Sula v. Stephens
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND OPINION GRANTING 12 MOTION for Discovery, and DENYING AS MOOT 8 MOTION for Summary Judgment with Brief in Support. The Petition for a writ of habeas corpus is DENIED. A Certificate of Appealability is DENIED. (Signed by Judge Lee H Rosenthal) Parties notified.(amwilliams, 4)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
JOEY SULA,
(TDCJ-CID #1550164)
§
§
§
§
Petitioner,
§
VS.
§
WILLIAM STEPHENS,
§
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. H-13-3474
§
§
Respondent.
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION
The petitioner, Joey Sula, seeks habeas corpus reliefunder 28 U.S.c. § 2254. The respondent
filed a motion for summary judgment, (Docket Entry No.8), with the state-court record. (Docket
Entries Nos. 9 & 10). Sula filed a response. (Docket Entry No. 11). Based on the pleadings, the
motion and responses, the record, and the applicable law, the court grants the respondent's motion
and enters final judgment by separate order. The reasons are stated below.
I.
Background
A jury found Sula guilty of the felony offenses of theft and money laundering. (Cause
Number 48,258). On December 8, 2008, the court sentenced Sula to two ten-year sentences, to be
served concurrently. Sula does not challenge his holding conviction. Rather, he challenges the
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles decision to deny him release on discretionary mandatory
supervision. Sula filed an application for state habeas corpus relief on May 20, 2013, which the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied without written order on September 18, 2013. Ex parte
Sula, Application No. 75,523-02 at cover.
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On November 22,2013, this court received Sula's federal petition. Sula contends that the
denial of mandatory supervision is invalid for the following reasons:
(1)
the Board improperly denied Sula's release to mandatory supervision because the
Board made an incorrect determination that his accrued good-time credits do not
accurately reflect his potential for rehabilitation; and
(2)
Sula was denied a meaningful opportunity to be heard when the Board failed to give
him sufficient notice of his mandatory supervision review date.
(Docket Entry No.1, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, p. 6).
II.
The Applicable Legal Standards
Sula's petition is governed by the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
(AEDPA). Subsections 22S4(d)(1) and (2) of AEDPA set out the standards of review for questions
of fact, questions of law, and mixed questions of fact and law that result in an "adjudication on the
merits." An adjudication on the merits "is a term of art that refers to whether a court's disposition
of the case is substantive, as opposed to procedural." Miller v. Johnson, 200 F.3d 274, 281(Sth Cir.
2000).
The AEDP A provides as follows, in pertinent part:
(d) An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person
in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be
granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits
in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an
unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law,
as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or
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(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable
detennination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in
the State court proceeding.
(e)
(1) In a proceeding instituted by an application for a writ of
habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the
judgment of a State court, a determination of a factual issue
made by a State court shall be presumed to be correct. The
applicant shall have the burden of rebutting the presumption
of correctness by clear and convincing evidence.
A state-court detennination of questions of law and mixed questions of law and fact is
reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254( d)( 1) and receives deference unless it "was contrary to, or involved
an unreasonable application of clearly established Federallaw, as determined by the Supreme Court
ofthe United States." Hill v. Johnson, 210 F.3d 481,485 (5th Cir. 2000). A state-court decision is
"contrary to" Supreme Court precedent if: (1) the state court's conclusion is "opposite to that reached
by [the Supreme Court] on a question of law" or (2) the "state court confronts facts that are
materially indistinguishable from a relevant Supreme Court precedent" and arrives at an opposite
result. Williams v. Taylor, 120 S. Ct. 1495 (2000). A state court unreasonably applies Supreme
Court precedent if: (1) it unreasonably applies the correct legal rule to the facts of a particular case;
or (2) it "unreasonably extends a legal principle from [Supreme Court] precedent to a new context
where it should not apply or unreasonably refuses to extend that principle to a new context where
it should apply." Jd at 1495.
In deciding whether a state court's application was unreasonable, a federal court considers
whether the application was "objectively unreasonable." Jd at 1495; Penry v. Johnson, 215 F.3d
504,508 (5th Cir. 2000). The state court's fact finding is "presumed to be correct ... and [receive]
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deference ... unless it 'was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the
evidence presented in the State court proceeding. ", Hill, 210 F.3d at 485 (quoting 28 U.S.c.
§ 2254( d)(2)).
While, "[a]s a general principle, Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, relating to
summary judgment, applies with equal force in the context of habeas corpus cases,". Clark v.
Johnson, 202 F.3d 760, 764 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 831 (2000), the rule applies only to the
extent that it does not conflict with the habeas rules. Section 2254(e)(1)-which mandates that
findings offact made by a state court are "presumed to be correct"- overrides the ordinary rule that,
in a summary judgment motion, all disputed facts must be construed in the light most favorable to
the nonmoving party. Unless the petitioner can "rebut[ ] the presumption of correctness by clear and
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convincing evidence" as to the state court's findings offact, they must be accepted as correct. Smith
v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d 661, 668 (5th Cir. 2002).
Sula is a pro se petitioner. In this circuit, pro se habeas petitions are construed liberally and
are not held to the same stringent and rigorous standards as pleadings filed by lawyers. See Martin
v. Maxey, 98 F.3d 844, 847 n.4 (5th Cir. 1996); Guidroz v. Lynaugh, 852 F.2d 832, 834 (5th Cir.
1988); Woodallv. Foti, 648 F.2d268, 271 (5thCir. Unit A June 1981). This court broadly interprets
Sula's state and federal habeas petitions. Bledsue v. Johnson, 188 F.3d 250, 255 (5th Cir. 1999).
In Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 131 S. Ct. 770, 783-85 (2011), the Supreme Court
held that the deference due a state court decision under § 2254( d) "does not require that there be an
opinion from the state court explaining the state court's reasoning." Id. (citations omitted). The
Court had previously held that "a state court need not cite nor even be aware of our cases under §
2254(d)." Id. (citing Early v. Packer, 537 U.S. 3, 8 (2002) (per curiam)). When no explanation
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accompanies a state-court decision, the petitioner's burden is to show there was "no reasonable basis
for the state court to deny relief." Id. When a state court fails to state which of the elements in a
mUltipart claim it found insufficient, deference is still due that decision because "§ 2254(d) applies
when a 'claim,' not a component of one, has been adjudicated." Id.
III.
Analysis
Sula argues that he has a liberty interest in his release to mandatory supervision and that any
denial of release must comply with due process. The respondent argues that Sula received the
process he was due, and that the Board properly denied release to mandatory supervision.
Sula argues that he was eligible for release on mandatory supervision for his first -degree theft
and money laundering convictions. Neither offense included a finding of the use or exhibition of
a deadly weapon and they are not ineligible for mandatory supervision under § 508.1 49(a) ofthe
Texas Government Code. Sula notes that his wife, Shelly Sula, and Bill Loyd, Field Director of the
Southeast Texas Prison Fellowship, both submitted letters of support to the Board.
Sula also notes that the Board has received several other letters of support from his friends,
business associates, and clients. Sula argues that a review of the complete parole file and record
clearly shows that if released from prison on mandatory supervision, he would not be a danger. He
has no prior history of criminal activity or convictions; he was convicted of a nonviolent offense; and
he had no disciplinary convictions in prison that forfeited previously earned good-conduct time
credits. Sula received one major disciplinary case during his incarceration, but did not forfeit
previously earned good-conduct time credits. Sula argues that the Board's denial of his release to
mandatory supervision release was arbitrary and capricious. (Docket Entry No.3, p. 16).
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Under the mandatory supervision scheme in place since September 1, 1996, the mandatory
nature of the scheme does not apply if the Board "determines that: (1) the inmate's accrued good
conduct time is not an accurate reflection of the inmate's potential for rehabilitation; and (2) the
inmate's release would endanger the public." See § 508.149.
This statute creates a "legitimate, although limited, expectation of release" in which inmates
have a liberty interest. Ex parte Geiken, 28 S.W.3d 553,558-59 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); see also
Teague v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d 769, 777 (5th Cir. 2007) (same) (citing Geiken, 28 S.W.3d at
558-59). "[Because] a liberty interest is created by the statute, due process requires notice and a
meaningful opportunity to be heard." Geiken, 28 S. W.3d at 560 (citing LaChance v. Erickson, 522
U.S. 262 (1998)).
In the context of the Texas scheme for release on mandatory supervision, "due process
requires notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard," and "[i]f release is denied, the inmate
must be informed in what respects he falls short of qualitying for early release." Ex parte Geiken,
28 S.W.3d 553, 560 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (citing LaChance v. Erickson, 522 U.S. 262, 266
(1998); Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 16). The notice must typically inform the inmate "of the specific
month and year in which he will be reviewed for release on mandatory supervision." Ex parte
Ratzlaff, 135 S.W.3d 45,50 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
The Texas mandatory supervision statute provides that "a parole panel shall order the release
of an inmate who is not on parole to mandatory supervision when the actual calendar time the inmate
has served plus any accrued good conduct time equals the term to which the inmate was sentenced."
TEX. GOy'T. CODE § 508.147(a). The statute also provides as follows:
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(b) An inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision if a
parole panel determines that:
(1) the inmate's accrued good conduct time is not an accurate
reflection of the inmate's potential for rehabilitation; and
(2) the inmate's release would endanger the public.
(c) A parole panel that makes a determination under Subsection (b)
shall specify in writing the reasons for the determination.
TEX. GOY'T. CODE § 508. 149(b)-(c). Giving notice of the month and year in which an inmate will
be reviewed for release on mandatory supervision at least 30 days before the review takes place
allows the inmate to submit materials.
Due process does not require that an inmate receive a live hearing before the Board. Geiken,
28 S.W.3d at 559. "If release is denied, the inmate must be informed in what respects he falls short
of qualifying for early release." Id. at 560 (citing Greenholtz v. Inmates oj Neb. Penal and Carr.
Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 16 (1979)). "Due process does not require that the Board provide the
particulars in the inmate's file upon which it rested the decision to deny release." Id. (citations
omitted).
The record reflects that Sula received notice, an opportunity to be heard, and information as
to why he did not qualify for release. Sula was informed of the review more than 30 days before it
was held. Although an inmate is typically given notice of the month and year when the Board will
conduct its review, that is not an absolute right. See Retzlaff, 135 S. W.3d at 50 n.t8 (recognizing
that designating a specific month for review may not always be practical). But "written notice that
an inmate will be reviewed at some unspecified time in the future, coupled with a request that he
submit relevant materials 'as soon as possible,' is constitutionally deficient notice." Id. at 50. On
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December 22, 2011, Sula, then incarcerated at the TDCJ's Ramsey I Unit in Rosharon, Texas,
received a Notice ofInitial Discretionary Mandatory Review notifying him that it would review his
file to determine whether he was to be released to mandatory supervision. (Docket Entry No. 9-1,
Parole Packet, p. 4). The Notice directed Sula to submit any additional information for the Board's
consideration within thirty days. Id. The record does not reflect that Sula submitted any such
information.
On March 22, 2012, the Board sent Sula a notice stating that he had been denied mandatory
supervision. The relevant portion reads:
You have been denied Mandatory Supervision Release for the
reason(s) listed below. One or more components indicated in each
paragraph listed below may apply, but only one is required.
9Dl.
The record indicates that the inmate's accrued good conduct
time is not an accurate reflection of the inmate's potential for
rehabilitation.
9D2.
The record indicates that the inmate's release would endanger
the public.
10D.
Other - Offense severity
(Docket Entry No. 8-1, Respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment, Ex. A, p. 6).
On November 2,2012, Sula, then incarcerated at the TDCJ's Telford Unit in New Boston,
Texas, received a Notice of Subsequent Discretionary Mandatory Review. This notice stated that
the Board would review Sula's file to determine whether he was to be released to mandatory
supervision and directed him to submit any additional information for the Board's consideration
within thirty days. (Docket Entry No. 9-1, Parole Packet, p. 6). The record does not reflect that Sula
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submitted any such information. On February 27,2013, the Board sent Sula a notice stating that he
had been denied mandatory supervision. The relevant portion of the notice reads:
You have been denied Mandatory Supervision Release for the
reason(s) listed below. One or more components indicated in each
paragraph listed below may apply, but only one is required.
9Dl.
The record indicates that the inmate's accrued good conduct
time is not an accurate reflection of the inmate's potential for
rehabilitation.
9D2.
The record indicates that the inmate's release would endanger
the public.
10D.
Other - 10D- Quantity of theft; institutional adjustment.
(Docket Entry No. 8-1, Respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment, Ex. A, p. 8).
The notices informed Sula that he had 30 days to submit any relevant materials and that the
Board would make its determination before Sula's projected release date. The notices did not
indicate what that date was when the hearings would occur. The notices were not deficient under
Retzlaff because they specified the time frame for Sula to submit materials to the Board. See
Retzlaff, 135 S.W.3d at 50.
Even if a notice is deficient, "to establish a denial of procedural due process, petitioner must
show substantial prejudice" stemming from the deficiency. Davis v. Mann, 882 F.2d 967, 975 (5th
Cir. 1989) (additional citation omitted)). Sula had sufficient opportunity to be heard because he
could have submitted materials to the Board to review. "[A] meaningful opportunity to be heard
[consists of] an opportunity to tender or have tendered to the Board information in support of
release." Geiken, 28 S.W.3d at 559-60. Sula does not argue that he was prejudiced by the failure
to notifY him of the month of the hearing, and the court cannot identifY any such prejudice. Sula
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submitted no materials for the Board's consideration. He suffered no prejudice from the notice and
no due process violation.
Third, the Board sent him a letter listing three reasons why he did not qualify. Due process
requires nothing more. See Geiken, 28 S.W.3d at 560 (citing Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 16). Sula has
failed to demonstrate that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals unreasonably denied his claim
requesting mandatory release. The court must also deny this claim. See Harrington, 131 S. Ct. at
786-87.
To the extent Sula claims that his due process rights were violated by a denial of parole, his
claims fail. The United States Constitution does not create a liberty interest in parole. Greenholtz
v. Inmates of Neb. Penal & Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1 (1979).
Texas law makes parole
discretionary and does not create a liberty interest in parole that is protected by the Due Process
Clause. Orellana v. Kyle, 65 F.3d 29,31-32 (5th Cir. 1995); see also Johnson v. Rodriguez, 110
F.3d 299, 308 (5th Cir. 1997). Parole is a privilege, not a right. See Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 7
(convicted persons have no constitutional right to be conditionally released before the expiration of
a valid sentence); 37 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 145.3(1) ("Release to parole is a privilege, not an offender
right, and the parole decision maker is vested with complete discretion to grant, or to deny parole
release as defined by statutory law."). An inmate who has met the minimum requirement for time
served under the applicable parole eligibility statute is not entitled to be released on parole. Rather,
he is only entitled to a review to determine whether or not he will be released on parole. See 37 TEX.
ADMIN. CODE § 145.3(1) ("[T]he parole decision maker is vested with complete discretion to grant,
or to deny parole release .... ") (emphasis added); Allison v. Kyle, 66 F.3d 71, 74 (5th Cir. 1995)
(because a prisoner has no liberty interest in obtaining parole in Texas, he cannot complain of the
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constitutionality of procedural devices attendant to parole decisions). Because Sula has no liberty
interest in obtaining parole in Texas, he has no claim for violation of due process in the procedures
attendant to his parole decisions. Orellana, 65 F.3d at 31.
Having independently reviewed the entire state court record, this court finds that the state
court's application of clearly established federal law and the state court's determination of facts in
light of the evidence were not unreasonable. There is no basis for habeas relief.
IV.
Conclusion
The respondent's motion for summary judgment, (Docket Entry No.8), is granted. Sula's
petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied. This case is dismissed. Any remaining pending
motions, including Sula's motion for discovery, (Docket Entry No. 12), are denied as moot.
The Supreme Court has stated that the showing necessary for a Certificate of Appealability
is a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. Hernandez v. Johnson, 213 F.3d 243,
248 (5th Cir. 2000) (citing Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473,483-84 (2000)). An applicant makes
a substantial showing when he demonstrates that his application involves issues that are debatable
among jurists of reason, that another court could resolve the issues differently, or that the issues are
suitable enough to deserve encouragement to proceed further. See Clark v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 760,
763 (5th Cir. 2000). When a district court has rejected a prisoner's constitutional claims on the
merits, the applicant must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court's
assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong. Slack, 529 U.S. 484.
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This court has denied Sula's petition after careful consideration of the merits of his
constitutional claims. This court denies a Certificate of Appealability because Sula has not made
the necessary showing for issuance.
SIGNED on September 30, 2014, at Houston, Texas.
Lee H. Rosenthal
United States District Judge
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