Melton v. Clarke

Filing 24

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 10/11/2017. (tvt)

CLERK' OFFI t . .DI &OURT
:
CE JS ST.
AT ROANOKE,
' VA
FI ED
L

02T 112 1
27
I TH E UN I
N
TED STATE S D I RI CO U RT
ST CT
FO R TH E W E STE RN D I RICT O F W RG I I
ST
N A
R OAN OU D I SIO N
W
D EN N Y C.M E LTO N ,
Pet t oner
ii
,

J
BK

U L ,CL
ERK
L
ERK

CASE N O .7:6CV00541
1

M E M O RAN D U M O PI ION
N
H ARO LD W .CI,
ARU ,
Res
pondent
.

By:H on.M i haelF.U r
c
bansd
l

Chi fUnie S at sDi ti t udge
e
t d t e s rc J

D enny C.M elon,a Vig ni i a e pr edi prq . ,fld t speùton f awrtof
t
r i a nm t oce ng
K le hi
i or
i
- -

ha a c us pu s a t 2 U.. j22 41c aln i g t vail yofhi c nine nto
be s om , z u nt o 8 SC. 5 , h l g n he l i
e
ct
s o me n

a jdg ntb t Haia Cou y Cic tCo t Re po n fld a mo n t d s ls
u me y he l x nt rui ut. s nde t l
f
e
do o in is
Met s j 2 5 p tt a Met n fi d t r s d,ma ng t matr rpe f z
l
on'
2 4 e ion, nd lo al o e pon
i
e
ki he te i o
diposton. Afe r vi w oft t cor t cour concudest tM et s pe ii i tm e
s ii
tr e e
he e d, he
t
l
ha
lon' tton s i ba r a s es i ,t qlii g t m odon t cinas t begr nt d.
r ed nd ucc sve e ntt he
a
o ls is o
a e
Backgr
ound

On J ne 1 ,1 9 ,a j y c n ce Met o f tde z e mu de a us o a
u 1 9 9 ut o vit d lon f us- g e t r nd e f
1

fr r i t e c nas i ofm ur r The H aia Count Cic tCour s enc d M elon
tea m n l om ison
a
de .
lf x
y t ui
t ent e
t

t 1 yea si prs
o 02 r n ion.

By c
ouns , M et a
el
lon ppeae t t Vigi a Cour of Appeas but t c t
ld o he r ni
t
l,
he our
dir s ed hi pe ii on Febr r 3,2000 a Aprl26,2000. M e t appe e agan,but
snis
s ttons
ua y
nd
i
lon
ald i
t Supr m e Cokt of Vig ni r f e li pe ii on Augus 1 2000,a de e ii
he
e
lt
r i a e us d ns tton
t 7,
nd nid as
pe ii f r tng on Se e be 15,2000. M et di nota
tton or ehea i
pt m t
lon d
ppea t t Supr m e Cour
l o he
e
t

1Metn oiial atmptd t feawrto h b a c musptsa tt 2 U.. j 2 4 ,b ttec u t
l l nl t e o t
o g y e
l
i f aes o
t u n o 8 SC. 2 1 u h o r
r
rc aatrzdhsplio a aj2 5 .
eh rceie i e é n s 2 4
t

oft Unie St es t r or ,hi c cton be m e fna on D ec be 15,2000. Sup.Ct
he
t d at ; he ef e s onvi i
ca i l
em r
.

R.1 ( tto f rawrtofc r r r i tmeywhe fld wil rie yd y atre r ofa
3 Peiin o
i e éo ai s i l n t
e t ln t a s fe nty n
a
or rd n i g ds r to r z v e )
de e yn ic eina y e im .

On J ne 21 20 2 M et n f e a j2 4 peiin f r awrto ha a c r . On
u
, 0 , lo z d
25 tto o
i f be s o pusz
Fe ua y 28,2003, t c zt dinns e t pe ii a untm ey. M et v.Youn ,N o.
br r
he otr s is d he tton s i l
lon

7:2 0 5 ( . Va Fe 2 ,2 3 . The dititc r ltr d snis d a m o i f t
0 CV0 7 9 W D. . b. 8 00 )
src ou t ae il s e
ton o
r onsde a i a t Fourh Cicui Cour ofA ppe sde e M et sa a .
ec i r ton, nd he
t r t
t
al nid lon' ppe l
Ove a dec lt r M et fl a sa e ha as pe i on Augus 5 2015 i t
r ' ade a e , lon ted t t be
téon
t ,
n he
H aia Count Cic t Cour . The ct ui cour dir s e t pe ii a untm ey on
lf x
y t ui
t
ic t
t snis d he tton s
i l
Augus 10,2016,a M e t ci nota a .
t
nd lon ld
ppe l

O n Se e be 23,2016,M et fl d t c r nt pe ii algi t e cli s of
pt m r
lon le he ut e
tton, le ng hr e nm
c ter or alofwhi h hepr e ed t t Supr m e Cour ofVigni on diec a
our r , l
c
es nt o he
e
t
ti a
t t ppea:
l
The ti lc t e r d by r usng t g a t def ns m oéon t s rke a t r was
ra our z e
ef i o r nt he e e
o ti s he e

i ufki nte denc t c c t de e
ns f e vi
e o onvit he f ndantofm kr rand us ofa fr qt durng
zde
e
le .
m
i
am ur r
de ;

The til c t e r d by f ii t gr nt a nns ra whe a wine s i c t t
ra our r e
alng o a
i ti l
n
t s ndia ed he
%
'

def nda s d hewant t 1. tueeot rpe e;a
e nt ai '
ed o al l
l
he opl nd
The ti lc t e r by f ii t gr nt a nzsta whe e a wines t sii d t t
ra ouz r ed
alng o a
iti l
r
t s e tfe hat he

d f n n wa i ji o a c r e ofpose son o a f e r a trben ac n it d
e e da t s n al n hag
s si f t a m fe i g o v ce
t
f on.
el

l
I.

Ti em Bar

2M et d d notfl a sa ehabe spe ii be oz hi 2 f de a pe n.
lon i
le t t
a tton f e s 002 e r l ddo

Unde teAnttrors Efed De t Pe lyAc (
rh
i ez im fc ve ah nat t AEDPA) ao -erpei
, ney a rod
oflm ia i f f de a ha scoz r fom t l es of
i t ton or e r l bea
pus uns r
he at t :

( t e dae on wlih t j g ntbe a fna b t c lso of
A) h t
l he ud me c me i l y he oncu in
c
diec r vi w ort e r ton oft tm e f s edng s h r viw;
r te e
he xpia i
he i or e l
uc e e

( t d t o whih t i cm e t fl g a a plc to c e td b
B) he ae n c he mpel nt o ln n p iain r ae y
i
i
St t a i i vi aton of t Cons iuton or lws of t Unied St t s i
a e cton n ol i
he
tt i
a
he
t
ae s
r m ove i t a i ntwa pr ve e fom flng by s St t a ton;
e
d, f he pplca
s e nt d r li
uch a e c i

( t d t on whc t c ttzina zg a s re wa il il
C) he ae
ih he onsi to l iht s e td s rtal
a
i y
r c ni d by t Supr m e Cour ,i t rght ha be ne y r cogni ed by
e og ze
he
e
t f he i
s en wl e
z
t Supr m e Cour a m ade z t tvey a ia e t c es on c l t r l
he
e
t nd
etoac i l pplc bl o as
ola e a
revi ;or
ew

.

( t d t o whih t e fc t l pr diae of t cnm o cams
D) he ae n
c h a ta e ct
z
he ll r li
pr ent c d ha bee dic r d t ough t e r ie ofduedii nc
es ed oul ve n s ove e hr
he xe cs
lge e.

28U. C. 2 4 d ()
S. j 2 4()1 .
A pe ii z c < ol t f de a ha a s a ut oflm ia i i t wa :sa t or
ttone an f p' he e r l be s t t e i t ton n wo ys t tz y
t
t
t l a e t e t lng. St ut y t lng oc ut whe a pe ii r fls a s a e habea
oli nd quiabl oli
ng
at or oli
c s
n
ttone le
tt
s
pe ii wihi t f der lha slm ia i pe i The f z lha a satze oflm iaéon
tton t n he e a bea i t ton rod.
ede a be s t tt
i t

i t n t ld f r t e d a q- t sae h be s pr c e ig 2 U. C.j 2 4 d ()
s he ol o l uréo of he t t a a o e dn . 8 S.
é
a
2 4()2 .
Eq tbl t lng o y oc u swh n a peiine s wsf()t the ha be n p sz hs
uia e ol nl c r e
i
tto r ho T 1 ha
f
s e urtng i
i
rg s dl e ty a () t t s
iht ig n l, nd 2 ha ome e ta dia y ct u tnc sood i ls wa ' a d
i
x ror n r ic msa e t n a y n
i
P e ntd tmey fl g. Hol nd v.Fl rd ,5 O U..6 1 6 (01 ) ( u ig Pa e v.
r ve e i l ii '
n ' l
a
o i a 6 S 3 , 49 2 0 q otn c

Di lemo, 4 , l 4 8 41 ( 0 ).
Gu il 5 4 U.. 0 , 8 20 5)
La ty,t Supr m e Cour ha al
s l he
e
t s lowed f f de a r viw ofuntm ey pe ii when
or e r l e e
i l ttons

t pei o rm a e ac lr bl cnm o a t a i oc n eu e M c g i v. r i ,1 3
he tt ne k s oo a e li f cu l nn e c nd r ouign Pekns 3
i
S. . 9 4 ( 1 ) Ho ve , o a a ma i c nc pei o
Ct 1 2 20 3 . we r f r n c lnno e e tt n
i
g o be c e i e s h a cnm r q r spe i rt s ppo tli alg do o
t
l
t dbl, uc li e uie t
éone o u r l l a ns f
s e
cons iutona e r wih ne rla l :/ id whet r i be exc pa or
tt i l ror t
w eihe pf pi/
he t
ul t y
s i ndfc e de e, t us worhy e wines a ount, or c i l physc l
c e i vi nc r t t
ye t s cc
s
réca
ia
e de e t twasnotpr s nt d a t l Bec us s h e de ei obvi l
vi nc - ha
e e e t da .
a e uc vi nc s
ousy

una ia ei t vatmaoiyofc ss camso atzlinocnc aerrl
valbl n he s jrt
ae, li f caa n e e r aey
s es f .
ucc s ul

Sc l v. l ,5 3 U.. 8 3 4 ( 9 5 (mpha i a e )
h u Deo 1 S 29 , 2 1 9 ) e
ss dd d .
M elon' diec r viw pr e ngs ende on D ec m be 15,2000,whe he f ied t
t s t te e
oce di
d
e r
n
al o

a a t Supr m e Cour ofVigi as decson t t Supr m e Cour oft Unied St es
ppe l he
e
t
r ni'
ii o he
e
t he
t
at

wi n ni t da s Theeor, e j2 44 ,t sa eofl tto e pie 3 5da s
t
hi ney y . rf e und r 2 4 he tmt i ains x td 6 y
mi
lt r on D ec m be 15,2001. M et di not fl t c r pe ii untlSe e be 23,
ae ,
e r
lon d
le he urent tton i pt m r
2016,m oz t n a dec a t rt lnlt tonspe i had e r d.
e ha
ade fe he i ia i
rod
xpie

Mo e ve , lon c n t l t fdea ha a l té pei be a e()hedd
r o r Met a not ol he e rl be s i a ons tod c us 1
mi
i
no fl asaeha a pei n wihi t o -e ,f d r lha a l tto pei d 3a ()
t l tt be s t
e
éo t n he ney a e e a be s i ain lo , qd 2
r
mi
hehasnots n t thi pe i i e ild t e tbl t lnp4
how ha s éton s ntte o quia e oli

La t ,M et c n te c e hi u i ei s u e M c g i be a ehe h snot
sl lon a no x us s nt l s nd r ouign c us
y
m ne
a
pr fr d a fne ? e ul t y s int e de e tus worhy e wines a ount , or
ofe e ny f w' xc pa or ce xc vi nc , t t t ye t s cc
s
c iia physc le dence de qns t dng a col a e c/m ofa tz li
rtc l
i a vi
m
ta
or bl li
ca a nnoc
ence
.
The e or ,none ofM elon' cai s a e e us f om t f de a tm e- r a t
rf e
t s l m r xc ed r
he e r l i ba , nd he
cour c
t annotr vi w t m e isofhi cam s
e e he rt
s li .

1 . Successve Petton
11
i
ii
The AED PA a s srcty lm ie t consde a i of s cond br s ce sve ha s
lo ti l i t d he
i r ton
e
uc s i
bça

pei ns S el r W il ms 4 4 F.d 2 3, 3 (t Ci. 0 )(br ae o ot e o nds
téo . e n e la , 4 3 3 2 5 4 h t 2 06 a o t d n h r u
i
3M et di fl a sa e ha a pedton i t cr u tc ti 201 butM et ha not s wn t tt ne
lon d t t t be s
e
i n he ic i our n 5,
lon s
ho ha he w

p dd nrst tefd rl a e sco kl e j2 4 ()1; eadestecrut o z ds se lsp t na u i l.
e o ees h e ea h b a lc md z 2 4d ()rgr ls,h ic ic ut imisd l ei s nt y
i do
me
An mfmeysaeh b a pe to cn o tltefd rlhae ssameo l tt s 2 U.. j2 4 ()2 (tt
f l tt a e s din a n t ol h e ea b a tt f i ai . 8 SC. 2 4d4) Sae
i
mi on
h b a p dinmutb po el fe t tltel té nsp ro )
aes et
o s e rp r i d o olh i a o eid .
yl
mi
4M e t m e ey s a e t tfne f dve a ssa e ofc e ' m a sli pe i n tm e y H e ofe sno e de e
lon r l t t s ha f fec
i
si tnc
ouns l' ke zs dto i l .
fr
vi nc
t s r hi c l or alga
o uppo t s onc us y le don; t r f r ,M e t f is t s
he e o e lon al o how t t he pur ue li rght d l nty or t a
ha
s d ts i s ii l
ge
hat ny
e e na c r um sa epr ve e hi tm ey fl
xt z l ic tnc e nt d s i l ing.
i

4

by I r Gr ,8 0 F.d 1 (t Ci. 1 ). Ge r l ,c rsmus dil s a y s c nd o
- n e a 5 3 39 4 h r 20 7) ne al ou t t snis n e o r
y
s c si camswih p eudc t tweepr vou l a j diae o t me is 2 U.. j
uc e sve li t t j ie ha r e i sy d u c t d n he rt. 8 SC.
2 4 $;se as Vi a ue av. t d S ae , 46F.d 5 , 0 (d Ci. 0 ) Un i l s i
2 4q e lo l n v Uni tts 3 3 5 6 2 t 2 03 . tmei s s
l
e
ne
c i r d a a j iai o t e meis u e st de ii wa er e us fhedimis l
onsdee n dudc ton n h rt, nls he cson s ron o : f s sa
t

ofaj2 5pe
25 ééona uni l u e AEDPA prsnt af r n n a ic rbl' rt
s tmey nd r
e e s pema e t nd n ua e ba o
f de a r viw oft m e isoft cam .7 I a 61.
e rle e
he rt
he 1i '5 d. t

Addii ly, a pe ii r c
tona l
ttone annot brng f w' cni s i a s ond or s ce sve
i f ' lm n
ne
ec
uc s i

pe
ééon unl s t a i ntr eve per ison fom t a opta e c t ofa a sby
es he pplca ec i s m s i r
he ppr it our
ppe l

s wig t a ()t cam r l son ane p e i l u valbl,a r toa t ey a pl d
ho n h t 1 he li ei
e
w, r vousy na i e nd et ci l p i
a
v
e
r l ofc t ui lo fd r llw,o ()i t f caa p e c t f tt cam c ul no
ue onsi tona r e e a a r 2 f he a tzl t diae o he li o d t
t
ha be n dic r d pr vi l t ough t e r ie of due dii
ve e
s ove e
e ousy hr
he xe cs
lgence a t f ct
, nd he a s
unde l ng t cnm ,i pz n,woul s fce l e t bls by ce r a c ncng e de
ryi he li f ove
d ufii nty s a ih
la nd onvi i vi nce
1

t t no r s bl f ti r woul ha f
ha
ea ona e ac fnde
d ve ound t a i nt guit of t unde li
he pplca
ly
he
ry ng

ofe e 28U. C. 22 4 $.
fns.
S. j 4 9
At t t es d,M et s pe ii doe not s ts y t r quiem e s of 28 U. C.
he hr hol
lon' tton
s
a if he e r nt
S.

j2 4()2( ,2 44 $() o a yoftes c si peiin e c pto . Fis,Metn fis
24 b ()A) 2 6 3, r n
h uc esve tto x e ins tt lo al
und rj2 4( 3 be a ehef dhi frtpeiini 2 0 a h snotrci dpenlsin
e 24 $() cus ie s is tto n 0 2 nd a
eeve r isb
(

fom t Fotrh Cic tt fl a s esi wrt Sec
r
he z t t ui o ie ucc sve i.
ond,li petton doe not s if t
ls ii
s
ats y he
5fl te ey n meial sc nd p t o i a T c nd o scesv 'p tin wihn temenn o te
fq v t u zcl e o ei n s s o r u c sie eio ti l a ig f h
glo
y
d
e
t
z
AEDPA. I r Wiims4 4F.da 2 5 Peio st taeno c nsd sdscesv icud :()i ap ù ini fs
' n e la , 4 3 t 3 . tin ha z t o iee u c sie n l e 1 f e to s l t
'
l
t
r
ds se wiz u p eu ieo tc nclgo d,sc a fi r t e h u tsaerme is ()fac ' wa n trp a
imisd to t rjdc n eh ia run s u h s al e o x a s tt e de,2 i bf s o ie t
l
u
m
tet ofh frt eio , u ha wh nan w pe d nc aln e a itz e igjd me to whe ape d n rse s
h i
me te t p tin s c s e e d o h l g s n n ev nn u g n r n d o e ek
s t
e
t feaFodv W an ih, 7 U..3 9 (9 6 me tln o ee yc mya ()wh n ap o russamo n
ol
l
r . iwr t4 7 S 9 1 8) na ic mp tnc bi nd 3 e dsne e
do
pus nt o2 U.. j2 5 o j2 5 t rgi ar h t apel S e e .I r Wiims ? 4F.da 2 5(ic sig
tua t 8 SC. 2 5 r 2 4 o ean i t o p a. e . n e la , 4 3 t 3 dsusn
g
tc nclgo n s;I z Gr ,8 0 F.d a 1 2 (ic sn n w peio fr itre lg j g n) Pa el v.
e h la ru d) n d a 5 3 t 4 dsusig e t n o nev nn ud me t; n ti
d
Qu rema ,5 1U.. 3 (0 7 (ic si FpJmo o f ric mp tn e;l r Go d r,1 0F.d4 5 4 8(t
atr n 5 S 9 0 2 0 ) dsu s
ng r é ns o n o ee c) n e d ad 7 3 3 , 3 4h
Ci. 9 9 (ic sigpe é n rsed gt rgi ar tt a p a u d rj2 5 )Ev ns S t, 2 F.d3 6(t Ci.
r 1 9 ) dsusn é o e eln o ean kh o p el n e 2 59 a v. mi 2 0 3 0 4h r
h
2 0 )(x a t ezve o al x e d n )
0 0 eh usi e iw f le cp o s.
v
.

'
'

.

!

rq ie nsofj2 4 $()be a ehi camsaeno bae onane rto ci fdea
e utme t
2 4q 2 cus s li r t sd
w, er a t e il
ve
lw orn wl dic ve e e i e c . Tht , u el srdimis dM et si i lpeiin f z
a
e y s o r d v d n e6 id J dg o e s se lon' néa tto o
u i ei s i 2 0 . J g l s rs ds sa wa noter o ;t r f r ,t e pei n i
nt l s n 0 3 ud e fie ' imis l s
m ne
rone us he eo e h téo s

s c si a no s bjc t a y e c pton.
uc e sve nd t u e t o n x e â 7
I .
V

Fort r as sat d,t cour GR AN T S t m oton t dir s . M et speii
he e ons t e he
t
he
i o sni s
lon' tton
i tm e ba r a s esi A n appr it or tvrl e e t sda
s i - r ed nd ucc sve.
opra e de il nt r hi y.
The Clr i diec e t s nd c e oft sm e oz
e k s t t d o e opi s hi m andum opi on a ac pa i
ni nd com ny ng

or t M e t a t c
der o lon nd o ouns lofr coz f Res
e
e d or pondent Furhe ,fnci t tpe i r
.
t r i lng ha étone
ha f ie t m a a s t ils
s ald o ke ubsanta howi oft de a ofa cons iu i lzghta r quied by
ng
he nil
tt tona i
s e r

28U. C. 2 3()1, criiaeofa aa lyi. .NI
S. j 25 c()a etfc t ppelbiy IDE ED.
i

SNTER:r i / dyo oco e,07
'hs / a f tbr2 1.

/ /- : J /.
>
ChifUnt dStts itit ud e
e ie a e src l g

6M e t r ie alt e ofli c am sdlrngli cie ta a .
lon a s d l hr e ls l i l i ls l c ppe l
r
7M e t s c c n be a e fna i 2
lon' onvido c m i l t 000,t f de a ha as sa tt of l ia i e pied. ne y r lt r i
z
he e r l be t tze i t tons x r o ea a e , n
m

2 0 , n Metnddp tt hsVs j2 5 pe d n1 12 0 .
0 1 a d l i o fl i t 2 4 d o mt 0 2
o
e
1
)
6