Reimer v. Kirkegard et al

Filing 9

ORDER adopting 7 Findings and Recommendations in full. Reimer's Petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A certificate of appealability is DENIED. Signed by Judge Dana L. Christensen on 12/22/2016. Copy mailed to Reimer. (ASG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
GREAT FALLS DIVISION

CV 16-91-GF-DLC-JTJ
CHAD K. REIMER,
Petitioner,

ORDER

vs.
LEROY KIRKEGARD, ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA, et al.,
Respondents.
United States Magistrate Judge John Johnston entered his Findings and
Recommendations in this matter on October 5, 2016, recommending denial of
Petitioner Chad K. Reimer' s ("Reimer") application for writ of habeas corpus
under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Reimer timely filed objections and is therefore entitled to
de novo review of those Findings and Recommendations to which he specifically
objects. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l)(C). This Court reviews for clear error those
findings and recommendations to which no party objects. See McDonnell Douglas
Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir. 1981);
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). "Clear error exists ifthe Court is left
with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United
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States v. Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000). The parties are familiar with
the facts of this case and they will not be repeated here.
Turning to the objections, Reimer contends that Judge Johnston erred by
relying on the minutes of his trial when he issued his Findings and
Recommendations. Reimer asserts that his violates Rule 5 of the Rules Governing

§ 2254 Cases in the United States District Court. This rule holds that a
respondent's "answer must also indicate what transcripts (of pretrial, trial,
sentencing, or post-conviction proceedings) are available, when they can be
furnished, and what proceedings have been recorded but not transcribed. . . . If a
transcript cannot be obtained, the respondent may submit a narrative summary of
the evidence." 28 U.S.C. § 2254 Rule 5(c). Reimer thus argues that Judge
Johnston should have ordered the state to furnish a copy of his trial transcripts
before issuing the Findings and Recommendations.
The Court first points out that Rule 5 only comes into play if a judge orders
a respondent to answer the petition. Here, that was not done. Second, Reimer's
argument, read liberally, could be asserting that his Due Process rights have been
violated because he was not provided a transcript of his trial when he filed his
collateral appeal to the Montana Supreme Court. Mayer v. City of Chicago, 404
U.S. 189, 194 (1971) (citations omitted) (when the state provides for appellate
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review, an indigent defendant must be provided with a "record of sufficient
completeness to permit proper consideration of (his) claims."). However, Reimer
never raised this argument in his habeas petition (Doc. 1) or in his response to
Judge Johnston's Order to show cause (Doc. 6). Because Reimer did not raise this
argument before Judge Johnston, it would be inappropriate for this Court to
consider the argument now. 1 See Greenhaw v. Sec. ofHealth & Human Services,
863 F.2d 633, 638 (9th Cir. 1988), overruled by United States v. Hardesty, 977
F.2d 1347 (9th Cir. 1992) ("[A]llowing parties to litigate fully their case before the
magistrate and, if unsuccessful, to change their strategy and present a different
theory to the district court would frustrate the purpose of the Magistrates Act. We
do not believe that the Magistrates Act was intended to give litigants an
opportunity to run one version of their case past the magistrate, then another past
the district court.").
Consequently, because Reimer failed to raise specific arguments to the

1

Nevertheless, even if the Court were to entertain this argument, it appears that the
Montana Supreme Court found that it was Reimer's responsibility to produce a copy of his trial
transcripts for appellate review. See Montana v. Reimer, No. DA 15-0409, 2016 MT 71N Or.
(Mont. March 22, 2016) ("Reimer has a duty to provide this Court 'with a record sufficient to
enable it to rule upon the issues raised.' Reimer failed to provide a transcript of the sentencing
hearing. Therefore, he has not presented this Court with a record sufficient to determine whether
the District Court acted vindictively in increasing the weapons enhancement sentence.")
(citations omitted). Reimer, however, contends that as an indigent appellant it was the
responsibility of state to provide a copy of his trial transcripts. Despite this contention, there is
no evidence in the record that Reimer made this argument to the Montana Supreme Court.
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rulings made in the Findings and Recommendations, the Court will review for
clear error. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l)(c) (stating that de novo review is only
appropriate when an objector identifies the "specified proposed findings or
recommendations to which objection is made"); see also L.R. 72.3(a)(2) ("An
objection filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l) must itemize ... each
recommendation of the magistrate judge to which objection is made, setting forth
the authority the party relies on to contradict that recommendation."). Upon
review of the Findings and Recommendations, the Court finds no clear error in
Judge Johnston's conclusion that Reimer failed to show why adjudication of his
claim by the Montana Supreme Court was unreasonable and does not merit
deference by this Court.
Accordingly, there being no clear error in Judge Johnston's Findings and
Recommendations, IT IS ORDERED that:
IT IS ORDERED that:
(1) Judge Johnston's Findings and Recommendations (Doc. 7) are
ADOPTED IN FULL.
(2) Reimer's Petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
(3) The Clerk of Court is directed to enter, by separate document, a
judgment of dismissal.
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(4) A certificate of appealability is DENIED.
DATED this

22-~ay of December,

16.

'
Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge
United States District Court

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