Byrd v. Director, TDCJ-CID
Filing
11
MEMORANDUM ORDER adopting the magistrate judge's 10 Report and Recommendation. A certificate of appealability will not be issued. Signed by District Judge Thad Heartfield on 6/26/2020. (bjc, )
Case 1:19-cv-00505-TH-ZJH Document 11 Filed 06/26/20 Page 1 of 3 PageID #: 48
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BEAUMONT DIVISION
DAVID BRADLEY BYRD
§
VS.
§
DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:19-CV-505
MEMORANDUM ORDER ADOPTING THE MAGISTRATE
JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner David Bradley Byrd, a prisoner confined at the Eastham Unit of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, proceeding pro se, filed this
petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
The court ordered that this matter be referred to the Honorable Zack Hawthorn, United States
Magistrate Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of
this court. The magistrate judge recommends dismissing the petition without prejudice.
The court has received and considered the Report and Recommendation of United States
Magistrate Judge filed pursuant to such order, along with the record and the pleadings. No
objections to the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge were filed by the
parties.
In this case, the petitioner is not entitled to the issuance of a certificate of appealability. An
appeal from a judgment denying federal habeas corpus relief may not proceed unless a judge issues
a certificate of appealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253; FED. R. APP. P. 22(b). The standard for granting
a certificate of appealability, like that for granting a certificate of probable cause to appeal under
prior law, requires the petitioner to make a substantial showing of the denial of a federal
Case 1:19-cv-00505-TH-ZJH Document 11 Filed 06/26/20 Page 2 of 3 PageID #: 49
constitutional right. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000); Elizalde v. Dretke, 362
F.3d 323, 328 (5th Cir. 2004); see also Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 (1982). In making that
substantial showing, the petitioner need not establish that he should prevail on the merits. Rather,
he must demonstrate that the issues are subject to debate among jurists of reason, that a court could
resolve the issues in a different manner, or that the questions presented are worthy of encouragement
to proceed further. See Slack, 529 U.S. at 483-84; Avila v. Quarterman, 560 F.3d 299, 304 (5th Cir.
2009). If the petition was denied on procedural grounds, the petitioner must show that jurists of
reason would find it debatable: (1) whether the petition raises a valid claim of the denial of a
constitutional right, and (2) whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling. Slack, 529
U.S. at 484; Elizalde, 362 F.3d at 328. Any doubt regarding whether to grant a certificate of
appealability is resolved in favor of the petitioner, and the severity of the penalty may be considered
in making this determination. See Miller v. Johnson, 200 F.3d 274, 280-81 (5th Cir. 2000).
Petitioner has not shown that any of the issues raised by his claims are subject to debate
among jurists of reason, or that a procedural ruling was incorrect. In addition, the questions
presented are not worthy of encouragement to proceed further. Petitioner has failed to make a
sufficient showing to merit the issuance of a certificate of appealability.
ORDER
Accordingly, the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the magistrate judge are correct,
and the report of the magistrate judge (document no. 10) is ADOPTED. A final judgment will be
2
Case 1:19-cv-00505-TH-ZJH Document 11 Filed 06/26/20 Page 3 of 3 PageID #: 50
entered in this case in accordance with the magistrate judge’s recommendation. A certificate of
appealability will not be issued.
SIGNED this the 26 day of June, 2020.
____________________________
Thad Heartfield
United States District Judge
3
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?