constitutional law established after a petitioners conviction has become final may not be used to attack the conviction on federal habeas corpus unless the rule (1) places an entire category of primary conduct beyond the reach of criminal law, id., at 311, or prohibits imposition of a certain type of punishment for a class of defendants because of their status or offense, see Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 330, or (2) applies a new watershed rule of criminal procedure that enhances accu