Opinion
No. 2:20-cv-785-EFB P
06-24-2020
JULIANO VITO ACUNA, Petitioner, v. G. MATTESON, Respondent.
ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Petitioner, proceeding pro se, seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. He has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 9. His application makes the required showing and is granted. His petition, however, does not state a viable federal habeas claim for the reasons explained below.
I. Legal Standards
The court must dismiss a habeas petition or portion thereof if the prisoner raises claims that are legally "frivolous or malicious" or fail to state a basis on which habeas relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). The court must dismiss a habeas petition "[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief[.]" Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. ///// /////
II. Analysis
Petitioner's sole habeas claim is that the state trial court in which his conviction was obtained lacked jurisdiction over his case because he was charged by felony complaint rather than by indictment or information. ECF No. 1 at 7-8, 12. Specifically, he alleges that "the state was permitted to prosecute a felony case pursuant to an illegal charging instrument incapable of conferring jurisdiction upon the court and informing petitioner of the charges." Id. at 12.
This claim sounds entirely in state law insofar as it centers exclusively on the proper state procedure for bringing criminal charges in California courts. And it has long been held that federal habeas relief does not lie for errors of state law. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991) ("We have stated many times that 'federal habeas corpus relief does not lie for errors of state law.'") (quoting Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 780 (1990)). Petitioner appears to argue that a want of jurisdiction is an error of such magnitude that it is not susceptible to ordinary bars. See ECF No. 1 at 6 ("Time limits and bars . . . cannot be applied to [f]undamental [j]urisdictional issues . . . ."). But other federal courts have indicated that a claim that a state court lacked jurisdiction under state law is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See, e.g., Willis v. Egeler, 532 F.2d 1058, 1059 (6th Cir. 1976) ("Determination of whether a state court is vested with jurisdiction under state law is a function of the state courts, not the federal judiciary."); Hernandez v. Ylst, 930 F.2d 714, 719 - 20 (9th Cir. 1991) (stating that "[w]e are not persuaded that a constitutional violation necessarily occurs when the convicting state court acts without jurisdiction purely as a matter of state law," but finding it unnecessary to reach issue because state court had jurisdiction); Wright v. Angelone, 151 F.3d 151, 157-59 (4th Cir. 1998) (petitioner's claim that state trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over certain counts was "not cognizable on federal habeas review" because it "rest[ed] solely upon an interpretation of Virginia's case law and statutes"); Schweder v. Ryan, No. CV-16-08306-PCT-GMS (BSB), 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 208436, *28 (D. Ariz., Dec. 18, 2017) ("Because a determination of the trial court's jurisdiction is based on the application of state law, Petitioner's claims challenging the ///// ///// trial court's jurisdiction are not amenable to federal habeas corpus review.") (adopted at Schweder v. Ryan, No. CV-16-08306-PCT-GMS, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107072 (D. Ariz., June 26, 2018)).
Based on the foregoing, the court concludes that the petition does not state a cognizable federal claim and should be dismissed.
III. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that:
1. Petitioner's application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 9) is GRANTED; and
2. The Clerk of Court shall randomly assign a United States District Judge to this case.
Further, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the petition (ECF No. 1) be DISMISSED for failure to state a cognizable federal claim.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). In his objections petitioner may address whether a certificate of appealability should issue in the event he files an appeal of the judgment in this case. See Rule 11, Federal Rules Governing § 2254 Cases (the district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant). DATED: June 24, 2020.
/s/_________
EDMUND F. BRENNAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE