How do we review a denial of a habeas corpus de novo?

We review a district court's denial of a petition for writ of habeas corpus de novo. Lopez v. Thompson, 202 F.3d 1110, 1116 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

In the case of a habeas petition implicating the First Amendment, we first "must, as a reviewing court, conduct our own independent review of the record. In so doing, we must exercise independent judgment as to the legal issue of whether [the habeas petitioner]'s speech and association were protected." McCoy v. Stewart, 282 F.3d 626, 629 (9th Cir. 2002) (conducting an independent review prior to conducting a habeas analysis in a habeas claim implicating the First Amendment).