Valencia #124129 v. Shinn et al
Filing
22
ORDERED that the petitioner's motion, filed on March 31, 2022, for appointment of counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) is DENIED. (Doc. 21 ). Signed by Magistrate Judge Leslie A Bowman on 4/7/22. (MYE)
1
WO
2
3
4
5
6
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Gregory Nidez Valencia, Jr.,
Petitioner,
vs.
David Shinn; et al.,
Respondents.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
No. CV 21-00335-TUC-RCC (LAB)
ORDER
Pending before the court is the petitioner’s motion, filed on March 31, 2022, for
appointment of counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). (Doc. 21)
The statute reads in pertinent part as follows:
Whenever the United States magistrate judge or the court determines that the
interests of justice so require, representation may be provided for any financially
eligible person who . . . is seeking relief under section . . . 2254 . . . of title 28.
18 U.S.C.A. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). “In deciding whether to appoint counsel in a habeas proceeding,
the district court must evaluate the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of
the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues
involved.” Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). “[A]ppointment of counsel
becomes mandatory, when an evidentiary hearing is required. Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d 1228,
1234 (9th Cir. 1984). Where, as here, an evidentiary hearing is not required, appointment of
counsel is “not mandatory but discretionary.” Id.
“In 1995, when Valencia was seventeen, he and an accomplice were attempting to steal
a bicycle from a residence when its owner confronted them and Valencia shot and killed him.”
1
State v. Valencia, 2020 WL 4728893, at *1 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020), review denied (Feb. 2, 2021).
2
Valencia was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to “a natural life sentence of
3
imprisonment.” Id. Some time later, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a natural life sentence
4
for a crime committed by a juvenile may be unconstitutional under certain circumstances. Id.
5
(citing Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012) and Montgomery v. Louisiana, 136 S. Ct. 718
6
(2016)). Valencia subsequently challenged his sentence and was given an evidentiary hearing
7
where he “met his burden of establishing that his crime reflected transient immaturity rather
8
than irreparable corruption.” Id. (punctuation modified) “Valencia was thereafter resentenced
9
to life with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years.” Id.
10
In the pending petition, Valencia claims that his life sentence with the possibility of
11
parole after twenty-five years pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-716 is an unconstitutional ex post facto
12
law. (Doc. 4, p. 6) He further argues that his new sentence violates the Eighth Amendment
13
because A.R.S. § 13-716 “provides no constitutional guidance as to how to determine parole
14
eligibility for juveniles.” (Doc. 4, p. 9) These claims were denied on the merits by the Arizona
15
Court of Appeals. State v. Valencia, 2020 WL 4728893 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020), review denied
16
(Feb. 2, 2021). The decision was joined by all three members of the panel; there was no dissent.
17
Id. Valencia petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court for review, but that court denied his
18
petition. (Doc. 16, pp. 16-17) To succeed in his pending habeas petition, Valencia must show
19
that prior adjudication of his claims “resulted in a decision that was contrary to or an
20
unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent” or that it “resulted in a decision that was
21
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the
22
State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). The court concludes that Valencia’s petition is
23
unlikely to succeed on the merits.
24
In the pending motion, Valencia argues that his petition is likely to succeed and cites to
25
Vera v. Ryan, 804 F. App’x 572, 574 (9th Cir. March 4, 2020). (Doc. 4) He refers to a section
26
in the decision where the Vera panel stated that it had some doubts as to whether the evidence
27
presented by the state showed that section 13-716 “as implemented by the Arizona Department
28
of Corrections” was providing an opportunity for the inmate “to obtain parole within the
-2-
1
meaning of [the Supreme Court’s decisions in] Miller and Montgomery.” Id. That statement,
2
however, has limited application to the pending action. First, that statement was dicta. Id.
3
Second, Vera is not a published decision. Id. at 572; see CTA9 Rule 36-3. And third, that
4
statement related to a possible “as applied” challenge, whereas Valencia’s claim in the pending
5
petition is not an “as applied” challenge.1 Compare Vera, 804 F. App’x at 574 with (Doc. 4, p.
6
9). Vera does not provide support for Valencia’s argument that his petition is likely to succeed
7
on the merits.
8
The court further finds that Valencia is able to “articulate his claims pro se in light of the
9
complexity of the legal issues involved.” See Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir.
10
1983). His claims are clearly explained. (Doc. 4) They explicitly track the arguments that were
11
made by counsel in Valencia’s Opening Brief before the Arizona Court of Appeals, which he
12
attached as an exhibit to his petition. (Doc. 4, pp. 31-54)
13
Valencia asserts that he is unable to properly articulate his claims because he only has
14
a General Equivalency Diploma and has no access to a law library. (Doc. 21, pp. 2-3) The
15
court finds to the contrary that, while is his petition was not written by a lawyer, it is much
16
easier to read and understand than most pro se petitions. (Doc. 4) Moreover, Valencia seems
17
to have access to even unpublished Ninth Circuit decisions. It does not appear that his limited
18
access to legal resources is significantly affecting his ability to articulate his claims. The court
19
agrees that the procedural history of this case is long, but the petition presents two discrete legal
20
issues that are relatively limited in scope.
21
Finally, Valencia argues that “counsel can assist Petitioner in reviewing the record for
22
any unreasonable factual determinations that might allow for de novo review under 28 U.S.C.
23
24
25
26
1
Valencia did not raise an “as applied” claim before the Arizona Court of Appeals. (Doc. 16-8,
pp. 38-61) Presumably, that is why he has not raised “as applied” claim in the pending petition. See
28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody
pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted unless it appears that . . . the applicant has
exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State. . . .”).
27
28
-3-
1
§ 2254(d)(2).” (Doc. 21, p. 3) It does not appear, however, that this type of review falls under
2
“the interests of justice” rationale. See Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983).
3
Moreover, Valencia’s claims are legal in character, and the decision of the Arizona Court of
4
Appeals below does not appear to be particularly reliant on “factual determinations.” See State
5
v. Valencia, 2020 WL 4728893 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020), review denied (Feb. 2, 2021).
6
Counsel is not required “in the interests of justice.” See, e.g., Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d
7
1228, 1234 (9th Cir. 1984) (The court acted within its discretion when it declined to appoint
8
counsel to a sixty-year-old petitioner who had no background in the law but thoroughly
9
presented his issues.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 838 (1984). Accordingly,
10
11
12
IT IS ORDERED that the petitioner’s motion, filed on March 31, 2022, for appointment
of counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) is DENIED. (Doc. 21)
13
14
DATED this 7th day of April, 2022.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
-4-
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?