Springfield v. Thomas et al

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge R David Proctor on 1/23/2017. (AVC)

FILED
2017 Jan-23 AM 10:14
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
JASPER DIVISION
JAMIE LYNN SPRINGFIELD,
Petitioner,
v.
COMMISSIONER KIM THOMAS
and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA,

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Case Number: 6:13-cv-02022-RDP-JHE

Respondents.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On January 3, 2017, the Magistrate Judge entered a Report and Recommendation, (Doc.
18), recommending that Jamie Lynn Springfield’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus be
dismissed with prejudice.

On January 18, 2017, the court received unsigned objections

indicating they were from “Nancy Hanks Springfield For: Jamie Lynn Springfield.” (Doc. 19).
Bur even to the extent Petitioner’s signature would be able to cure this deficiency, the objections
are nevertheless due to be overruled. This is because other than merely re-arguing the merits of
the petition, the objections do not point to any specific error in the Magistrate Judge’s
presentation of the procedural history or his analysis. Specifically, Petitioner makes a total of
five objections, one directed at each of the following claims: (1) denial of due process based on
not being granted a continuance to seek a psychiatric expert to aid in his defense; (2) failure to
submit the insanity issue to the jury; (3) improper comments by the prosecutor; and (4)
ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to file a timely appeal; and (5) the fact two of the
jurors were married to each other. (Doc. 19). The Magistrate Judge thoroughly addressed each
of these objected-to claims in the Report and Recommendation. First, the Magistrate Judge

explained why habeas relief is not appropriate based on the state court’s denial of a continuance
for a second mental health evaluation and found no fundamental unfairness based on the state
court’s failure to submit the insanity issue to the jury. (Doc. 18 at 7-13). Next, the Magistrate
Judge found that, even if comments the Prosecutor made to the jury were improper, there is no
indication that the outcome of Petitioner’s case would have been any different in their absence,
and thus any such “conduct” did not render the trial fundamentally unfair. (Id. at 14-17). Then,
the Magistrate Judge found Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim did not meet the
requirements of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). (Id. at 19-23). Finally, the
Magistrate Judge addressed Petitioner’s claim that the fact two of the jurors were married to each
other rendered his conviction unconstitutional, and found that the claim was procedurally
defaulted. (Id.at 17-19).
The court has considered the entire file in this action, together with the report and
recommendation, and has reached an independent conclusion that the report and
recommendation is due to be adopted and approved.
Accordingly, the court hereby adopts and approves the findings and recommendation of
the magistrate judge as the findings and conclusions of this court. The petition for writ of habeas
corpus is due to be DISMISSED. A separate Order will be entered.
DONE and ORDERED this January 23, 2017.

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R. DAVID PROCTOR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE