Terry v. Donahue
Filing
16
ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENTS MOTION TO DISMISS 8 ; ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION FOR STATE TO EXPAND THE RECORD 10 ; ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION DIRECTING RESPONDENT TO RESPOND 12 ; ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 13 ; ORDER OF DISMISSAL; ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY; ORDER CERTIFYING APPEAL NOT TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH AND ORDER DENYING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS ON APPEAL. Signed by Judge S. Thomas Anderson on 9/28/2015. (Anderson, S.)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
WESTERN DIVISION
______________________________________________________________________________
CEDRIC TERRY,
)
)
Petitioner,
)
)
v.
)
No. 13-2950-STA-cgc
)
MICHAEL DONAHUE,
)
Warden,
)
)
Respondent.
)
______________________________________________________________________________
ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
(ECF No. 8)
ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION FOR STATE TO EXPAND THE RECORD
(ECF No. 10)
ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION DIRECTING RESPONDENT TO RESPOND
(ECF No. 12)
ORDER DENYING PRO SE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(ECF No. 13)
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
ORDER CERTIFYING APPEAL NOT TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH
AND
ORDER DENYING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS ON APPEAL
______________________________________________________________________________
On December 9, 2013, Petitioner Cedric Terry, Tennessee Department of Correction
(“TDOC”) prisoner number 264277, an inmate at the Hardeman County Correctional Facility
(“HCCF”) in Whiteville, Tennessee, filed a pro se petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (ECF
No. 1.) Petitioner paid the habeas filing fee. (ECF No. 2.) The Court issued an order on January
9, 2014, directing Petitioner to file an amended petition on the official form within thirty days.
(ECF No. 4.) On February 20, 2014, Respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss Petition for Failure to
Prosecute due to Petitioner’s failure to file his amended petition within the time specified. (ECF
No. 5.) Petitioner did not respond to this motion. He did, however, file an amended Petition
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody on March 6,
2014. (ECF No. 6.) Because Petitioner complied with the Court’s order, although the compliance
was untimely, the Court excused the late filing and denied the Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 7.)
The Court directed Respondent to respond to the amended habeas petition and file the state court
record. (Id.) On April 9, Respondent filed the state court record and a Motion to Dismiss. (ECF
Nos. 8-9.)
On May 21, 2014, Petitioner filed a Motion for Order Directing State to Expand the
Record With Grand Jury Minutes. (ECF No. 10.) On May 22, 2014, Respondent filed a response
to Petitioner’s motion, opposing the relief sought. (ECF No. 11.) On October 1, 2014, Petitioner
filed a Motion for Order Directing Respondent to File a Response to Amended Petition. (ECF
No. 12.) On August 10, 2015, Petitioner filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 13).
On August 25, 2015, the Court granted Respondent’s Motion (ECF No. 14) to Extend Deadline
for Responding to Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 15.) Respondent’s response
deadline was stayed until after the Motion to Dismiss has been ruled on. (Id.)
For the reasons set forth below, Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED,
Petitioner’s Motion to Expand the State Record is DENIED, Petitioner’s Motion Directing
Respondent to File a Response is DENIED, and Petitioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment is
DENIED.
I. STATE COURT PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Following a trial, a Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted Petitioner of one count of
first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder.1 He was sentenced to life
1
State v. Terry, No. W1999-01568-CCA-R3-CD, 2001 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 143, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. Feb.
23, 2001)
2
imprisonment for first degree murder and twenty years for each attempted first-degree-murder
conviction.2 The two twenty-year sentences run concurrently and consecutively to the life
sentence.3 The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions and sentences on
February 23, 2001.4 The Tennessee Supreme Court denied discretionary review on July 16,
2001.5 Petitioner did not seek review from the United States Supreme Court.6 The mandate
issued on August 1, 2001.
Petitioner filed for state post-conviction relief on June 20, 2002.7 The petition was denied,
and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed on January 31, 2008.8 The Supreme
Court of Tennessee denied discretionary review on June 30, 2008.9
II.
PETITIONER’S FEDERAL HABEAS CLAIMS
In his amended § 2254 petition, for his first two grounds, Petitioner contends that his
post-conviction attorney, Juni S. Ganguli, provided ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to
raise the claims that (1) the State failed to prove the element of premeditation so as to sustain a
first degree murder conviction,10 and (2) appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise in
the Rule 11 application for permission to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court that the Court
2
Id.
3
Id.
4
Id. at *2
5
Id. (see Lexis “Subsequent History”)
6
D.E. 6 at 2
7
Terry v. State, No. W2007-00536-CCA-R3-PC, 2008 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 61, at *5 (Tenn. Crim. App. Jan.
31, 2008)
8
Id. at *1
9
Terry v. State, No. W2007-00536-SC-R11-PC, 2008 Tenn. LEXIS 454 (Tenn. June 30, 2008)
10
ECF No. 6-1, PageID 59
of Criminal Appeals violated the Constitution by “constructing” the State’s argument concerning
the doctrine of “transferred intent,” even though this doctrine was not raised by the State in its
appellate brief.11
As his third ground for relief, Petitioner states that he was discriminated against by the
State and his equal protection rights were violated when the State allowed Marcus King, his codefendant, to plead guilty to a lesser charge.12
As his fourth ground for relief, Petitioner states that the decision of the Court of Criminal
Appeals that the evidence was sufficient to sustain a conviction for first degree murder and
attempted first degree murder was contrary to the decision in Jackson v. Virginia13 and that
cumulative errors violated his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.14
Respondent contends that the petition filed on December 9, 2013, is time barred by the
one year limitations period under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d) and that Petitioner has failed to allege
facts that would entitle him to equitable tolling of the limitations period.
III.
ANALYSIS
The statutory authority for federal courts to issue habeas corpus relief for persons in state
custody is provided by 28 U.S.C. § 2254, as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death
Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”). A federal court may grant habeas relief to a state prisoner
“only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the
United States.”15
11
Id., PageID 62
12
Id., PageID 66
13
443 U.S. 307 (1979)
14
Id., PageID 71
15
28 U.S.C. § 2254(a)
4
Twenty-eight U.S.C. § 2244(d) provides:
(1)
A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to an application for a writ of
habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State
court. The limitation period shall begin to run from the latest of(A)
(B)
the date on which the impediment to filing an application
created by State action in violation of the Constitution or
laws of the United States is removed, if the applicant was
prevented from filing by such State action;
(C)
the date on which the constitutional right asserted was
initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if the right has
been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made
retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; and
(D)
(2)
the date on which the judgment became final by the
conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for
seeking such review;
the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or
claims presented could have been discovered through the
exercise of due diligence.
The time during which a properly filed application for State postconviction or other collateral review with respect to the pertinent judgment
or claim is pending shall not be counted toward any period of limitation
under this subsection.
In the present case, the Tennessee Supreme Court denied discretionary review of
Petitioner’s direct appeal on July 16, 2001. The judgment became final ninety-one16 days later,
on October 15, 2001, after expiration of the time for seeking review from the United States
Supreme Court.17 The limitations period ran for 248 days, until June 20, 2002, when Petitioner
filed for state-post conviction relief. The limitations period tolled until the Supreme Court of
16
The ninetieth day fell on a Sunday. Under Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(3), time periods do not include a last day that
falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
17
See Payton v. Brigano, 256 F.3d 405, 409 (6th Cir. 2001)
Tennessee denied discretionary review of state post-conviction proceedings on June 30, 2008.18
The limitations period expired 119 days19 later on October 27, 2008. Petitioner waited more than
five years to file his habeas petition. Thus, the petition is time barred unless the doctrine of
equitable tolling applies.
“[T]he doctrine of equitable tolling allows federal courts to toll a statute of limitations
when a litigant’s failure to meet a legally mandated deadline unavoidably arose from
circumstances beyond that litigant’s control.”20 The § 2254 limitations period is subject to
equitable tolling.21 “[T]he doctrine of equitable tolling is used sparingly by the federal courts.”22
“The party seeking equitable tolling bears the burden of proving he is entitled to it.”23 A habeas
petitioner is entitled to equitable tolling “only if he shows ‘(1) that he has been pursuing his
rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way’ and prevented
timely filing.”24
Petitioner does not allege any circumstances justifying the application of equitable
tolling.
Ignorance of the law does not toll the limitations period, and Petitioner fails to
demonstrate any circumstances beyond his control that would have interfered with a timely
filing. To the contrary, he demonstrates a marked lack of diligence. Petitioner does not allege
18
See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2)
19
One year (365 days) minus 248 days while the limitations was tolled in state court left 117 days in which
Petitioner could timely file his petition. The 117th day fell on a Saturday and, therefore, he had until the following
Monday, the 119th day, to file his petition.
20
Keenan v. Bagley, 400 F.3d 417, 421 (6th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted)
21
Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 645-49 (2010)
22
Robertson v. Simpson, 624 F.3d 781, 784 (6th Cir. 2010); see also Vroman v. Brigano, 346 F.3d 598, 604 (6th
Cir. 2003) (same); Jurado v. Burt, 337 F.3d 638, 642 (6th Cir. 2003) (same)
23
Robertson, 624 F.3d at 784
24
Holland, 560 U.S. at 649 (quoting Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 418 (2005)
6
any concrete fact or circumstance that prevented him from filing a habeas petition under 28
U.S.C. § 2254 within one year of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s denial of his application for
permission to appeal the denial of post-conviction relief.25
To the extent that Petitioner attempts to make a claim of actual innocence based on the
affidavit of Marcus King,26 “a claim of actual innocence is not itself a constitutional claim, but
instead a gateway through which a habeas petitioner must pass to have his otherwise barred
constitutional claim considered on the merits.”27 The actual innocence exception is very narrow
in scope and requires proof of factual innocence, not just legal insufficiency.28 In this case,
Petitioner is asserting a freestanding actual innocence claim, that is, a claim of actual innocence
that is not used to excuse the procedural default of another claim. Although the Supreme Court
has suggested that it may recognize freestanding actual innocence claims in capital cases,29 it has
not done so in noncapital cases such as this one. Therefore, equitable tolling is not appropriate in
this case. This petition is clearly barred by the statute of limitations.
Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss the petition as time barred is GRANTED. (ECF No.
11.)
The petition is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Petitioner’s Motion for Order
25
Thomas v. Romanowski, 362 F. App’x 452, 455 (6th Cir. 2010); Harrison v. I.M.S., 56 F. App’x 682, 685-86 (6th
Cir. 2003) (declining to apply equitable tolling when prisoner was ignorant of the filing deadline because, through
his other contacts with the court, he “learned that his other documents he filed with the court had corresponding
filing deadlines” and, therefore, he “knew or should have known that his application for a writ of habeas corpus also
had a filing deadline”); Miller v. Cason, 49 F. App’x 495, 497 (6th Cir. 2002) (“Miller’s lack of knowledge of the
law does not excuse his failure to timely file a habeas corpus petition.”); Brown v. United States, 20 F. App’x 373,
374 (6th Cir. 2001) (“Ignorance of the limitations period does not toll the limitations period.”)
26
ECF No. 13-1
27
Herrera v. Collins, 506 U.S. 390, 404 (1993)
28
Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 623 (1998) (“It is important to note . . . that ‘actual innocence’ means
factual innocence, not mere legal insufficiency.”)
29
See Herrera, 506 U.S. at 417
Directing the State to Expand the Record (ECF No. 10), Motion for Order Directing Respondent
to File a Response (ECF No. 12), and Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 13), are
DENIED as moot. Judgment shall be entered for Respondent.
IV.
APPELLATE ISSUES
There is no absolute entitlement to appeal a district court’s denial of a § 2254 petition.30
The Court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability (“COA”) when it enters a final order
adverse to a § 2254 petitioner.31 A petitioner may not take an appeal unless a circuit or district
judge issues a COA.32
A COA may issue only if the petitioner has made a substantial showing of the denial of a
constitutional right, and the COA must indicate the specific issue or issues that satisfy the
required showing.33 A “substantial showing” is made when the petitioner demonstrates that
“reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have
been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were ‘adequate to deserve
encouragement to proceed further.’”34 A COA does not require a showing that the appeal will
succeed.35 Courts should not issue a COA as a matter of course.36
30
Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335 (2003); Bradley v. Birkett, 156 F. App’x 771, 772 (6th Cir. 2005)
31
Rule 11, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts
32
28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1); Fed. R. App. P. 22(b)(1)
33
28 U.S.C. §§ 2253(c)(2) & 3
34
Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 336 (citing Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)); Henley v. Bell, 308 F. App’x
989, 990 (6th Cir. 2009) (per curiam) (same)
35
Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 337; Caldwell v. Lewis, 414 F. App’x 809, 814-15 (6th Cir. 2011) (same)
36
Bradley, 156 F. App’x at 773 (quoting Slack, 537 U.S. at 337)
8
In this case, there can be no question that the claims in this petition are barred by the
statute of limitations. Because any appeal by Petitioner on the issues raised in this petition does
not deserve attention, the Court DENIES a certificate of appealability.
For the same reasons the Court denies a certificate of appealability, the Court determines
that any appeal would not be taken in good faith. It is therefore CERTIFIED, pursuant to Fed.
R. App. P. 24(a), that any appeal in this matter would not be taken in good faith, and leave to
appeal in forma pauperis is DENIED.37
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ S. Thomas Anderson
S. THOMAS ANDERSON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Date: September 28, 2015.
37
If Petitioner files a notice of appeal, he must pay the full $505 appellate filing fee or file a motion to proceed in
forma pauperis and supporting affidavit in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals within thirty (30) days of the date of
entry of this order. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(5).
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