Dawson v. Johnson
Filing
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FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc. 1 ) be DENIED signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 6/18/2018. Referred to Judge O'Neill. Objections to F&R due within thirty (30) days. (Jessen, A)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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AUDRA DAWSON,
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Case No. 1:15-cv-00800-LJO-EPG-HC
Petitioner,
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v.
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FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF PETITION
FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
D.K. JOHNSON,
Respondent.
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Petitioner Audra Dawson is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of
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16 habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. In the petition, Petitioner raises the following
17 grounds for relief: (1) the state courts’ violation of the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth
18 Amendments; (2) ineffective assistance of appellate counsel; (3) violation of Brady v. Maryland,
19 373 U.S. 83 (1963); (4) instructional error; and (5) violation of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530
20 U.S. 466 (2000).
For the reasons discussed herein, the undersigned recommends denial of the petition for
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22 writ of habeas corpus.
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I.
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BACKGROUND
On December 21, 2011, Petitioner was convicted by a jury in the Fresno County Superior
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26 Court of second-degree robbery. (CT 213, 221–22). Petitioner admitted allegations that she
27 suffered two prior felony convictions that qualified as strikes under California’s Three Strikes
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“CT” refers to the Clerk’s Transcript on Appeal lodged by Respondent on October 19, 2015. (ECF No. 20).
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1 Law and as serious felony conviction enhancements under California Penal Code section
2 667(a)(1). Petitioner also admitted that she served two separate prison terms for prior felony
3 convictions within the meaning of California Penal Code sections 667.5(a) and another separate
4 prison term within the meaning of section 667.5(b). (CT 223; 9 RT2 1302–07). Petitioner was
5 sentenced to twenty-five years to life plus ten years. (CT 236). On July 30, 2013, the California
6 Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District affirmed the judgment. People v. Dawson, No.
7 F064491, 2013 WL 3947818, at *5 (Cal. Ct. App. July 30, 2013). The California Supreme Court
8 summarily denied the petition for review on October 2, 2013. (LDs3 18, 19).
Subsequently, Petitioner filed a state petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Fresno
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10 County Superior Court, which denied the petition on October 30, 2014. (LDs 20, 21). Petitioner
11 then filed a state habeas petition in the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District,
12 which denied the petition on March 4, 2015. (LDs 22, 23). Thereafter, Petitioner filed a petition
13 for review and state habeas petition in the California Supreme Court, which denied the petitions
14 on April 22, 2015 and April 29, 2015, respectively. (LDs 24–27).
On May 27, 2015, Petitioner filed the instant federal petition for writ of habeas corpus.
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16 (ECF No. 1). Respondent filed an answer to the petition, and Petitioner filed a traverse. (ECF
17 Nos. 16, 21).
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II.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS4
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Prosecution Case
In the afternoon on October 8, 2011, (October 8), Elizabeth Tapia was walking
with her three-year-old son along Olive Avenue in Fresno, on her way to the
motel where she and her husband worked, when appellant and appellant’s
codefendant, James Hill, approached her. Tapia had seen the couple in the area
before but did not know them.
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Appellant began talking to Tapia, telling her that Jesus loved her and
complimenting her son. As appellant was talking, Hill, who was standing “off to
the side” a few feet away, loudly asked Tapia how much money she had in her
possession. Tapia had been holding her son’s hand, but she let go when Hill
spoke, turned to face him, and told him she did not have any money. She then
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“RT” refers to the Reporter’s Transcript on Appeal lodged by Respondent on October 19, 2015. (ECF No. 20).
“LD” refers to the documents lodged by Respondent on October 19, 2015. (ECF No. 20).
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The Court relies on the California Court of Appeal’s July 30, 2013 opinion for this summary of the facts of the
crime. See Vasquez v. Kirkland, 572 F.3d 1029, 1031 n.1 (9th Cir. 2009).
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turned back to look at appellant and saw that appellant had picked up her son and
was holding him with two hands, under his arms. Tapia told appellant she did not
have any money and told appellant to put her son down. Tapia testified that
appellant, in a loud and angry tone of voice, “told me to give her all the money I
had or else I wouldn’t see my son.”
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At that point, appellant “turned and held [the boy] toward the traffic.” The boy
was struggling and trying to kick appellant. Tapia was “scared.” Fearing that
appellant “would throw [her son] and he’d get ran over [sic] or something,” Tapia
told appellant, “I’ll give you whatever I have, just let him go.” Appellant then put
the boy down and Tapia grabbed him and held him close, as appellant “started to
pat [Tapia] down.” Appellant reached into one of Tapia’s pants pockets and
removed $40. Hill told appellant to “hurry up,” and she and Hill left the scene,
“[a]lmost running in a fast way.”
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According to police testimony, appellant and Hill were arrested at a nearby gas
station a short time later.
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Defense Case 5
On the afternoon of October 8, appellant and her husband, James Hill, were
walking along Olive Avenue when appellant saw a woman approximately 25 feet
away walking “swiftly” across the street with her son, who “tripped at the curb.”
Appellant, seeing that the boy was trying not to cry, approached the woman and
asked if she (appellant) could say something to the boy. The woman consented,
and appellant told the boy not to be angry at his mother and that God loved him.
Appellant then patted the boy on the head, told the woman “maybe you should
slow down a little bit” and that God loves her, and gave the woman a hug. The
woman “hugged [appellant] back” and thanked her, and appellant “went about
[her] way.”
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Appellant did not pick up the boy or “swing [him] in any way into traffic.” She
neither asked the woman for money nor did she get any money from her.
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18 Dawson, 2013 WL 3947818, at *1–2 (footnote in original).
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III.
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
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Relief by way of a petition for writ of habeas corpus extends to a person in custody
22 pursuant to the judgment of a state court if the custody is in violation of the Constitution or laws
23 or treaties of the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3); Williams v. Taylor,
24 529 U.S. 362, 375 (2000). Petitioner asserts that she suffered violations of her rights as
25 guaranteed by the United States Constitution. The challenged convictions arise out of the Fresno
26 County Superior Court, which is located within the Eastern District of California. 28 U.S.C. §
27 2254(a); 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).
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The “Defense Case” portion of our factual summary is taken from appellant’s testimony.
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On April 24, 1996, Congress enacted the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
2 of 1996 (“AEDPA”), which applies to all petitions for writ of habeas corpus filed after its
3 enactment. Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320 (1997); Jeffries v. Wood, 114 F.3d 1484, 1499 (9th
4 Cir. 1997) (en banc). The instant petition was filed after the enactment of AEDPA and is
5 therefore governed by its provisions.
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Under AEDPA, relitigation of any claim adjudicated on the merits in state court is barred
7 unless a petitioner can show that the state court’s adjudication of his claim:
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(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an
unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or
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(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the
State court proceeding.
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12 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Davis v. Ayala, 135 S. Ct. 2187, 2198 (2015); Harrington v. Richter, 562
13 U.S. 86, 97–98 (2011); Williams, 529 U.S. at 413. Thus, if a petitioner’s claim has been
14 “adjudicated on the merits” in state court, “AEDPA’s highly deferential standards” apply. Ayala,
15 135 S. Ct. at 2198. However, if the state court did not reach the merits of the claim, the claim is
16 reviewed de novo. Cone v. Bell, 556 U.S. 449, 472 (2009).
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In ascertaining what is “clearly established Federal law,” this Court must look to the
18 “holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of [the Supreme Court’s] decisions as of the time of the
19 relevant state-court decision.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 412. In addition, the Supreme Court
20 decision must “‘squarely address[] the issue in th[e] case’ or establish a legal principle that
21 ‘clearly extend[s]’ to a new context to the extent required by the Supreme Court in . . . recent
22 decisions”; otherwise, there is no clearly established Federal law for purposes of review under
23 AEDPA and the Court must defer to the state court’s decision. Moses v. Payne, 555 F.3d 742,
24 754 (9th Cir. 2008) (alterations in original) (quoting Wright v. Van Patten, 552 U.S. 120, 125,
25 123 (2008)).
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If the Court determines there is clearly established Federal law governing the issue, the
27 Court then must consider whether the state court’s decision was “contrary to, or involved an
28 unreasonable application of, [the] clearly established Federal law.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). A
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1 state court decision is “contrary to” clearly established Supreme Court precedent if it “arrives at
2 a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the Supreme Court] on a question of law or if the state
3 court decides a case differently than [the Supreme Court] has on a set of materially
4 indistinguishable facts.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 413. A state court decision involves “an
5 unreasonable application of[] clearly established Federal law” if “there is no possibility
6 fairminded jurists could disagree that the state court’s decision conflicts with [the Supreme
7 Court’s] precedents.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 102. That is, a petitioner “must show that the state
8 court’s ruling on the claim being presented in federal court was so lacking in justification that
9 there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for
10 fairminded disagreement.” Id. at 103.
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If the Court determines that the state court decision was “contrary to, or involved an
12 unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law,” and the error is not structural,
13 habeas relief is nonetheless unavailable unless it is established that the error “had substantial and
14 injurious effect or influence” on the verdict. Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637 (1993)
15 (internal quotation mark omitted) (quoting Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 776
16 (1946)).
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AEDPA requires considerable deference to the state courts. The Court looks to the last
18 reasoned state court decision as the basis for the state court judgment. See Brumfield v. Cain,
19 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2276 (2015); Johnson v. Williams, 568 U.S. 289, 297 n.1 (2013); Ylst v.
20 Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 806 (1991). “When a federal claim has been presented to a state
21 court and the state court has denied relief, it may be presumed that the state court adjudicated the
22 claim on the merits in the absence of any indication or state-law procedural principles to the
23 contrary.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 99. Where the state court reaches a decision on the merits but
24 provides no reasoning to support its conclusion, a federal court independently reviews the record
25 to determine whether habeas corpus relief is available under § 2254(d). Walker v. Martel, 709
26 F.3d 925, 939 (9th Cir. 2013). “Independent review of the record is not de novo review of the
27 constitutional issue, but rather, the only method by which we can determine whether a silent state
28 court decision is objectively unreasonable.” Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir.
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1 2003). The federal court must review the state court record and “must determine what arguments
2 or theories . . . could have supported, the state court’s decision; and then it must ask whether it is
3 possible fairminded jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with
4 the holding in a prior decision of [the Supreme] Court.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 102.
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IV.
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REVIEW OF CLAIMS
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A. First Ground for Relief
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In her first ground for relief, Petitioner asserts violations of the Sixth, Eight, and
9 Fourteenth Amendments and denial of a fair trial. (ECF No. 1 at 4, 15).6 Specifically, Petitioner
10 argues that the trial court erroneously denied a motion for new trial and erroneously allowed the
11 prosecutor to engage in misconduct when the prosecutor stated on the record that “Petitioner is
12 the poster child for the Three Strikes Law.”7 (ECF No. 1 at 4, 15–16).
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1. Procedural Default
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Respondent argues that this Court is precluded from reaching the merits of the claims
15 regarding the denial of a new trial and prosecutorial misconduct because the state court imposed
16 a procedural bar. (ECF No. 16 at 32, 39). A federal court will not review a petitioner’s claims if
17 the state court has denied relief on those claims pursuant to a state law procedural ground that is
18 independent of federal law and adequate to support the judgment. Coleman v. Thompson, 501
19 U.S. 722, 729–30 (1991). This doctrine of procedural default is based on the concerns of comity
20 and federalism. Id. at 730–32. However, there are limitations as to when a federal court should
21 invoke procedural default and refuse to review a claim because a petitioner violated a state’s
22 procedural rules. Procedural default can only block a claim in federal court if the state court
23 “clearly and expressly states that its judgment rests on a state procedural bar.” Harris v. Reed,
24 489 U.S. 255, 263 (1989).
The claims regarding the denial of a new trial and prosecutorial misconduct were raised
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Page numbers refer to the ECF page numbers stamped at the top of the page.
The Court notes that in the first ground for relief, Petitioner also refers to juror confusion over instructions and the
trial court’s refusal to allow the defense to use Elizabeth Tapia’s criminal background, as reflected in the California
Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (“CLETS”) report, for impeachment purposes. (ECF No. 1 at 15–16).
The Court will address those issues in sections IV(B) and IV(C), infra.
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1 in all of Petitioner’s state habeas petitions. The Fresno County Superior Court denied relief on
2 procedural grounds in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The California Court of Appeal and
3 California Supreme Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs 23, 25). In determining whether
4 a state procedural ruling bars federal review, the Court looks to the “last reasoned opinion on the
5 claim.” Ylst, 501 U.S. at 804. Therefore, the Court will “look through” the California Court of
6 Appeal and California Supreme Court’s summary denials and examine the decision of the Fresno
7 County Superior Court. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
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In denying habeas relief on these claims, along with five other claims, the Fresno County
9 Superior Court stated:
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Initially, the Court notes that Petitioner has attached a proof of service indicating
that she served her petition by mail on the Fresno Superior Court and the Office
of the Attorney General. However, as a party to the action, Petitioner cannot
properly serve her petition for writ of habeas corpus. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1013a,
subd. (1).) Furthermore, Petitioner has failed to attach a proof of service of her
petition on the Office of the District Attorney of Madera County, where she is
currently confined. Consequently, Petitioner has failed to attach a proper proof of
service of her petition for writ of habeas corpus. (Pen. Code, § 1475.)
Nevertheless, even had she attached a proper proof of service, the Court finds that
Petitioner has failed to state a prima facie case for relief. With respect to her first
seven contentions, the Court finds that Petitioner has failed to present any
justification for her failure to raise these issues on appeal.
The general rule is that habeas corpus cannot serve as a substitute
for an appeal, and, in the absence of special circumstances
constituting an excuse for failure to employ that remedy, the writ
will not lie where the claimed errors could have been, but were not,
raised upon a timely appeal from a judgment of conviction.
(In re Dixon (1953) 41 Cal. 2d 756, 759; see In re Harris (1993) 5 Cal. 4th 813,
829.) Therefore, since Petitioner’s contentions could have been raised on appeal
and Petitioner has not demonstrated an exception to the general rule, the Court
finds that Petitioner has failed to present a viable claim for habeas corpus relief
with respect to her first seven claims.
23 (LD 21 at 2–3).
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The Fresno County Superior Court clearly and expressly stated that its decision rests on a
25 state procedural bar, the Dixon rule, which the Supreme Court has recognized as “adequate to
26 bar federal habeas review.” Johnson v. Lee, 136 S. Ct. 1802, 1806 (2016). Accordingly, the
27 Court finds that the Fresno County Superior Court applied an independent and adequate state
28 procedural rule, and Petitioner has procedurally defaulted these claims. A petitioner, however,
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1 may obtain federal review of a defaulted claim by demonstrating either “(1) ‘cause for the
2 default and actual prejudice as a result of the alleged violation of federal law,’ or (2) ‘that failure
3 to consider the claims will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.’” Jones v. Ryan, 691
4 F.3d 1093, 1101 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Coleman, 501 U.S. at 750)). Here, Petitioner has not
5 shown cause for the default and prejudice or that failure to consider the claims will result in a
6 fundamental miscarriage of justice. In any event, the claims fail on the merits, as discussed
7 below.
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2. Denial of Motion for New Trial
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Petitioner appears to argue that the trial court erred when it when it denied a defense
10 motion for a new trial, which was based on a juror’s note regarding the jury foreman’s conduct
11 during deliberations. (ECF No. 1 at 15). However, “not every incident of juror misconduct
12 requires a new trial. ‘The test is whether or not the misconduct has prejudiced the defendant to
13 the extent that he has not received a fair trial.’” Anderson v. Calderon, 232 F.3d 1053, 1098 (9th
14 Cir. 2000) (quoting United States v. Klee, 494 F.2d 394, 396 (9th Cir. 1974)), overruled on other
15 grounds by Osband v. Woodford, 290 F.3d 1036, 1043 (9th Cir. 2002).
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Here, before the jury reached a verdict, Juror Number 4 wrote a note to the trial court
17 stating:
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I don’t feel that our foreman is giving the group a fair chance to
speak out opinions or decisions. Not all jurors are in agreement
with the questions the foreman is asking. Some of us are feeling
rushed into having to make a decision because our foreman wants
a verdict today!
21 (CT 212). The trial court read the note to the attorneys and stated, “I simply want to tell [the
22 jurors] there’s no rush, please respect—and I’ll reread the instructions—please respect each other
23 and take all the time individually that you feel is necessary. Each of you must independently
24 weigh the evidence and reach a verdict for yourselves.” (7 RT 1128). The court then called out
25 the jury and issued the following instruction:
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In response to the second note, I’m reading and emphasizing this
further portion of the jury instruction, but when I say emphasize, I
don’t mean that is more important than any jury instruction.
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It is your duty to talk with one another and to deliberate in the jury
room. You should try to agree on a verdict if you can. Each of you
must decide the case for yourself, but only after you have
discussed the evidence with the other jurors. Do not hesitate to
change your mind if you become convinced that you are wrong,
but do not change your mind just because other jurors disagree
with you. Keep an open mind and openly exchange your thoughts
and ideas about this case. Stating your opinions too strongly at the
beginning or immediately announcing how you plan to vote may
interfere with an open discussion. Please treat one another
courteously. Your role is to be an impartial judge of facts, not to
act as an advocate for one side or the another [sic].
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Simply put, there’s no time limit on your deliberations.
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9 (7 RT 1130).
After the verdict was returned, the court polled the jury and found the verdict was
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11 unanimous. (7 RT 1133–36). Thereafter, Petitioner joined in her codefendant’s motion for new
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12 trial. (Supp. CT 9–17; 11 RT 1501–02). The trial court denied the motion, reasoning:
The note does not indicate anything more than what appears to be
perhaps extensive deliberation, as well as deliberation that were
not affected by, but were made part of what one juror said “some
frustration.” There didn’t appears to be anything in the note that is
unusual. There didn’t appear anything in the note that is anything
beyond what one would expect in deliberations. After the note was
red [sic], the Court brought the jurors in, cautioned them. It read a
jury instruction that is contained in the transcript.
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After that note, there were no follow-up notes. There was no
request from the jurors for any additional guidance. No further
expressions of frustration or any type of undue force or any other
type of emotion from the jury room. Therefore, I find it is not a
sufficient showing for either the jury disclosure information. There
is simply nothing to show that there is any misconduct rising to a
prima facia showing or for motion for a new trial. On the same
basis, each of those motions are denied.
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For those reasons, as I said, the Court previously addressed these
issues. I have no reason to believe any further followup is
necessary. There is simply nothing to indicate there is any
misconduct based upon the information provided. Those motions
are denied; therefore, we’ll proceed to sentencing today.
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25 (11 RT 1503–04).
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“Supp. CT” refers to the Supplemental Clerk’s Transcript on Appeal lodged as Document Number 3 by
28 Respondent on October 19, 2015. (ECF No. 20).
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“A jury is presumed to follow its instructions,” and Petitioner has failed to overcome this
2 presumption. Weeks v. Angelone, 528 U.S. 225, 234 (2000) (citing Richardson v. Marsh, 481
3 U.S. 200, 211 (1987)). After receiving Juror Number 4’s note, the trial court reinstructed the jury
4 regarding its obligation to deliberate. As the trial court noted, there were no additional juror
5 notes or issues brought to the court’s attention after it addressed Juror Number 4’s note. Further,
6 the court polled the jury and confirmed the verdicts were unanimous. Petitioner has not
7 established that she was denied a fair trial. Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief
8 on the ground that the trial court erroneously denied the motion for new trial.
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3. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Petitioner asserts that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct at the sentencing hearing
11 when the prosecutor stated that “Petitioner is the poster child for the Three Strikes Law.” (ECF
12 No. 1 at 16). A prosecutor’s improper comments violate the Constitution if they “so infected the
13 trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.” Darden v.
14 Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168, 181 (1986) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Donnelly v.
15 DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974)). As “the appropriate standard of review for such a
16 claim on writ of habeas corpus is ‘the narrow one of due process, and not the broad exercise of
17 supervisory power,’” it “is not enough that the prosecutors’ remarks were undesirable or even
18 universally condemned.” Darden, 477 U.S. at 181 (citations omitted). The Supreme Court has
19 instructed that “remarks must be examined within the context of the trial to determine whether
20 the prosecutor’s behavior amounted to prejudicial error.” United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 12
21 (1985).
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The statement at issue occurred during the sentencing hearing in regard to whether the
23 court should exercise its discretion to strike a prior strike conviction. The prosecutor stated in
24 pertinent part:
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The People strongly oppose any Romero against Ms. Dawson in
this case. I note the first of her two convictions are both robberies.
Yes, they are 1992 and 1993. Yes, they are long time ago;
however, in 1994, when she picked up her third felony conviction,
the 11352, she was sentenced to 25 years to life on that case. Only
on appeal, did that case come back. She was actually given a
chance at probation on that case after the appeal. She blew that
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chance on probation and was ultimately sentenced to ten years in
prison.
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She did not get out of prison, Your Honor, until 2007. So despite
the fact that those cases are long ago, she is only been free from
prison since 2007. In that case, that is because she timed out on
those offenses. Now, in 2011, she picked up another robbery. This
is, again, a serious and violent case. You heard the testimony. She
picked up this woman’s child and threated [sic] her for money.
I take this case very seriously. And, frankly, I think it would be an
abuse of Your Honor’s discretion to strike a strike in this case. She
is the poster child for the three-strikes law. She is by definition—
statutory definition a career criminal. In this case, Your Honor, I
believe the full 25 to life, plus the 10 year enhancement, plus the
one year for 36 to life as recommended by the probation
department is appropriate.
10 (11 RT 1518–19).
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Petitioner has not established that the prosecutor’s comment amounted to a denial of
12 Petitioner’s right to a fair trial. “The California Supreme Court has ruled that for a trial court to
13 depart from the sentencing scheme of the ‘Three Strikes’ law, ‘the defendant [must] be deemed
14 [to be] outside the scheme’s spirit, in whole or in part,’ in light of ‘the particulars of his
15 background, character, and prospects’ and the nature and circumstances of his present felonies
16 and strikes.” People v. Strong, 87 Cal. App. 4th 328, 331 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001) (quoting People v.
17 Williams, 17 Cal. 4th 148, 161 (Cal. 1998)). Therefore, it was appropriate for the prosecutor to
18 address whether Petitioner was inside or outside the spirit of the Three Strikes Law, and as noted
19 by Respondent, “[b]y arguing that Petitioner was the poster child of the Three Strikes Law, the
20 prosecutor was necessarily arguing that Petitioner did not fall outside the spirit of the Three
21 Strikes Law.” (ECF No. 16 at 39).
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Further, Petitioner has not established that she was prejudiced by the prosecutor’s
23 comment. The trial court explicitly stated the reasoning for Petitioner’s sentence: “The one thing
24 that I, frankly, did not take into account that [the prosecutor] highlighted was the defendant’s
25 behavior after getting released on the 25-to-life, and then a subsequent violation of parole. So for
26 those reasons, I will not Romero the prior, but I will not give 36 to life either.” (11 RT 1521).
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Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief based on prosecutorial misconduct
28 for the comment that Petitioner was the poster child for the Three Strikes Law.
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B. Third Ground for Relief
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In her third ground for relief, Petitioner asserts various claims related to Elizabeth Tapia,
3 the victim and a prosecution witness, and Tapia’s criminal background. (ECF No. 1 at 5).
4 Petitioner appears to argue: (1) a violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963); (2) the
5 trial court’s erroneous refusal to allow the defense to impeach Tapia with her California Law
6 Enforcement Telecommunication System (“CLETS”) report; and (3) prosecutorial misconduct
7 based on use of perjured testimony. (ECF No. 1 at 18). Respondent contends Petitioner’s claim,
8 as it appears in her federal petition, is not exhausted; the state court reasonably rejected the
9 Brady claim as it was presented in state court; and in any event, Petitioner is not entitled to
10 habeas relief on the ground that the trial court erred in refusing to allow the defense to impeach
11 the victim with her criminal background. (ECF No. 16 at 47–51).
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1. Exhaustion
13
A petitioner in state custody who is proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas corpus
14 must exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). The exhaustion doctrine is based
15 on comity to the state court and gives the state court the initial opportunity to correct the state’s
16 alleged constitutional deprivations. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991); Rose v.
17 Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 518 (1982). A petitioner can satisfy the exhaustion requirement by
18 providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to consider each claim before
19 presenting it to the federal court. O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999); Duncan v.
20 Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971). To provide the
21 highest state court the necessary opportunity, the petitioner must “fairly present” the claim with
22 “reference to a specific federal constitutional guarantee, as well as a statement of the facts that
23 entitle the petitioner to relief.” Duncan, 513 U.S. at 365; Gray v. Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 162–
24 63 (1996). See also Davis v. Silva, 511 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir. 2008) (“Fair presentation
25 requires that the petitioner ‘describe in the state proceedings both the operative facts and the
26 federal legal theory on which his claim is based so that the state courts have a “fair opportunity”
27 to apply controlling legal principles to the facts bearing upon his constitutional claim.’”)
28 (citations omitted).
12
1
Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the California Supreme Court that asserted a
2 Brady violation with respect to Tapia’s CLETS report. Petitioner argued that the jury should
3 have had knowledge of Tapia’s CLETS report in order to fairly weigh her testimony. (LD 24). In
4 the section for “Supporting cases, rules, or other authority,” Petitioner listed, inter alia, the
5 Fourteenth Amendment and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). (LD 24).
6
Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Petitioner’s Brady claim and due process
7 claim regarding the trial court’s refusal to allow the defense to impeach Tapia with her CLETS
8 report were fairly presented to the California Supreme Court, and thus, are exhausted. On the
9 other hand, Petitioner’s prosecutorial misconduct claim is unexhausted. Regardless, pursuant to
10 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2), the Court may deny an unexhausted claim on the merits “when it is
11 perfectly clear that the [petitioner] does not raise even a colorable federal claim.” Cassett v.
12 Stewart, 406 F.3d 614, 624 (9th Cir. 2005) (adopting the standard set forth in Granberry v. Greer,
13 481 U.S. 129, 135 (1987)).
14
2. Brady Violation
15
The Brady claim was raised in all of Petitioner’s state habeas petitions. The Fresno
16 County Superior Court denied relief in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The California Court of
17 Appeal and California Supreme Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs 23, 25). As federal
18 courts review the last reasoned state court opinion, the Court will “look through” the summary
19 denial and examine the decision of the California Court of Appeal. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at
20 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
21
In denying the Brady claim, the Fresno County Superior Court stated:
22
Tenth, Petitioner argues that the prosecution’s failure to investigate the victim’s
criminal history as reflected in the victim’s CLETS report violated Brady v.
Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83. In support of this contention, Petitioner argues that
the victim’s CLETS report would have contradicted the victim’s assertion that she
had never had contact with law enforcement thereby undermining the victim’s
credibility at trial.
23
24
25
26
27
28
Under Brady and its progeny, the prosecution has a Fourteenth Amendment duty
to disclose to a criminal defendant all evidence that is favorable to the defendant,
that is material either to guilt or punishment, and that is in the possession of the
prosecutor or an investigative agency to which the prosecutor has reasonable
access. (In re Sassounian (1995) 9 Cal.4th 535, 543–45; People v. Kasim (1997)
56 Cal.App.4th 1360, 1379–80.) However, evidence is not suppressed in violation
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
of Brady, “unless the defendant was actually unaware of it and could not have
discovered it ‘by the exercise of reasonable diligence.’” (People v. Salazar (2005)
35 Cal.4th 1031, 1049.) Additionally, the prosecution has “no general duty to seek
out, obtain, and disclose all evidence that might be beneficial to the defense.”
(Ibid.) Furthermore, a Brady violation only occurs if there is a reasonable
probability that the outcome of the criminal proceeding would have been different
had the evidence been disclosed to the defense. (Ibid. at p. 1050.)
In the present case, the Court finds that Petitioner has failed to establish that the
prosecution was under any obligation under Brady to conduct a further
investigation of the victim’s criminal record as reflected in the victim’s CLETS
report. In addition, Petitioner has failed to establish either that she was unaware of
the information contained in the victim’s CLETS report or that there is a
reasonable probability that the result of her criminal proceeding would have been
any different had the prosecution provided this information to her. Therefore,
Petitioner has failed to establish a viable claim for habeas corpus relief with
respect to her tenth contention.
10 (LD 21 at 5–6).
11
A defendant has a constitutionally protected privilege to request and obtain from the
12 prosecution evidence that is either material to the guilt of the defendant or relevant to the
13 punishment to be imposed. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87. Even in the absence of a specific request, the
14 prosecution has a constitutional duty to turn over exculpatory evidence that would raise a
15 reasonable doubt about the defendant’s guilt. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 112 (1976).
16 The duty to disclose under Brady also extends to evidence that the defense might use to impeach
17 prosecution witnesses. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676 (1985). “[E]vidence is
18 material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the
19 defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 682. “A reasonable
20 probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id.
21
To establish that a Brady violation undermines a conviction, Petitioner must show: “(1)
22 the evidence at issue is ‘favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory, or because it is
23 impeaching’; (2) the State suppressed the evidence, ‘either willfully or inadvertently’; and (3)
24 ‘prejudice . . . ensued.’” Skinner v. Switzer, 562 U.S. 521, 536 (2011) (quoting Strickler v.
25 Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281–82 (1999)). “In determining whether evidence has been suppressed
26 for purposes of Brady, our court has asked whether the defendant ‘has enough information to be
27 able to ascertain the supposed Brady material on his own.’ If so, there’s no Brady violation.”
28 Milke v. Ryan, 711 F.3d 998, 1017 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Aichele, 941 F.2d
14
1 761, 764 (9th Cir. 1991)). However, if “a defendant doesn’t have enough information to find the
2 Brady material with reasonable diligence, the state’s failure to produce the evidence is
3 considered suppression.” Milke, 711 F.3d at 1018.
4
The record establishes that defense counsel was provided with Elizabeth Tapia’s CLETS
5 report, which had information regarding Tapia’s previous contacts with law enforcement. (2 RT
6 135–41). Tapia had been arrested for a misdemeanor theft, but the CLETS report did not specify
7 if that arrest resulted in a conviction. Therefore, the defense had enough information to be able to
8 ascertain the supposed Brady material on its own, and there was no Brady violation. As the state
9 court noted, the prosecution did not have a duty under Brady to conduct further investigation of
10 the victim’s criminal record as reflected in the report.
11
Thus, the Court finds that the state court’s rejection of Petitioner’s Brady claim was not
12 contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, nor was it based
13 on an unreasonable determination of fact. The state court’s decision was not “so lacking in
14 justification that there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond
15 any possibility for fairminded disagreement.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 103. Accordingly, Petitioner is
16 not entitled to habeas relief on her Brady claim.
17
3. Due Process
18
Petitioner asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to allow the defense to impeach
19 Tapia with her CLETS report, in violation of due process. (ECF No. 1 at 16, 18). This claim was
20 raised in Petitioner’s state habeas petition that was summarily denied by the California Supreme
21 Court. (LDs 24, 25). Here, there was no reasoned opinion on the due process claim, and the
22 Court presumes that the claim was adjudicated on the merits. See Richter, 562 U.S. at 99 (“When
23 a federal claim has been presented to a state court and the state court has denied relief, it may be
24 presumed that the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication
25 or state-law procedural principles to the contrary.”). Accordingly, the Court must review the state
26 court record and “must determine what arguments or theories . . . could have supported, the state
27 court’s decision; and then [the Court] must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists could
28 disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior decision of
15
1 [the Supreme] Court.” Id. at 102.
2
“Whether rooted directly in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, or in
3 the Compulsory Process or Confrontation clauses of the Sixth Amendment, the Constitution
4 guarantees criminal defendants ‘a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.’” Crane
5 v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 690 (1986) (citations omitted) (quoting California v. Trombetta, 467
6 U.S. 479, 485 (1984)). However, a “defendant’s right to present relevant evidence is not
7 unlimited,” and “state and federal rulemakers have broad latitude under the Constitution to
8 establish rules excluding evidence from criminal trials. Such rules do not abridge an accused’s
9 right to present a defense so long as they are not ‘arbitrary’ or ‘disproportionate to the purposes
10 they are designed to serve.’” United States v. Scheffer, 523 U.S. 303, 308 (1998) (quoting Rock
11 v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 56 (1987)). The Supreme Court “[o]nly rarely ha[s] . . . held that the
12 right to present a complete defense was violated by the exclusion of defense evidence under a
13 state rule of evidence.” Nevada v. Jackson, 569 U.S. 505, 509 (2013) (per curiam).
14
In Nevada v. Jackson, a prisoner challenged the exclusion, at trial, of evidence “showing
15 that the rape victim previously reported that he had assaulted her but that the police had been
16 unable to substantiate those allegations” based on a “state statute that generally precludes the
17 admission of extrinsic evidence of ‘[s]pecific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the
18 purpose of attacking or supporting the witness’s credibility, other than conviction of crime.’”
19 Jackson, 569 U.S. at 506, 509 (citing Nev. Rev. Stat. § 50.085(3) (2011)). The Supreme Court
20 recognized that the Nevada statute was analogous “to the widely accepted rule of evidentiary law
21 that generally precludes the admission of evidence of specific instances of a witness’ conduct to
22 prove the witness’ character for untruthfulness,” and declared that “[t]he constitutional propriety
23 of this rule cannot be seriously disputed.” Id. at 510 (citations omitted). The Supreme Court
24 stated:
25
26
27
28
The admission of extrinsic evidence of specific instances of a
witness’ conduct to impeach the witness’ credibility may confuse
the jury, unfairly embarrass the victim, surprise the prosecution,
and unduly prolong the trial. No decision of this Court clearly
establishes that the exclusion of such evidence for such reasons in
a particular case violates the Constitution.
16
1 Jackson, 569 U.S. at 511. The Court also asserted that it “has never held that the Confrontation
2 Clause entitles a criminal defendant to introduce extrinsic evidence for impeachment purposes.”
3 Id. at 512.
4
Based on Jackson, the Court finds that the state court’s denial of Petitioner’s due process
5 claim with respect to the exclusion of Tapia’s CLETS report for impeachment purposes was not
6 contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, nor was it based
7 on an unreasonable determination of fact. The decision was not “so lacking in justification that
8 there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for
9 fairminded disagreement.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 103. Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to
10 habeas relief on this ground.
11
4. Prosecutorial Misconduct
12
The prosecution’s knowing use of perjured testimony to obtain a conviction can violate
13 due process. Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269 (1959). “Under this clearly established
14 Supreme Court precedent, the petitioner must show that (1) the testimony (or evidence) was
15 actually false, (2) the prosecution knew or should have known that the testimony was actually
16 false, and (3) that the false testimony was material.” Soto v. Ryan, 760 F.3d 947, 958 (9th Cir.
17 2014). In assessing materiality, the Court must determine whether “there is ‘any reasonable
18 likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.’” Id. (quoting
19 Hayes v. Brown, 399 F.3d 972, 978 (9th Cir. 2005)).
20
Here, Petitioner does not establish that Elizabeth Tapia’s testimony was actually false.
21 Rather, Petitioner merely asserts that Tapia was “an admitted liar” with “a questionable past and
22 harboring a strong dislike for African Americans” and notes, without elaboration, “the numerous
23 inconsistencies in Tapia’s testimony.” (ECF No. 1 at 18). As it is “perfectly clear” that Petitioner
24 does not raise a colorable prosecutorial misconduct claim with respect to the alleged knowing
25 use of perjured testimony, the Court may deny the claim on the merits pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
26 2254(b)(2).
27
C. Instructional Error
28
In her first and fourth grounds for relief, Petitioner asserts errors with respect to the
17
1 instructions given to the jurors. Petitioner contends that the trial court erred in giving instructions
2 that confused the jury. Specifically, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in failing to give an
3 instruction on unanimity. (ECF No. 1 at 15, 19). Respondent contends that: Petitioner’s
4 instructional error claim is not cognizable in federal habeas; this Court is precluded from
5 reaching the merits of the claim because the state court imposed a procedural bar; the claim is
6 barred pursuant to Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, 299–316 (1989); and in any event, the claim
7 fails on the merits. (ECF No. 16 at 25).
8
1. Procedural Default
9
A federal court will not review a petitioner’s claims if the state court has denied relief on
10 those claims pursuant to a state law procedural ground that is independent of federal law and
11 adequate to support the judgment. Coleman, 501 U.S. at 729–30. The instructional error claim
12 was raised in all of Petitioner’s state habeas petitions. The Fresno County Superior Court denied
13 relief on procedural grounds in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The California Court of Appeal
14 and California Supreme Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs 23, 25). In determining
15 whether a state procedural ruling bars federal review, the Court looks to the “last reasoned
16 opinion on the claim.” Ylst, 501 U.S. at 804. Therefore, the Court will “look through” the
17 California Supreme Court’s summary denials and examine the decision of the Fresno County
18 Superior Court. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
19
As discussed in section IV(A)(1), supra, the Fresno County Superior Court clearly and
20 expressly stated that its decision rests on a state procedural bar, the Dixon rule, which the
21 Supreme Court has recognized as “adequate to bar federal habeas review.” Lee, 136 S. Ct. at
22 1806. As the Fresno County Superior Court applied an independent and adequate state
23 procedural rule, Petitioner has procedurally defaulted the instructional error claim. Further,
24 Petitioner has not shown cause for the default and prejudice or that failure to consider the claim
25 will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice. In any event, the claim fails on the merits, as
26 discussed below.
27
2. Analysis
28
Petitioner asserts that the trial court gave instructions that confused the jury and
18
1 specifically contends that the court should have given an instruction on unanimity. An
2 “unanimity instruction is appropriate ‘when conviction on a single count could be based on two
3 or more discrete criminal events,’ but not ‘where multiple theories or acts may form the basis of
4 a guilty verdict on one discrete criminal event.’” People v. Russo, 25 Cal. 4th 1124, 1135 (Cal.
5 2001) (quoting People v. Perez, 21 Cal. App. 4th 214, 223 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993)). As there were
6 not two or more discrete criminal events at issue in Petitioner’s case, an unanimity instruction
7 would not have been appropriate. Instead, this Court construes Petitioner’s argument to be that
8 the trial court should have given an instruction or clarified to the jury that the verdicts of
9 Petitioner and her codefendant must match. See Allen v. Calderon, 408 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir.
10 2005) (citing Maleng v. Cook, 490 U.S. 488 (1989)) (“[T]he district court must construe pro se
11 habeas filings liberally.”).
12
“[T]he fact that [an] instruction was allegedly incorrect under state law is not a basis for
13 habeas relief.” Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 71–72 (1991). A federal court’s inquiry on
14 habeas review is not whether the challenged instruction “is undesirable, erroneous, or even
15 ‘universally condemned,’” “but rather whether the ailing instruction by itself so infected the
16 entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due process.” Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141,
17 146, 147 (1973). “[N]ot every ambiguity, inconsistency, or deficiency in a jury instruction rises
18 to the level of a due process violation.” Middleton v. McNeil, 541 U.S. 433, 437 (2004). “It is
19 well established that the [ailing] instruction ‘may not be judged in artificial isolation,’ but must
20 be considered in the context of the instructions as a whole and the trial record.” Estelle, 502 U.S.
21 at 72 (quoting Cupp, 414 U.S. at 147). This instructional error standard also applies to
22 ambiguous and omitted instructions. Murtishaw v. Woodford, 255 F.3d 926, 971 (9th Cir. 2001).
23 The Supreme Court has stated that “[t]he significance of the omission of . . . an instruction may
24 be evaluated by comparison with the instructions that were given.” Henderson v. Kibbe, 431
25 U.S. 145, 156 (1977). The Supreme Court also noted that an “omission, or an incomplete
26 instruction, is less likely to be prejudicial than a misstatement of the law.” Id. at 155.
27
In the instant case, the trial court correctly instructed that the jury consider the evidence
28 and charges for each defendant separately. California courts have held such an instruction is
19
1 required, noting “[i]t is fundamental that when more than one defendant is prosecuted in an
2 action, the jury must consider separately the guilt or innocence of each defendant. This is a
3 general principle of law openly and closely connected with the facts of any case involving
4 multiple defendants.” People v. Mask, 188 Cal. App. 3d 450, 457 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986). See
5 Bradshaw v. Richey, 546 U.S. 74, 76 (2005) (“[A] state court’s interpretation of state law . . .
6 binds a federal court sitting in habeas corpus.”). Petitioner is not entitled to the same verdict as
7 her codefendant, and verdicts that treat codefendants in a joint trial inconsistently are not a
8 sufficient reason for setting aside said verdicts. Harris v. Rivera, 454 U.S. 339, 345 (1981)
9 (citing United States v. Dotterweich, 320 U.S. 277, 279 (1943)). Accordingly, Petitioner is not
10 entitled to habeas relief based on instructional error.
11
D. Sentencing Errors
12
In her fifth ground for relief, Petitioner asserts errors with respect to her sentence.
13 Petitioner contends that: (1) the trial court illegally enhanced her sentence by considering her
14 prior 1991, 1992, 1994 convictions and 2007 parole violation; (2) the trial court exceeded its
15 authority by sentencing Petitioner to an additional ten-year enhancement with the same facts that
16 were used to increase her sentence pursuant to the Three Strikes Law; and (3) that the state court
17 violated Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), by erroneously using information outside
18 the record. (ECF No. 1 at 6, 20). Respondent argues that: a sentencing error claim is not
19 cognizable in federal habeas; this Court is precluded from reaching the merits of Petitioner’s
20 claim because the state court imposed a procedural bar; and in any event, the Apprendi claim
21 fails on the merits. (ECF No. 16 at 52–54).
22
1. Use of Prior Convictions
23
Petitioner’s challenge regarding the use of her prior convictions to enhance her sentence
24 was raised on direct appeal to the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, which
25 denied the claim in a reasoned decision. The California Supreme Court summarily denied the
26 petition for review. As federal courts review the last reasoned state court opinion, the Court will
27 “look through” the California Supreme Court’s summary denial and examine the decision of the
28 California Court of Appeal. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
20
In denying Petitioner’s challenge to the trial court declining to strike a prior felony
1
2 conviction, the California Court of Appeal stated:
3
Additional Factual Background
Appellant was 42 years old at the time of sentencing. Prior to the instant case, she
had suffered three prior felony convictions. The first was a strike conviction for
second degree robbery in December 1992. She was initially placed on probation,
which she subsequently violated. Her second conviction was also for second
degree robbery, in May 1993. She was sentenced to prison on both counts in May
1993.
4
5
6
7
In May 1995, appellant was convicted of violating Health and Safety Code
section 11352 and, initially, sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under the three
strikes law. Thereafter, it appears, appellant appealed, the sentence was vacated
and on remand, in February 1997, the court granted a Romero motion. At that
point, appellant was not immediately resentenced. Rather, according to the RPO,
she was released “to complete Walden House.” In February 1998, a bench warrant
was issued based on a failure to appear, and in June 1998 appellant was sentenced
to 10 years in prison.
8
9
10
11
Subsequently, appellant was apparently released on parole, and in January 2007,
according to the RPO, she violated parole and was returned to prison “To Finish
[her] Term.” At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor stated appellant was
released from prison in 2007.
12
13
14
The report of the probation officer states appellant told the officer the following.
She “suffer[s] from an addiction to crack cocaine.” Cocaine “became a problem
for her in 1990”; she “used until the end of 1992”; and she did not use cocaine
again until August 2011, when her doctor told her she had six months to live. At
that point, she used crack cocaine “for three weeks straight” and then “stopped
completely” in September 2011. She obtained her GED in 2004, and from 2008 to
2010 attended classes at Fresno City College. Before she was arrested for the
instant offense she “volunteered at the Economic Opportunities Commission as a
life changing skill teacher,” “[s]he was a sponsor at meetings, she participated in
‘Bring Neighborhoods Back Together,’ she was a motivational speaker, ... she ran
a toy drive,” and she “engaged in various other volunteer activities.”
15
16
17
18
19
20
Romero Motion
Near the outset of the sentencing hearing, the court, noting that appellant had
made a Romero motion and that each of appellant’s strikes is “essentially 20 years
old,” stated its “tentative” decision was to strike one of appellant’s strikes and
impose a prison term of 21 years, consisting of 5 years on the robbery, doubled
under the three strikes law for a total of 10 years, 5 years on each of the section
667(a) enhancements and 1 year on the section 667.5, subdivision (b) prior prison
term enhancement.9
21
22
23
24
The prosecutor urged the court to deny the Romero motion and impose a prison
sentence of 36 years to life, consisting of 25 years to life on the instant offense,
plus 5 years on each of the two prior serious felony enhancements and 1 year on
25
26
27
28
9
The two section 667.5, subdivision (a) enhancements were based on the same prior convictions as the two section
667(a) enhancements, and therefore could not be imposed. (People v. Jones (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1142, 1150
[enhancements under §§ 667(a) and 667.5, subd. (b) cannot be applied to same prior offense].)
21
the section 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement. The prosecutor conceded that
appellant’s strike convictions occurred “a long time ago” but noted that appellant
committed another felony in 1994, received probation for that offense but “blew
that chance on probation,” was “ultimately sentenced to ten years in prison,” and
“[has] only been free from prison since 2007.”
1
2
3
The court stated that in arriving at its tentative decision, it had not “take[n] into
account” appellant’s violation of probation following her third felony conviction.
The court then stated it would deny the Romero motion, but it would strike the
two prior serious felony enhancements and the three prior prison term
enhancements and impose a term of 25 years to life. The court explained that a
sentence of 36 years to life would not be “necessary” and that 25 years to life
would be a “sufficient sentence.” The court noted appellant’s age—42—and,
alluding to how old she would be “[a]fter serving now 25 to life in prison,” stated
that “almost every study ever done on this indicates” that “[a person in his or her]
60’s is essentially not a criminal threat.”
4
5
6
7
8
9
15
At that point the prosecutor interjected that the court did not have the power to
strike either of the prior serious felony enhancements.10 Shortly thereafter, the
court stated, “I have already indicated on the record the reasons not to [grant the
Romero motion]. I’m not going to go back and relitigate this.” The court further
stated, “The only reason I am not striking the [prior serious felony enhancements]
is because apparently I have no discretion to do so.” The court then imposed the
sentence of 25 years to life on the substantive offense and 5 years on each of the
prior serious felony enhancements. The court explained further: “I want the record
to be clear that [appellant’s] conduct in this case was extreme. She grabbed a
child. She held a child out in traffic. I have every reason to believe the victim that
that is exactly what happened.... I think [appellant] knew exactly what she was
doing.”
16
DISCUSSION
17
Legal Background
A trial court has discretion to strike a prior felony conviction “in furtherance of
justice.” (§ 1385, subd. (a); People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148, 161
(Williams).) In Williams, the California Supreme Court set forth the factors
relevant to a trial court’s determination of whether to do so, and to an appellate
court’s review of such a ruling: “[T]he court in question must consider whether, in
light of the nature and circumstances of his present felonies and prior serious
and/or violent felony convictions, and the particulars of his background,
character, and prospects, the defendant may be deemed outside the scheme’s
spirit, in whole or in part, and hence should be treated as though he had not
previously been convicted of one or more serious and/or violent felonies.” (Id. at
p. 161.)
10
11
12
13
14
18
19
20
21
22
23
A superior court’s determination not to strike a strike is reviewable for abuse of
discretion. (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 376 (Carmony).) “In
[conducting this review], we are guided by two fundamental precepts. First, ‘
“[t]he burden is on the party attacking the sentence to clearly show that the
sentencing decision was irrational or arbitrary. [Citation.] In the absence of such a
showing, the trial court is presumed to have acted to achieve legitimate sentencing
objectives, and its discretionary determination to impose a particular sentence will
24
25
26
27
10
See section 1385, subdivision (b): “This section does not authorize a judge to strike any prior conviction of a
28 serious felony for purposes of enhancement of a sentence under section 667.”
22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
not be set aside on review.” ’ [Citation.] Second, a ‘ “decision will not be reversed
merely because reasonable people might disagree. ‘An appellate tribunal is
neither authorized nor warranted in substituting its judgment for the judgment of
the trial judge.’ ” ’ [Citation.] Taken together, these precepts establish that a trial
court does not abuse its discretion unless its decision is so irrational or arbitrary
that no reasonable person could agree with it.” (Id. at pp. 376–377.)
Thus, “ ‘[i]t is not enough to show that reasonable people might disagree about
whether to strike one or more’ prior conviction allegations.... Because the
circumstances must be ‘extraordinary ... by which a career criminal can be
deemed to fall outside the spirit of the very scheme within which he squarely falls
once he commits a strike as part of a long and continuous criminal record, the
continuation of which the law was meant to attack’ [citation], the circumstances
where no reasonable people could disagree that the criminal falls outside the spirit
of the three strikes scheme must be even more extraordinary. Of course, in such
an extraordinary case—where the relevant factors described in Williams, supra,
17 Cal.4th [at p. 161], manifestly support the striking of a prior conviction and no
reasonable minds could differ—the failure to strike would constitute an abuse of
discretion.” (Carmony, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 378.)
Contentions and Analysis
Appellant argues that the court abused its discretion in denying her Romero
motion. She bases this argument, in turn, on the following claims: She committed
the two strike offenses during a “short” and aberrant two-year period some 20
years earlier when she was in her early 20’s; in none of her three robberies did she
use a weapon or physically harm anyone; all of her offenses “appear to be tied to
drug addiction”; the court “fail[ed] to consider and give preponderant weight” to
“aspects of appellant's circumstances” that “showed she is capable of being
rehabilitated”; a sentence of 21 years, which the court could have imposed had it
struck one of appellant’s strikes, “would have been sufficiently harsh to punish
appellant for both the present crime as well as her recidivism”; had she received a
21–year sentence, appellant would have been released from prison when she was
just a few years beyond age 60, an age at which, according to the trial court, “she
would most likely no longer pose a criminal threat to society”; and the court’s
statement that it would have stricken both section 667(a) enhancements “shows
the court believed that a lesser sentence would have had a sufficient rehabilitative
effect and would have been sufficiently severe to serve as adequate punishment.”
Appellant’s challenge to the denial of her Romero motion is without merit.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
We note first that appellant understates the seriousness of the instant offense. As
the trial court noted, the instant offense was extremely serious. Although
appellant did not use a weapon or inflict bodily injury, her conduct was calculated
to terrify both the three-year-old victim and his mother, who could do nothing but
stand by while appellant explicitly threatened her child and reinforced that threat
by holding the boy out in the vicinity of onrushing traffic. (See People v. Ingram
(1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1397, 1415 (Ingram ), disapproved on another point in
People v. Dotson (1997) 16 Cal.4th 547, 559–560 [“Society's interest in deterring
criminal conduct or punishing criminals is not always determined by the presence
or absence of violence”].)
We acknowledge that appellant suffered her strike convictions nearly 20 years
before committing the instant offense. We also recognize that at one point during
the sentencing hearing before the court imposed the sentence of 35 years to life,
the court expressed the view that a sentence of 36 years to life was too severe
under the circumstances. But these factors, and the others cited by appellant, do
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2
3
4
5
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7
8
9
not establish that the instant case is the extraordinary one in which departure from
the three strikes law sentencing scheme is compelled. All three of appellant’s
felony convictions resulted in prison sentences, she has violated probation and
parole, and she had been free from prison for only approximately four to five
years before committing the instant serious felony. Thus, appellant has
demonstrated an inability to refrain from committing crimes despite past sanctions
and attempts to rehabilitate.
Appellant argues that the court gave insufficient weight to some factors and undue
weight to others. But as indicated above, appellant cannot prevail by showing that
reasonable people could disagree as how such factors should be balanced.
Although the record may indicate that this matter is within the range of cases as to
which the trial court had discretion under section 1385 to strike one of appellant’s
strikes, nothing in the record compels an exercise of that discretion, and it was not
irrational for the court to refuse to treat appellant as if she had not previously
suffered two strikes. Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in denying
appellant’s Romero motion.
10 Dawson, 2013 WL 3947818, at *2–5 (footnotes in original).
11
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in declining to strike one of Petitioner’s prior
12 convictions is an issue of state sentencing law that is not cognizable in federal habeas corpus.
13 See Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. 1, 5 (2010) (per curiam) (“[I]t is only noncompliance with
14 federal law that renders a State’s criminal judgment susceptible to collateral attack in the federal
15 courts.”); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67–68 (1991) (“[I]t is not the province of a federal
16 habeas court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions.”); Christian v.
17 Rhode, 41 F.3d 461, 469 (9th Cir. 1994) (“Absent a showing of fundamental unfairness, a state
18 court’s misapplication of its own sentencing laws does not justify federal habeas relief.”).
19 Petitioner may not “transform a state-law issue into a federal one merely by asserting a violation
20 of due process.” Langford v. Day, 110 F.3d 1380, 1389 (9th Cir. 1996).
21
Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on the ground that the trial court
22 erred in denying the request to strike one of Petitioner’s prior strike convictions.
23
2. Ten-Year Sentencing Enhancement
24
Petitioner asserts that the trial court exceeded its authority by imposing a ten-year
25 enhancement based on the same facts that were used to increase her sentence pursuant to the
26 Three Strikes Law. (ECF No. 1 at 20). In all of her state habeas petitions, Petitioner asserted that
27 she “did not meet criteria for 10 year enhancement.” (LDs 20, 22, 24). The Fresno County
28 Superior Court denied relief on procedural grounds in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The
24
1 California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs
2 23, 25). In determining whether a state procedural ruling bars federal review, the Court looks to
3 the “last reasoned opinion on the claim.” Ylst, 501 U.S. at 804. Therefore, the Court will “look
4 through” the California Supreme Court’s summary denials and examine the decision of the
5 Fresno County Superior Court. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
6
As discussed in section IV(A)(1), supra, the Fresno County Superior Court clearly and
7 expressly stated that its decision rests on a state procedural bar, the Dixon rule, which the
8 Supreme Court has recognized as “adequate to bar federal habeas review.” Lee, 136 S. Ct. at
9 1806. As the Fresno County Superior Court applied an independent and adequate state
10 procedural rule, Petitioner has procedurally defaulted this sentencing error claim. Further,
11 Petitioner has not shown cause for the default and prejudice or that failure to consider the claim
12 will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice. In any event, the claim fails on the merits.
13
Whether Petitioner met the criteria for the ten-year enhancement is an issue of state
14 sentencing law that is not cognizable in federal habeas corpus. See Corcoran, 562 U.S. at 5 (“[I]t
15 is only noncompliance with federal law that renders a State’s criminal judgment susceptible to
16 collateral attack in the federal courts.”); Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67–68 (“[I]t is not the province of a
17 federal habeas court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions.”); Christian,
18 41 F.3d at 469 (“Absent a showing of fundamental unfairness, a state court’s misapplication of
19 its own sentencing laws does not justify federal habeas relief.”).
20
To the extent Petitioner raises a double jeopardy claim with respect to imposing the ten-
21 year enhancement based on the same facts that were used to sentence Petitioner pursuant to the
22 Three Strikes Law, the Court finds Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief. The double jeopardy
23 protection against cumulative punishments “is designed to ensure that the sentencing discretion
24 is confined to the limits established by the legislature. Because the substantive power to
25 prescribe crimes and determine punishments is vested with the legislature, the question under the
26 Double Jeopardy Clause whether punishments are ‘multiple’ is essentially one of legislative
27 intent.” Ohio v. Johnson, 467 U.S. 493, 499 (1984) (citations omitted). California courts have
28 held that the dual use of prior convictions to impose five-year enhancements and an
25
1 indeterminate sentence under the Three Strikes Law is proper. Williams v. Walker, 461 F. App’x
2 550, 554 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing People v. Purata, 42 Cal. App. 4th 489, 498 (Cal. Ct. App.
3 1996)).
4
Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on the ground that the trial court
5 exceeded its authority by imposing a ten-year enhancement based on the same facts that were
6 used to increase her sentence pursuant to the Three Strikes Law.
7
3. Apprendi
8
Petitioner also asserts that the trial court violated Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466.
9 (ECF No. 1 at 6). This claim was raised in all of Petitioner’s state habeas petitions. The Fresno
10 County Superior Court denied relief on procedural grounds in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The
11 California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs
12 23, 25). As discussed in section IV(A)(1), supra, the Fresno County Superior Court clearly and
13 expressly stated that its decision rests on a state procedural bar, the Dixon rule, which the
14 Supreme Court has recognized as “adequate to bar federal habeas review.” Lee, 136 S. Ct. at
15 1806. As the Fresno County Superior Court applied an independent and adequate state
16 procedural rule, Petitioner has procedurally defaulted the Apprendi claim. Further, Petitioner has
17 not shown cause for the default and prejudice or that failure to consider the claim will result in a
18 fundamental miscarriage of justice. In any event, the claim fails on the merits.
19
In Apprendi, the Supreme Court held: “Other than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact
20 that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be
21 submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” 530 U.S. at 490 (emphasis added).
22 In the instant case, the increase in Petitioner’s sentence was based on her prior convictions, and
23 thus, there was no violation of Apprendi. Accordingly, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief
24 on this ground.
25
E. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
26
In her second ground for relief, Petitioner asserts that appellate counsel was ineffective
27 for filing a Wende brief rather than raising issues on appeal for review. (ECF No. 1 at 4, 17).
28 Respondent argues that Petitioner’s claim, as it appears in her federal petition, is not exhausted,
26
1 and that the state court reasonably rejected the ineffective assistance of counsel claim as it was
2 presented in state court. (ECF No. 16 at 41).
3
1. Exhaustion
4
A petitioner in state custody who is proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas corpus
5 must exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). A petitioner can satisfy the
6 exhaustion requirement by providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to
7 consider each claim before presenting it to the federal court. Boerckel, 526 U.S. at 845; Duncan,
8 513 U.S. at 365; Connor, 404 U.S. at 276. To provide the highest state court the necessary
9 opportunity, the petitioner must “fairly present” the claim with “reference to a specific federal
10 constitutional guarantee, as well as a statement of the facts that entitle the petitioner to relief.”
11 Duncan, 513 U.S. at 365; Gray, 518 U.S. at 162–63. See also Davis, 511 F.3d at 1009 (“Fair
12 presentation requires that the petitioner ‘describe in the state proceedings both the operative facts
13 and the federal legal theory on which his claim is based so that the state courts have a “fair
14 opportunity” to apply controlling legal principles to the facts bearing upon his constitutional
15 claim.’”) (citations omitted).
16
In the instant federal petition, Petitioner asserts ineffective assistance of appellate counsel
17 for filing a Wende brief and specifies the following problems with filing a Wende brief:
18
19
20
21
(1) It does not justice for anyone sentenced to a substantial amount
of time. (2) In this case, the appeal process means the difference
between dying in prison of old age or rec[e]iving a fair trial. (3)
Neglecting to address the cumulative effect of any harmless errors.
The severity of the sentence should have warranted additional
research into viable appeal issues.
22 (ECF No. 1 at 17). Petitioner also filed a state habeas petition in the California Supreme Court
23 that raised ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for submitting a Wende brief, but specified
24 failing to raise the following issues on appeal: (1) a juror’s note was grounds for a mistrial; (2)
25 improper jury instructions; (3) the discrepancy between Petitioner’s sentence and that of her
26 codefendant; and (4) Apprendi error. (LD 24).
27
The Ninth Circuit has recognized that a “claim has not been fairly presented in state court
28 if new factual allegations either ‘fundamentally alter the legal claim already considered by the
27
1 state courts,’ or ‘place the case in a significantly different and stronger evidentiary posture than it
2 was when the state courts considered it.’” Dickens v. Ryan, 740 F.3d 1302, 1318 (9th Cir. 2014)
3 (some citations omitted) (first quoting Vasquez v. Hillery, 474 U.S. 254, 260 (1986); then
4 quoting Aiken v. Spalding, 841 F.2d 881, 883 (9th Cir. 1988)). Here, the new allegations in the
5 federal petition do not fundamentally alter the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim or
6 place the case in a significantly different and stronger evidentiary posture. In fact, it appears to
7 the Court that Petitioner presented a more cogent claim to the California Supreme Court by
8 specifying the issues that Petitioner wished appellate counsel to raise on appeal. Accordingly, the
9 Court finds that Petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for submitting a
10 Wende brief was fairly presented to the California Supreme Court, and thus, is exhausted.
11
2. Strickland Legal Standard
12
The clearly established federal law governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims is
13 Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), which requires a petitioner to show that (1)
14 “counsel’s performance was deficient,” and (2) “the deficient performance prejudiced the
15 defense.” Id. at 687. To establish deficient performance, a petitioner must demonstrate that
16 “counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness” and “that counsel
17 made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the
18 defendant by the Sixth Amendment.” Id. at 688, 687. Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance
19 is highly deferential. A court indulges a “strong presumption” that counsel’s conduct falls within
20 the “wide range” of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 687. To establish prejudice, a
21 petitioner must demonstrate “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
22 errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a
23 probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. A court “asks whether
24 it is ‘reasonable likely’ the result would have been different. . . . The likelihood of a different
25 result must be substantial, not just conceivable.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 111–12 (citing Strickland,
26 466 U.S. at 696, 693).
27
When § 2254(d) applies, “[t]he pivotal question is whether the state court’s application of
28 the Strickland standard was unreasonable. This is different from asking whether defense
28
1 counsel’s performance fell below Strickland’s standard.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 101. Moreover,
2 because Strickland articulates “a general standard, a state court has even more latitude to
3 reasonably determine that a defendant has not satisfied that standard.” Knowles v. Mirzayance,
4 556 U.S. 111, 123 (2009) (citing Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)). “The
5 standards created by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both ‘highly deferential,’ and when the two
6 apply in tandem, review is ‘doubly’ so.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 105 (citations omitted). Thus, “for
7 claims of ineffective assistance of counsel . . . AEDPA review must be ‘doubly deferential’ in
8 order to afford ‘both the state court and the defense attorney the benefit of the doubt.’” Woods v.
9 Donald, 135 S. Ct. 1372, 1376 (2015) (quoting Burt v. Titlow, 134 S. Ct. 10, 13 (2013)). When
10 this “doubly deferential” judicial review applies, the appropriate inquiry is “whether there is any
11 reasonable argument that counsel satisfied Strickland’s deferential standard.” Richter, 562 U.S.
12 at 105.
13
3. Analysis
14
The claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for submitting a Wende brief was
15 raised in all of Petitioner’s state habeas petitions. The Fresno County Superior Court denied
16 relief in a reasoned decision. (LD 21). The California Court of Appeal and California Supreme
17 Court summarily denied the petitions. (LDs 23, 25). As federal courts review the last reasoned
18 state court opinion, the Court will “look through” the summary denial and examine the decision
19 of the California Court of Appeal. See Brumfield, 135 S. Ct. at 2276; Ylst, 501 U.S. at 806.
20
In denying Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim, the Fresno
21 County Superior Court stated:
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24
25
26
27
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Ninth, Petitioner maintains that she received ineffective assistance of counsel
when her appellate attorney submitted a Wende brief on her behalf. In support of
this contention, Petitioner argues that her attorney was ineffective when she failed
to raise the arguments that Petitioner had requested that she raise in a letter that
Petitioner sent to her counsel. Specifically, Petitioner maintains that her attorney
was ineffective in failing to argue that: (i) the trial court’s jury instructions were
improper, (ii) a note that Juror No. 4 had sent to the trial court was grounds for
declaring a mistrial, and (iii) that the trial court’s sentence was improper in light
of the fact that Petitioner’s co-defendant was convicted of a less serious offense.
In order to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, Petitioner must allege
facts showing that (1) her counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness, and (2) that her defense suffered prejudice as a result.
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2
3
4
5
(Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S 668, 690–92.) In the present case, the
Court finds that Petitioner has failed to establish that she received ineffective
assistance of counsel on appeal because she has failed to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the result of her appeal would have been any different had her
appellate counsel raised the three issues that Petitioner had requested that she
address (In re Cox (2003) 30 Cal.4th 974, 1019–20 [stating that court may dispose
of ineffective assistance of counsel claim if petitioner has not demonstrated
sufficient prejudice without deciding if counsel’s performance was deficient].)
Consequently, Petitioner has failed to present a viable claim for habeas corpus
relief with respect to her ninth contention.
6
7 (LD 21 at 4–5).
8
First, the Court notes that Petitioner’s appellate counsel did not file a Wende brief. In
9 fact, appellate counsel raised the issue of whether the trial court abused its discretion when it
10 declined to strike of one Petitioner’s prior serious felony convictions. (LD 15). Additionally,
11 based on the analysis in sections IV(A)(2), IV(C)(2), and IV(D), supra, Petitioner has not
12 established that there is “a reasonable probability that . . . the result of the proceeding would have
13 been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. As discussed above, the trial court’s jury
14 instructions were proper, the trial court’s denial of the motion for new trial was not erroneous,
15 and the trial court did not err with respect to Petitioner’s sentence. Therefore, under the “doubly
16 deferential” AEDPA review of ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the superior court’s
17 denial was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, nor
18 was it based on an unreasonable determination of fact. The decision was not “so lacking in
19 justification that there was an error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond
20 any possibility for fairminded disagreement.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 103. Accordingly, Petitioner is
21 not entitled to habeas relief on her ineffective assistance of counsel claim, and it should be
22 denied.
23
V.
24
RECOMMENDATION
25
Accordingly, the undersigned HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the petition for writ of
26 habeas corpus be DENIED.
27
This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the assigned United States District
28 Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local
30
1 Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within
2 THIRTY (30) days after service of the Findings and Recommendation, any party may file
3 written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be
4 captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” Replies to the
5 objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. The
6 assigned United States District Court Judge will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling
7 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within
8 the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Wilkerson v.
9 Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th
10 Cir. 1991)).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
June 18, 2018
/s/
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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