Scaffidi v. Grounds

Filing 6

ORDER re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Kelly Patrick Scaffidi. Signed by Judge ARMSTRONG on 2/28/11. (lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/28/2011)

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Scaffidi v. Hedgpeth Doc. 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA KELLY P. SCAFFIDI, Petitioner, v. R. GROUNDS, Warden, Respondent. / INTRODUCTION This is a federal habeas corpus action filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 by a pro se state prisoner. For the reasons set forth below, the petition is DENIED. BACKGROUND In 1990, a San Bernardino County Superior Court jury convicted Petitioner of second degree murder, and he was sentenced to fifteen years to life in state prison. In 2008, the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) found Petitioner unsuitable for parole on grounds that the circumstances of his commitment offense, his prior criminal record, his institutional behavior, his unfavorable psychological evaluation in which he was diagnosed with "cannabis and cocaine dependence in a controlled environment, and alcohol abuse," as well as his continuing need for self-help indicate that he would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to society and or a threat to public safety if released from prison. (Pet., Ex. A at 92-104.)1 In response to the Board's decision, Petitioner sought, but was denied, relief on state collateral review. This federal habeas petition followed. STANDARD OF REVIEW A federal writ of habeas corpus may not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in state court unless the state court's adjudication of the claims: "(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 (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence No. C 10-03218 SBA (PR) ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS; AND DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY Citations are to the pages of the parole hearing transcript. Dockets.Justia.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 presented in the State court proceeding." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). "Under the 'contrary to' clause, a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a question of law or if the state court decides a case differently than [the Supreme] Court has on a set of materially indistinguishable facts." Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412-13 (2000). "Under the 'unreasonable application' clause, a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from [the Supreme] Court's decisions but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner's case." Id. at 413. The only definitive source of clearly established federal law under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) is in the holdings of the Supreme Court as of the time of the relevant state court decision. Id. at 412. DISCUSSION Petitioner claims that the Board's decision violated his right to due process because it was not based on "some evidence" that he currently poses an unreasonable risk to public safety, a requirement under California law. "There is no right under the Federal Constitution to be conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence, and the States are under no duty to offer parole to their prisoners." Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal and Correctional Complex, 442 U. S. 1, 7 (1979). "When, however, a State creates a liberty interest, the Due Process Clause requires fair procedures for its vindication -- and federal courts will review the application of those constitutionally required procedures." Swarthout v. Cooke, No. 10-333, slip op. at 4 (U.S. Jan. 24, 2011). The procedures required are "minimal." Id. A prisoner receives adequate process when "he was allowed an opportunity to be heard and was provided a statement of the reasons why parole was denied." Id. at 4-5. "The Constitution does not require more." Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 16. In the instant matter, Petitioner received at least the required amount of process. The record shows that he was allowed to speak at his parole hearing and to contest the evidence against him, that he had received his records in advance, and that he was notified as to the reasons parole was denied. Having found that Petitioner received these procedural requirements, this Court's habeas inquiry is at an end. Cooke, No. 10-333, slip op. at 5. Under Cooke, Petitioner's claim that the Board's decision did not comply with California's "some evidence" rule of judicial review is of "no 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 federal concern." Id. at 6. Accordingly, the petition is DENIED. CONCLUSION The state court's adjudication of the claim did not result in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, nor did it result in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the state court proceeding. Accordingly, the petition is DENIED. Further, a certificate of appealability is DENIED. Reasonable jurists would not "find the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). Petitioner may seek a certificate of appealability from the Court of Appeals. The Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of Respondent, terminate all pending motions as moot (docket no. 5), and close the file. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: 2/28/11 SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG United States District Judge UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT G:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.10\Scaffidi3218.denyHC-Cooke.wpd 3 1 2 3 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA KELLY P. SCAFFIDI, 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 G:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.10\Scaffidi3218.denyHC-Cooke.wpd 4 Dated: February 28, 2011 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk Kelly Patrick Scaffidi H-09314 Salinas Valley State Prison P.O. Box 689 Soledad, CA 93960-0689 I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. That on February 28, 2011, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office. v. R. GROUNDS et al, Defendant. / Plaintiff, CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE Case Number: CV10-03218 SBA

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