Tucker v. Rivera

Filing 40

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Judge John G. Heyburn, II on 2/26/2013; 37 Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge is ADOPTED; Petitioners request for a writ of habeas corpus is DENIED; petitioners certificate of appeal is DENIED. This is a final and appealable order. cc: Chris Tucker pro se, counsel, USMJ Moyer (TLB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
AT LOUISVILLE
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:11CV-546-H

CHRIS TUCKER

PETITIONER

v.
M I RIVERA, WARDEN, et al.

RESPONDENTS

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Chris Tucker’s pro se petition for a writ of habeas
corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner claims that his trial attorney provided ineffective
assistance of counsel by failing to pursue a suppression hearing and, instead, by advising
Petitioner to plead guilty.
The Court referred this matter to the Magistrate Judge for a Report and Recommendation
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B). The Magistrate Judge performed a thorough
review and recommended that the Court deny the petition for failure to satisfy the conditions for
granting a writ under § 2254(d) and (e). Part of Petitioner’s argument was one of actual
innocence of the charges. The Magistrate Judge found no evidence to support a claim of actual
innocence. Petitioner has objected to the Magistrate Judge’s report; however, those arguments
appear to be the same as those previously discussed and analyzed by the Magistrate Judge.
Being otherwise sufficiently advised,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate
Judge is ADOPTED and Petitioner’s request for a writ of habeas corpus is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, because no reasonable jurist could find debatable the

conclusion that there is no merit to Petitioner’s claims of actual innocence and ineffective
assistance of counsel, Petitioner’s certificate of appeal is DENIED.
This is a final and appealable order.

February 26, 2013

cc:

Chris Tucker, Pro Se
Counsel of Record
Magistrate Judge James D. Moyer

2