Roth v. Howard
Filing
9
OPINION and ORDER (1) Denying 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, (2) Denying Certificate of Appealability, and (3) Granting Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis. Signed by District Judge Matthew F. Leitman. (HRya)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
BOBBIE SUE ROTH,
Petitioner,
Case No. 21-cv-11364
Hon. Matthew F. Leitman
v.
JEREMY HOWARD,
Respondent.
__________________________________________________________________/
OPINION AND ORDER (1) DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS (ECF No. 1), (2) DENYING CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY, AND (3) GRANTING LEAVE TO
APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS
Petitioner Bobbie Sue Roth has filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus
in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (See Pet. ECF No. 1.) Roth was convicted
of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant under 16 years old.
As she had previously been convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated,
this offense resulted in a felony conviction under Mich. Comp. Laws §
257.625(7)(a)(ii). Roth was initially sentenced to a term of probation which required
her to complete a drug treatment program. After violating her probation, she was
sentenced to 57 to 120 months in prison. Roth raises three claims for habeas corpus
relief.
1
For the reasons explained below, the Court DENIES the petition. The Court
also DENIES Roth a certificate of appealability but GRANTS her leave to proceed
in forma pauperis on appeal.
I
On June 2, 2017, Roth was pulled over by police in Baraga County for reckless
driving. (See 1/9/2018 Plea Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 8-4, PageID.125.) Her two children,
ages five and nine, were in the vehicle at the time. (Id. at 126.) Roth failed a field
sobriety test. (Id.) She was charged with seven offenses: operating a vehicle while
intoxicated with an occupant under 16, second or subsequent offense; operating a
vehicle while intoxicated; two counts of possession of a controlled substance;
resisting and obstructing a police officer, operating a vehicle with a suspended
license, second or subsequent offense; and possession of marijuana.
On January 9, 2018, Roth appeared before Baraga County Circuit Court Judge
Charles R. Goodman and pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while under the
influence of a controlled substance with occupants under 16 years old and to being
a third habitual offender. (See id., PageID.123-129.) In exchange for the plea, the
prosecutor dismissed the remaining charges against her in that case and a charge of
resisting and obstructing a police officer then pending in another case. (See id.,
PageID.119-120.) The plea agreement provided that Roth would be sent to a drug
treatment facility. (See id.) Under the terms of the agreement, if Roth successfully
2
completed the drug treatment facility’s 8-to-10-month program, there would be no
further probation or incarceration. (See id.) If she did not successfully complete
treatment, she would return to the trial court for resentencing. (See id.). On February
28, 2018, Judge Goodman sentenced Roth to participate in the treatment program in
accordance with the plea agreement. (See 2/28/2018 Sent. Tr., ECF No. 8-5.)
Roth did not complete the drug-treatment program. She left the program in
the middle of the night after just four months. (See 12/17/2019 Prob. Violation Hr’g,
ECF No. 8-9, PageID.200.) Roth was returned to custody in October 2019 and
charged with a probation violation. After a hearing, Judge Goodman determined
that Roth had violated her probation. (See id., PageID.209-210.)
Roth’s sentencing was scheduled before Judge Goodman for February 11,
2020. Judge Goodman was unavailable on that date, so Judge Fraser T. Strome
presided. (See 2/11/2020 Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 8-10.) Sentencing was adjourned until
March 10, 2020, with the hope that Judge Goodman would be available. (See id.,
PageID.216-17.) On March 10, 2020, Judge Goodman remained unavailable, and it
was unclear when he would be able to return. Over the defense’s objection, Judge
Strome proceeded with sentencing. (See 3/10/2020 Sent. Tr., ECF No. 8-11.) Judge
Strome sentenced Roth to 57 to 120 months in prison. (See id., PageID.237.)
Roth filed a delayed application for leave to appeal in the Michigan Court of
Appeals raising the same claims raised in this petition. The Michigan Court of
3
Appeals denied leave to appeal “for lack of merit in the grounds presented.” People
v. Roth, No. 353774 (Mich. Ct. App. July 29, 2020). The Michigan Supreme Court
also denied leave to appeal. People v. Roth, 507 Mich. 869 (Mich. Feb. 2, 2021).
Roth then filed this habeas corpus petition. (See Pet., ECF No. 1.) She raises
three claims:
I. The trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion for a continuance
to allow the judge who presided over her probation violation hearing to
return from a serious illness in his family so that he could sentence
defendant.
II. The sentence imposed on defendant was disproportionate, an abuse
of discretion, and a violation of People v. Lockridge, 498 Mich. 358
(2015), thereby requiring a remand to the trial court for resentencing.
III. The trial court abused its discretion in imposing excessive court
costs on defendant at sentencing which were unrelated to the
circumstances of the case and for which no reason was articulated on
the record.
II
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”)
requires federal courts to uphold state court adjudications on the merits unless the
state court’s decision (1) “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) “was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in
light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
“The question under AEDPA is not whether a federal court believes the state court’s
4
determination was incorrect but whether that determination was unreasonable—a
substantially higher threshold.” Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473 (2007).
III
A
Roth seeks habeas relief on the ground that the trial court erred by denying
her request for a continuance so she could be sentenced by the judge who presided
over her original sentencing and probation violation hearing.
Roth raised this claim on direct review. As described above, the Michigan
Court of Appeals denied leave to appeal for lack of merit in a one-sentence summary
order. See People v. Roth, No. 353774 (Mich. Ct. App. July 29, 2020). Absent some
indication to the contrary, this type of summary order is an adjudication on the merits
to which AEDPA deference applies. See Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 99100 (2011). Roth offers no basis for rebutting that presumption and the Court finds
none. The Court therefore applies AEDPA’s deferential standard of review to the
state court’s decision.1
Roth cannot show that the Michigan Court of Appeals’ denial of her claim
was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established
Supreme Court precedent. There is “no precedent, federal or otherwise, establishing
Under the same reasoning, the Court applies AEDPA’s deferential standard of review to
Roth’s other habeas claims.
1
5
a due process constitutional right to have a particular judge, and only that judge,
make decisions in a criminal defendant’s case.” Davis v. Jenkins, No. 21-3404, 2024
WL 3873457, at *9 (6th Cir. Aug. 20, 2024). “The law considers judges fungible,
based on the underlying presumption that judges conduct themselves with honesty
and integrity.” Id. Because the Supreme Court has never held that the substitution
of a trial judge violates a defendant’s constitutional rights, Roth is not entitled to
relief on her claim.
Roth also claims that allowing sentencing before a substitute judge violated
Michigan Court Rule 6.440(C).2 Because this claim relies on a violation of state
court rules, it is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See Lewis v. Jeffers, 497
U.S. 764, 780 (1990) (“[F]ederal habeas corpus relief does not lie for errors of state
law.”); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 68 (1991) (“In conducting habeas review, a
2
The relevant portion of this rule provides:
If, after a verdict is returned or findings of fact and conclusions of law
are filed, the trial judge because of disability becomes unable to
perform the remaining duties the court must perform, another judge
regularly sitting in or assigned to the court may perform those duties;
but if that judge is not satisfied of an ability to perform those duties
because of not having presided at the trial or determines that it is
appropriate for any other reason, the judge may grant the defendant a
new trial.
MCR 6.440(C).
6
federal court is limited to deciding whether a conviction violated the Constitution,
laws, or treaties of the United States.”).
B
In her second claim, Roth argues that her sentence violates the principle of
proportionality and violates the rule established in People v. Lockridge, 498 Mich.
358 (2015).
The Court begins with Roth’s proportionality claim. The Michigan Court of
Appeals’ summary denial of this claim was not unreasonable. “[T]he Eighth
Amendment does not require strict proportionality between crime and sentence.
Rather, it forbids only extreme sentences that are ‘grossly disproportionate’ to the
crime.” Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 1001 (1991) (quoting Solem v. Helm,
463 U.S. 277 (1983)). This “test is rarely met.” United States v. Young, 766 F.3d
621, 625 (6th Cir. 2014) (citing Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11, 22 (2003)).
“[O]nly an extreme disparity between crime and sentence offends the Eighth
Amendment.” United States v. Marks, 209 F.3d 577, 583 (6th Cir. 2000). A
sentence that falls within the maximum penalty authorized by statute “generally does
not constitute ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’” Austin v. Jackson, 213 F.3d 298,
302 (6th Cir. 2000) (quoting United States v. Organek, 65 F.3d 60, 62 (6th Cir.
1995)).
7
Roth’s sentence did not exceed the statutory maximum for her crime. See
Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.625(7)(a)(ii); 769.11 (allowing a three-time habitual
offender to be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison). She identifies no
compelling circumstances that create an extreme disparity between her offense and
sentence. The state court’s denial of this claim was not unreasonable.
The Court now turns to Roth’s claim under Lockridge.3 Lockridge applied the
rules from Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000) and Alleyne v. United
States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013), to Michigan’s sentencing guidelines. Under Apprendi,
any fact that increases the maximum penalty for a crime must be submitted to a jury
and proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Under Alleyne, the same requirement applies
to any fact that increases a mandatory minimum. In Lockridge, the Michigan
Supreme Court held that, under Apprendi and Alleyne, the mandatory application of
Michigan’s sentencing guidelines was unconstitutional. 498 Mich. 358, 388-89
(2015). To remedy this violation, the Michigan Supreme Court made the sentencing
guidelines advisory. Id. at 391–92.
Roth was sentenced after Lockridge was decided and after the state sentencing
guidelines were made advisory.
Purely advisory applications of sentencing
3
To the extent that this claim arises under Michigan state law, it is not cognizable
on habeas review. In the analysis above, the Court construes the claim as presenting
a federal challenge to Roth’s sentence under the principles from Apprendi and
Alleyne that were applied in Lockridge.
8
guidelines do not violate the Sixth Amendment. See United States v. Booker, 543
U.S. 220, 233 (2005). Therefore, the state court’s decision denying relief on Roth’s
claim under Lockridge was not contrary to, and did not involve an unreasonable
application of, clearly-established federal law.
C
Lastly, Roth maintains that the imposition of $700 court costs was improper
because the trial court did not articulate the basis for imposing that amount on the
record. The alleged erroneous imposition of costs does not present a cognizable
issue on federal habeas review. See Washington v. McQuiggin, 529 F. App’x 766,
772-773 (6th Cir. 2013); Michaels v. Hackel, 491 F. App’x 670, 671 (6th Cir. 2012).
IV
Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22 provides that an appeal may not
proceed unless a certificate of appealability (“COA”) is issued under 28 U.S.C. §
2253. A COA may be issued “only if the applicant has made a substantial showing
of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). The substantial
showing threshold is satisfied when a petitioner demonstrates “that reasonable jurists
would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or
wrong.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).
9
The Court will deny a certificate of appealability because jurists of reason
could not debate the Court’s conclusion that Roth failed to demonstrate an
entitlement to habeas relief.
V
For the reasons set forth above, the Court DENIES the petition for writ of
habeas corpus, and DENIES a certificate of appealability.
The Court GRANTS Roth leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal
because an appeal could be taken in good faith. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Matthew F. Leitman
MATTHEW F. LEITMAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: September 11, 2024
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the parties
and/or counsel of record on September 11, 2024, by electronic means and/or
ordinary mail.
s/Holly A. Ryan
Case Manager
(313) 234-5126
10
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?