(DP) Contreras v. Davis

Filing 85

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS on Petitioner's Third 81 Motion for Equitable Tolling signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 11/19/2021. Referred to Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Objections to F&R due within Fourteen (14) Days. (Sant Agata, S)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JORGE CONTRERAS,

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Case No. 1:19-cv-01523-AWI-SAB

Petitioner,

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DEATH PENALTY CASE

v.

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RONALD DAVIS, Warden of California State
Prison at San Quentin,

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Respondent.1

FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATION ON
PETITIONER’S THIRD MOTION FOR
EQUITABLE TOLLING
(ECF No. 81)

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FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE TO
OBJECT

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On October 6, 2021, Petitioner Jorge Contreras, through counsel, moved to equitably

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19 toll the limitations deadline under 28 U.S.C. § 2244 for the filing of his federal habeas petition
20 in this action. The motion, Petitioner’s third, requests that the current, as tolled petition filing
21 deadline of December 9, 2021, be further equitably tolled to and including June 9, 2022.
Respondent Warden Ronald Davis, through counsel, timely filed his response to the

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23 motion on October 28, 2021. Petitioner timely filed a reply in support of the motion on
24 November 8, 2021. No hearing date has been set and the Court finds that none is required.
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25 The matter was taken under submission.

Upon consideration of the parties’ filings, the record, and controlling legal authority,

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Ron Broomfield, Acting Warden of San Quentin State Prison, is substituted for Ronald Davis, former Warden of
San Quentin State Prison, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 25(d).
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See ECF No. 82 at 1 n.1. Reference is to CM/ECF system pagination unless otherwise provided.

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1 the Court makes the following findings and recommendation.
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I.

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BACKGROUND

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On December 11, 1996, Petitioner was convicted of first degree felony murder and

5 robbery, with the special circumstance of murder in the commission of the robbery found true, and
6 sentenced to death. See Tulare County Superior Court Case No. 37619.
On June 17, 2008, Petitioner filed his automatic appeal. People v. George Lopez

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8 Contreras, California Supreme Court Case No. S058019.
On February 6, 2012, Petitioner filed his state habeas petition. In re Jorge Contreras on

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10 Habeas Corpus, California Supreme Court Case No. S199915.
On December 12, 2013, the California Supreme Court affirmed Petitioner’s judgment

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12 of conviction and sentence on automatic appeal. People v. George Lopez Contreras, 58 Cal.
13 4th 123 (2013).
On October 9, 2019, the California Supreme Court summarily denied on the merits

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15 Petitioner’s state habeas petition. In re Jorge Contreras, Case No. S199915.
On October 28, 2019, Petitioner commenced this federal habeas proceeding pursuant to

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17 28 U.S.C. § 2254 by filing pro se requests for in forma pauperis status and appointment of
18 counsel.
On December 9, 2019, the Court adopted the recommendation of the Selection Board

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20 for the Eastern District of California and appointed Brian M. Pomerantz, Esq. and Ken Murray,
21 Esq. (hereinafter each and both referred to as “Counsel”) to represent Petitioner in this federal
22 habeas proceeding.3
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On February 14, 2020, Respondent lodged the record.4

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On February 26, 2020, the Court tolled the 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1) petition filing

25 deadline to December 9, 2020 pursuant to the parties’ stipulation regarding delay in
26 appointment of federal habeas counsel.
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The order issued on December 6, 2019 and docketed on December 9, 2019.
Respondent amended the lodged record on July 23, 2020, June 9, 2021, and August 23, 2021.

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On October 23, 2020, the assigned United States District Judge adopted-in-full the The

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2 Court’s findings and recommendation granting Petitioner’s first motion for further prospective
3 equitable tolling of the AEDPA5 (i.e. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)) petition filing deadline to June 9,
4 2021, based upon Petitioner’s ongoing reasonable diligence and impacts of the continuing
5 COVID-19 pandemic then before the Court.
On June 7, 2021, the assigned United States District Judge adopted-in-full the Court’s

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7 findings and recommendation granting Petitioner’s second motion for further prospective
8 equitable tolling of the AEDPA habeas petition deadline to December 9, 2021 based upon
9 Petitioner’s ongoing reasonable diligence and impacts of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic
10 then before the Court.
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II.

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DISCUSSION
Petitioner argues that notwithstanding Counsel’s continuing diligent efforts, available

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14 COVID-19 vaccines, and federal, state and institutional guidelines and protocols for COVID15 19 re-opening,6 the risk of contracting and spreading the virus is unacceptable and leaves
16 Counsel unable to properly perform the tasks they must do in order to file a reasonably
17 competent federal habeas petition, prior to the requested as-tolled date of June 9, 2022. (ECF
18 No. 81 at 5, 8-10, 15-16; see also ECF No. 84 at 5-8, 13.) Particularly, Petitioner suggests that
19 Counsel’s investigation and development of a complete federal petition, including potential
20 new claims and related mental state and mitigation evidence, have been and continue to be
21 impeded by COVID-19 related limitations on necessary in-person, confidential, unmasked
22 prison visits and interviews with experts and lay witnesses; collection and review of
23 unspecified records and evidence; and assembly of the defense team. (See e.g., ECF No. 81 at
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Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.
See generally ECF No. 81-1 at 98 n.1 citing Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated
People, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, July 28, 2021; Id. at 106 n.24 citing Interim Guidance on
Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Correctional and Detention Facilities, June 9, 2021; Id.
at 27 n.125 citing California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, COVID‐19 Response Efforts
(accessed July 29, 2021); ECF No. 83-1 at 2-3, 5, and ECF No. 83-5, citing the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation “Roadmap to Reopening” plan which includes consideration of visitor vaccination
status and COVID-19 testing, masking, and social distancing.
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1 19-27; ECF No. 81-1 at 163-64; ECF No. 84 at 14-15; ECF No. 84-1 at 4-5.)
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Petitioner points to the history and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic set out in

3 his prior tolling motions, and the emergence of the Delta variant. (ECF No. 81 at 8-10.) He
4 points to his own infection with COVID-19 at San Quentin. (ECF No. 84 at 5.) He points to
5 October 5, 2021 data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing
6 certain relative increases in infection and death rates, while only 59.4% of California’s total
7 (i.e. vaccine eligible and ineligible) population is vaccinated against COVID-19. (ECF No. 81
8 at 9.) He points to October 5, 2021 data available from the Institute for Health Metrics and
9 Evaluation projecting that approximately 62,000 more Americans will die of COVID-19 by the
10 current as tolled date of December 9, 2021. (Id.) He points to evidence of post-vaccination
11 “breakthrough” infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. (Id. at 11-12, 15-16; ECF No. 81-1 at
12 41 n.5 ) He points to evidence that conditions at California prisons in general, and during legal
13 visits at San Quentin in particular, pose an increased risk of infection relative to the public
14 generally. (ECF No. 81 at 10-14; ECF No. 81-1 at 44.) He points to evidence that at San
15 Quentin, proper COVID-19 safety protocols are not always be followed. (ECF No. 84-1 at 3.)
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Particularly, Petitioner states that legal visits at San Quentin have not been

17 continuously available, are limited to one-hour, and are unsafe due to the risk of spreading and
18 getting COVID-19. (ECF No. 81 at 10-14, 22; ECF No. 84 at 5-7.) He states that as a result,
19 Counsel, absent any notice from San Quentin of the resumption of in-person legal visits (see
20 ECF No. 84-1 at 2-3), visited him only once, shortly after their appointment in early December
21 2019, with Counsel communicating otherwise through presumptively non-confidential letters,
22 and by phone to the extent his alleged Obsessive Compulsive Disorder allows. (ECF No. 81 at
23 10-14, 22; ECF No. 84-1 at 1-2.) He states that in-person mental health evaluation cannot be
24 conducted at the prison, for the same reasons. (ECF No. 81 at 27).
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Relatedly, Petitioner states that because of the continuing impacts of COVID-19, travel

26 to find and interview witnesses is not safe, many record repositories have been closed or
27 minimally staffed, and there are significant special challenges to developing potential
28 mitigation evidence in Mexico. (Id. at 14-15, 21-25; ECF No. 81-1 at 98.) For example, he
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1 suggests it is too risky for the defense team to visit Tulare County, where the trial took place
2 and witnesses reside, given the relatively low rate of COVID-19 vaccination and available ICU
3 beds, the advanced age and poor health of some witnesses, and evidence that COVID-19
4 protocols are not being followed. (ECF No. 81 at 14-15, 28; ECF No. 81-1 at 94-95; ECF No.
5 84 at 11-12.) Counsel, based upon information provided by a member of Petitioner’s family,
6 avers that “most of [Petitioner’s] family members have not been vaccinated and do not plan to
7 get vaccinated.” (ECF No. 84-1 at 2.)
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Petitioner maintains that notwithstanding such extraordinary impacts of COVID-19,

9 Counsel and the defense team have and will diligently gather, organize, and review the core
10 and non-core record as part of their complex mitigation investigation. (ECF No. 81 at 16-17,
11 28.) He maintains that, in addition to undisclosed efforts reflecting work product, Counsel
12 diligently have and will draft record based claims, review many thousands of pages of
13 materials, research and consult with potential experts, communicate with Petitioner by phone
14 and mail, and craft a presumptive mitigation plan based upon the currently known information
15 and the exhibits that were filed in state post-conviction proceedings. (ECF No. 81 at 23, 28;
16 ECF No. 84 at 14-15; ECF No. 84-1 at 1.)
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Petitioner concludes that safe and competent in-person field investigation by the

18 defense team cannot happen while social distancing and masking remain necessary. (See ECF
19 No. 81 at 17-28 & ECF No. 81-1 at 99 n.3 & 100 n.4 citing ABA Guidelines for the
20 Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases, and Supplemental
21 Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases [collectively
22 “ABA Guidelines”] (requiring a thorough and independent investigation of guilt and penalty
23 phase issues); see also ECF No. 81-1 at 107-11 (discussing COVID-19 in context of mitigation
24 field investigation.)
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Petitioner also surmises that, should the Court deny further tolling, this matter

26 nonetheless would proceed slowly, given the specter of delay arising from likely federal
27 appellate review and state exhaustion proceedings. (ECF No. 84 at 7-9.)
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Respondent opposes further equitable tolling of the section § 2244 petition filing
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1 deadline. He argues COVID-19 no longer is an extraordinary circumstance impeding
2 preparation a complete federal petition in this case, and that Petitioner has not diligently
3 pursued preparation of his federal petition since this matter was last before the Court in June
4 of this year.7 (ECF No. 83 at 2, 4-10.) He argues COVID-19 vaccines, guidelines, and
5 protocols have markedly eased the previously exceptional COVID-19 related restrictions and
6 impediments. (Id.) He observes that vaccines have been widely administered including to
7 71.5% of (eligible) California residents and 89% of inmates at San Quentin. (Id.) He observes
8 the reopening of society, courts, schools, and institutions, consistent with COVID-19 safety
9 guidelines and protocols. (Id.) He observes that confidential legal calls and in-person visits
10 have been available at San Quentin since at least January 2021, except during the period
11 August 14-31, 2021 when visits were suspended due to a COVID-19 event, and that
12 confidential in-person contact visits of up to six hours have been available since September 13,
13 2021, including for psychological testing. (Id.; see also ECF No. 83-1 at 2-3; ECF Nos. 83-2,
14 83-3, 83-4, 83-5); Penal Code § 5058.7.8
Respondent argues that given the improving pandemic circumstances, and apart

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16 Counsel’s single prison visit nearly two years ago, Petitioner has not demonstrated reasonably
17 diligent pursuit of his federal habeas petition. (ECF No. 83 at 2, 4-10.) He argues the
18 continuing COVID-19 impediments Petitioner alleges are unsupported at a level greater than
19 surmise, and are untethered from the facts and circumstances of this case. (Id.) He states that
20 ABA Guidelines and commentary from the capital defense community, relied upon by
21 Petitioner, are not binding or persuasive authority that any necessary field investigation cannot
22 be safely and adequately undertaken on the facts and circumstances of this case. (Id. at 9.)
“A habeas petitioner is entitled to equitable tolling only if he shows (1) that he has been

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24 pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way
25 and prevented timely filing.” Fue v. Biter, 842 F.3d 650, 653 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc)
26 (quoting Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 649 (2010)); see also Espinoza-Matthews v.
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The Court finds unpersuasive Respondent’s invitation to reconsider the Court’s prior ruling that prospective
equitable tolling is available in this Circuit, for the reasons previously stated. (See ECF Nos. 55, 59, 71, 74)
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Reference to state law is to California law.
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1 California, 432 F.3d 1021, 1026 n.5 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408,
2 418 (2005)); Calderon v. United States Dist. Ct. (Beeler), 128 F.3d 1283, 1288-89 (9th Cir.
3 1997) (approving prospective equitable tolling of the one year statute of limitations under 28
4 U.S.C. § 2244(d) where “extraordinary circumstances” beyond a prisoner’s control make it
5 impossible to file a petition on time), partially overruled on other grounds by Calderon v.
6 United States Dist. Ct. (Kelly V), 163 F.3d 530, 540 (9th Cir. 1998), abrogated on other
7 grounds by Woodford v. Garceau, 538 U.S. 202 (2003).
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In addition, there must be a causal link between the extraordinary circumstance and the

9 inability to timely file the petition. See Sossa v. Diaz, 729 F.3d 1225, 1229 (9th Cir. 2013)
10 (“[E]quitable tolling is available only when extraordinary circumstances beyond a prisoner’s
11 control make it impossible to file a petition on time and the extraordinary circumstances were
12 the cause of the prisoner’s untimeliness.”). A literal impossibility to file, however, is not
13 required. Grant v. Swarthout, 862 F.3d 914, 918 (9th Cir. 2017) (acknowledging that equitable
14 tolling is appropriate even where “it would have technically been possible for a prisoner to file
15 a petition,” so long as the prisoner “would have likely been unable to do so.”).
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Equitable tolling is limited to rare and exceptional circumstances and typically applied

17 sparingly. Cadet v. State of Florida Department of Corrections, 853 F.3d 1216, 1221 (11th Cir.
18 2017). It may be appropriate where external forces, rather than a petitioner’s lack of diligence,
19 account for the failure to file a timely claim. Miles v. Prunty, 187 F.3d 1104, 1107 (9th Cir.
20 1999); see also Doe v. Busby, 661 F.3d 1001, 1015 (9th Cir. 2011) (the effort required is what
21 a reasonable person might be expected to deliver under his or her particular circumstances).
22 Among the factors that courts have considered relevant in deciding whether equitable tolling of
23 the limitations period is appropriate are the complexity of the legal proceedings and whether
24 the state would suffer prejudice from the delay. Hoyos v. Wong, Case No. 09-cv-0388 L
25 (NLS), 2010 WL 596443, at *4–5 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 16, 2010).
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This “exercise of a court’s equity powers must be made on a case-by-case basis” and it

27 “enables courts to meet new situations that demand equitable intervention, and to accord all the
28 relief necessary to correct particular injustices.” Holland, 560 U.S., at 649–50. The petitioner
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1 “bears the burden of showing that this extraordinary exclusion should apply to him.” Miranda
2 v. Castro, 292 F.3d 1063, 1065 (9th Cir. 2002); accord Milam v. Harrington, 953 F.3d 1128,
3 1132 (9th Cir. 2020).
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Here, the Court finds that at this point in time, on the facts and circumstances of the

5 case and the record now before it (including as to case complexity and Respondent’s apparent
6 concession that further tolling would not be prejudicial), Petitioner has demonstrated, at least
7 inferentially, that notwithstanding Counsel’s ongoing reasonable diligence, exceptional
8 circumstances raised by the COVID-19 pandemic likely impede investigation, development,
9 and presentation of a complete federal habeas petition prior to February 9, 2022.
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Petitioner has made a sufficient showing of Counsel’s diligence in the face of the

11 ongoing pandemic. See Ford v. Gonzalez, 683 F.3d 1230, 1237 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing
12 Holland, 560 U.S. at 653) (“The diligence required for equitable tolling purposes is reasonable
13 diligence, not maximum feasible diligence.”). For example, Counsel claim to have assembled
14 and reviewed available portions of the core and non-core record, and that they continue to
15 research and draft record based claims previously adjudicated in state court. Counsel claim to
16 have communicated with Petitioner by phone within the last six months, and that they
17 personally visited him shortly after their appointment. Counsel claim to have researched and
18 formulated a mitigation plan in relation to possible new claims in this proceeding, and
19 considered the necessity of potential expert and lay mitigation evidence. Counsel claim to
20 have assessed and weighed the noted pandemic related risks and impediments to accessing
21 such evidence.
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Also, Petitioner has made a sufficient showing that notwithstanding available COVID-

23 19 vaccines and safety guidelines and protocols, exceptional circumstances raised by the
24 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have presented varying and somewhat cyclical impediments to a
25 constitutionally adequate mitigation investigation and development and presentation of new
26 claims. For example, Counsel claim COVID-19 related delay in confidential in-person legal
27 visits and expert examination, and confidential in-person interviews with potential lay and
28 expert mitigation witnesses, impacted by the varying demographic, geographic, health, and
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1 vaccination status of the witnesses and defense team members.
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The Court again observes the size and complexity of this capital habeas case, the

3 apparent extent of the mitigation investigation to be conducted, and Respondent’s apparent
4 concession that further equitable tolling would not be prejudicial. (See ECF No. 71 at 7; see
5 also ECF No. 55 at 10, citing ECF Nos. 44-48.) It remains that Respondent does not suggest
6 he would suffer any prejudice should the requested relief be granted. The undesigned finds no
7 reason to believe the relief granted hereunder would have a significant impact upon
8 Respondent’s ability to oppose any challenges raised by Petitioner to his underlying 1996
9 judgment of conviction.
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Even so, Petitioner has not demonstrated on the facts and circumstances of the case and

11 the record now before the Court, that despite Counsel’s continuing reasonable diligence and
12 available COVID-19 vaccines, guidelines and protocols, the pandemic raises exceptional
13 circumstances that entitle him to equitable tolling beyond February 9, 2022. Nor has he
14 demonstrated, on the facts and circumstances of the case and the record now before the Court,
15 that any necessary investigation, including in-person interviews and examinations, cannot
16 safely and adequately take place consistent with COVID-19 guidelines, policies and protocols.
17 See e.g., Jurado v. Wong, 2009 WL 3320494, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Oct.14, 2009) (the court
18 considered petitioner's showing of the work to be done to complete a comprehensive federal
19 petition and thereupon equitably tolled for only a portion of the time consumed by the
20 extraordinary circumstance); Bunyard v. Davis, 2016 WL 128429, at *6 (equitable tolling for
21 full duration of exceptional circumstance denied where petitioner made no particularized
22 showing that the portions of the record they lacked were so crucial that nothing else could be
23 done until they were reviewed). Petitioner “bears a heavy burden to show that [he] is entitled
24 to equitable tolling, lest the exceptions swallow the rule.” Rudin v. Myles, 781 F.3d 1043,
25 1055 (9th Cir. 2015); accord Milam v. Harrington, 953 F.3d 1128, 1132 (2020) (citing Miranda
26 v. Castro, 292 F.3d 1063, 1065 (9th Cir. 2002)) (the petitioner “bears the burden of showing
27 that this extraordinary exclusion should apply to him.”).
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Notably, Counsel, in their first motion for equitable tolling, stated that COVID-19
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1 impediments would prevent effective representation in this proceeding “until there is a vaccine
2 or the transmission rate of COVID-19 dramatically drops.” (ECF No. 55 at 5 citing ECF No.
3 49 at 15 & ECF No. 49-3 at 2.) Counsel have not demonstrated, on the facts and
4 circumstances of the case and the record now before the Court, any extent to which these
5 contingencies remain unrealized.
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The Court concludes the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have

7 impeded Petitioner’s right to the assistance of appointed habeas counsel in preparing a
8 complete federal petition, prior to February 9, 2022. 18 U.S.C. § 3599(a)(2); McFarland v.
9 Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 855-57 (1994) (given the complex nature of capital habeas proceedings
10 and the seriousness of the possible penalty, an attorney’s assistance in preparing a federal
11 habeas corpus petition is crucial and includes a right for that counsel meaningfully to research
12 and present a defendant’s claims); McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 498 (1991) (in the pre13 AEDPA context, stating that “petitioner must conduct a reasonable and diligent investigation
14 aimed at including all relevant claims and grounds for relief in the first federal habeas
15 petition.”), superseded by statute as recognized in Banister v. Davis, __U.S.__, 140 S. Ct.
16 1698, 1707 (2020).
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For the reasons stated, the Court finds that Petitioner has carried his burden of showing

18 that notwithstanding the continuing exercise of reasonable diligence, the present extraordinary
19 circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic make it unlikely that a proper federal habeas
20 petition in this case can be completed and filed prior to February 9, 2022. Holland, 560 U.S.,
21 at 649–50; Miranda, 292 F.3d, at 1065; see also Grant, 862 F.3d, at 918; Rules Governing §
22 2254 Cases, Rule 2, 28 U.S.C.A. foll. § 2254. For the same reasons, the Court finds that were
23 a motion for equitable tolling to accompany a federal habeas petition filed on February 9,
24 2022, Petitioner would carry his burden on the motion.
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III.

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FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

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Accordingly, based upon the findings above, it is recommended that Petitioner’s third

28 motion for equitable tolling (ECF No. 81) be granted-in-part, such that Petitioner shall file his
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1 federal petition for writ of habeas corpus on or before February 9, 2022, and that Petitioner’s
2 motion otherwise be denied without prejudice to further equitable tolling based upon specific
3 impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the facts and circumstances of this case.
These findings and recommendation will be submitted to the United States District

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5 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within
6 fourteen (14) days after the filed date of these findings and recommendation, any party may
7 file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to
8 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” Any failure to file objections within the
9 specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d
10 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014), citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

13 Dated:

November 19, 2021
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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