McKnight v. Warden, Ohio State Penitentiary

Filing 235

SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM OPINION ON AUTHORIZATION TO APPEAR IN ANCILLARY STATE COURT LITIGATION. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz on 3/28/2017. (kpf)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION AT COLUMBUS
GREGORY McKNIGHT
:
Petitioner,

Case No. 2:09-cv-059
:

District Judge Susan J. Dlott
Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz

-vsDAVID BOBBY, Warden,
:
Respondent.

SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM OPINION ON AUTHORIZATION
TO APPEAR IN ANCILLARY STATE COURT LITIGATION
This capital habeas corpus case is before the Court on Petitioner’s Appeal (ECF No. 225)
of the Decision and Order Denying in Part Petitioner’s Motion for Authorization to Appear in
Ancillary State Court Litigation (“D&O,” ECF No. 220). Judge Dlott has recommitted the
matter (Corrected Recommittal Order, ECF No. 228), and the Warden has filed a Response to the
Appeal (ECF No. 232).
On January 11, 2017, the Petitioner McKnight filed his “Motion for Authorization to
Appear in Ancillary State Court Litigation.” (ECF No. 216). After briefing, the Magistrate Judge
denied authorization to appear to present a claim of denial of effective assistance of penalty
phase in state court because the Court had set and extended the deadline for moving for such
authorization many times and Petitioner had met none of those deadlines (D&O, ECF No. 220,
PageID 16694).
The other claim McKnight seeks to present to the state courts is his claim that Ohio’s
capital sentencing scheme is unconstitutional under Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016). The
1

Decision notes that amendment to add a Hurst claim had been denied, but the denial was subject
to appeal (ECF No. 220, PageID 16693-94).1 As to presenting the Hurst claim in the Ohio
courts, the Decision concluded McKnight had met two criteria established by Harbison v. Bell,
556 U.S. 180 (2009), but ordered additional briefing on two questions: (1) Harbison calls for an
“appropriateness” decision on attempts to exhaust claims, but “contains no guidance on how that
appropriateness decision should be made in a case such as this where counsel believe they have a
meritorious claim to present to the state courts and the District Court disagrees, (2) How much
weight should the District Court give to its conclusion that the claim is or is not procedurally
barred in the state courts? (D&O, ECF No. 220, PageID 16695.)
In response, McKnight argues this Court should leave determination of procedural default
in the first instance to the Ohio courts. (ECF No. 223, PageID 16731-2, citing the McKnight v.
Bobby, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183114 (S.D. Ohio Dec. 31, 2002)(Merz, M.J.); Hill v. Mitchell,
30 F. Supp. 2d 997, 1000 (S.D. Ohio 1998)(Sargus, D.J.); and Cunningham v. Hudson, 756 F.3d
477, 483 (6th Cir. 2014)(per curiam). As to the merits, McKnight argues that “there is no
controlling federal authority rendering McKnight’s Hurst claim meritless.” Id. at PageID 16733.
McKnight’s counsel reports she has been unable to
find any cases granting or denying authorization of federal counsel
to appear in state court in order to exhaust on the basis of the
merits of the underlying claim. Instead, the inquiry undertaken is
whether federal counsel seeks to return to state court to exhaust a
federal claim related to his pending federal habeas petition.

(ECF No. 223, PageID 16735.) But McKnight’s Hurst claim is only “related to his pending
federal habeas petition” if the Court allows amendment to add that claim, which has thus far
been denied.
1 The denial of the Motion to Amend was appealed and recommitted. A Supplemental Opinion on that question was filed March 28, 2017 (ECF No. 234).

2

The Warden’s Response notes that 18 U.S.C. § 3599 is a funding statute only and not a
jurisdictional statute (ECF No. 224). As to the second question, the Warden argues a federal
habeas court should not authorize federal funding for a claim for relief it has decided is without
merit. Id.
In addition to responding to the Court’s order for additional briefing, McKnight has also
appealed from the Decision and Order (ECF No. 225). The Magistrate Judge concluded his
request for federal funding to pursue his ineffective assistance of trial counsel at the penalty was
“grossly untimely.” McKnight argues this conclusion is “clearly erroneous” (ECF No. 225,
PageID 16751).

Analysis

Regarding the Hurst claim, the Magistrate Judge finds persuasive the Warden’s argument
that it would be anomalous to authorize federal funding to pursue a claim the Court has found to
be without merit. Therefore that branch of the Motion should be denied without prejudice to its
renewal if the District Judge rejects the Magistrate Judge’s conclusion on the cognizability of
that claim.
Regarding the ineffective assistance of trial counsel at the penalty phase claim, the
Magistrate Judge adheres to his prior finding without further analysis.

March 28, 2017.
s/ Michael R. Merz
United States Magistrate Judge

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