Godfrey v. State of Montana

Filing 5

ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3 in full. A certificate of appealability is DENIED. Signed by Judge Dana L. Christensen on 8/30/2017. Mailed to Godfrey (TAG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
MISSOULA DIVISION
TRACEY R. GODFREY,
Petitioner,
ORDER
vs.
STATE OF MONTANA,
Respondent.

United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch entered his Findings and
Recommendations on June 21, 2017, recommending that Petitioner Tracey R.
Godfrey's ("Godfrey") petition for a writ of habeas corpus be dismissed for lack of
jurisdiction. Godfrey timely filed an objection and is therefore entitled to de novo
review of those findings and recommendations to which he specifically objected.
28 U.S.C. § 636(b )(1 )(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 States v.

Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000). Because the parties are familiar with the

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. factual background of this case, it will not be repeated here.
In his objection, Godfrey argues that Judge Lynch erred by finding that his
petition should be dismissed because it was a second or successive petition for
writ of habeas corpus. Godfrey contends that his claim is not successive in nature
because it rests on "new evidence," namely "a forensic medical evaluation and
exam." (Doc. 4 at 1.) Godfrey cites to 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2) in support.
Godfrey is correct that "[a] claim presented in a second or successive habeas
corpus application" shall not be dismissed if: (1) "the factual predicate for the
claim could not have been discovered previously through the exercise of due
diligence; and [(2)] the facts underlying the claim, if proven and viewed in light of
the evidence as a whole, would be sufficient to establish by clear and convincing
evidence that, but for constitutional error, no reasonable factfinder would have
found the applicant guilty of the underlying offense." 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b )(2)(B).
However, even if Godfrey's claim rests on "new evidence," i.e., the
"forensic medical evaluation and exam," this Court is not permitted to hear his
petition until he seeks leave from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b )(3)(A) ("Before a second or successive
application permitted by this section is filed in the district court, the applicant shall
move in the appropriate court of appeals for an order authorizing the district court
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to consider the application."). Thus, the Court may not review Godfrey"s "new
,evidence" until he moves for leave at the Ninth Circuit. Godfrey's objection is
overruled.
Accordingly, there being no clear error in Judge Lynch's Findings and
Recommendations, IT IS ORDERED that:
(1) Judge Lynch's Findings and Recommendations (Doc. 3) are ADOPTED
IN FULL;
(2) Godfrey's Petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
(3) The Clerk of Court is directed to enter, by separate document, a
judgment in favor of Respondents and against Petitioner.
(4) A certificate of appealability is DENIED.
Dated this 30i-'aay of August, 2017.

Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge
United States District Court

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