Opinion
1:12-cv-01172-AWI-BAM-HC
08-09-2012
ANDREW R. LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. EDMUND G. BROWN, Respondent.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DISMISS THE PETITION WITHOUT
LEAVE TO AMEND (DOC. 1)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DECLINE TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY AND TO DIRECT THE
CLERK TO CLOSE THE CASE
OBJECTIONS DEADLINE: THIRTY
(30) DAYS
Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter has been referred to the Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local Rules 302 and 304. Pending before the Court is the petition, which was filed on July 16, 2012.
I. Screening the Petition
Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts (Habeas Rules) requires the Court to make a preliminary review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition "[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court...." Habeas Rule 4; O'Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490 (9th Cir. 1990). Habeas Rule 2(c) requires that a petition 1) specify all grounds of relief available to the Petitioner; 2) state the facts supporting each ground; and 3) state the relief requested. Notice pleading is not sufficient; rather, the petition must state facts that point to a real possibility of constitutional error. Rule 4, Advisory Committee Notes, 1976 Adoption; O'Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d at 420 (quoting Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75 n.7 (1977)). Allegations in a petition that are vague, conclusory, or palpably incredible are subject to summary dismissal. Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d at 491.
Further, the Court may dismiss a petition for writ of habeas corpus either on its own motion under Habeas Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent's motion to dismiss, or after an answer to the petition has been filed. Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 8, 1976 Adoption; see, Herbst v. Cook, 260 F.3d 1039, 1042-43 (9th Cir. 2001).
A petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears that no tenable claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave granted. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440 F.2d 13, 14 (9th Cir. 1971).
II. Background
Petitioner alleges that he is an inmate of the California State Prison at Corcoran, California (CSP-COR), serving a sentence of seventeen years to life imposed in 1992 for a conviction of second degree murder sustained in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Petitioner challenges a decision of California's Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) made after a hearing held on December 7, 2009.
Petitioner alleges the following claims in the petition: 1) the state court's failure to issue orders necessary to enable Petitioner to procure a copy of his "habeas record" (pet. 4) in post-conviction relief proceedings, and the denial of his requests for counsel, were constitutionally inadequate procedures that denied him access to the courts and violated his rights to due process and to the equal protection of the "some evidence" standard; 2) the BPH disregarded a previous order of this Court issued in 2009 to afford a timely, constitutionally adequate parole suitability hearing and thereby violated Petitioner's right to due process by a) depriving Petitioner of a meaningful opportunity to be heard regarding a new psychological evaluation and by not reporting and/or documenting errors in a 2009 psychological report, b) accepting the 2009 report in evidence and relying on it in making a decision, c) allowing a 1992 "POR" into evidence and relying on it despite its unreliability, d) denying parole in the absence of "some evidence" to substantiate its finding that Petitioner would pose a risk to public safety or current dangerousness, in violation of due process as well as California law, e) ignoring evidence that contradicted its findings, f) depriving Petitioner of his protected liberty interests in parole in violation of Cal. Pen. Code § 3041, g) failing to set a parole release date even though both the minimum and maximum release dates had passed, and h) relying solely on unchanging factors of the commitment offense and past substance abuse despite evidence of no violence or substance abuse during incarceration; 3) the BPH's denial of parole when the maximum and minimum parole release dates had passed violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment; 4) the BPH's application to Petitioner of Proposition 9, which increases the minimum parole deferral period and the default maximum deferral period and limits the BPH's discretion to reduce the maximum deferral period, violates the prohibition against ex post facto laws because Petitioner was convicted before it took effect; and 5) parole was denied on the basis of "underground discriminatory practice of SHU status" (id. at 8). (Pet. 1-52.)
Petitioner requests that he be released and the "excess" (pet. at 52) time spent in prison since the parole hearing held on August 1, 2007, which was previously declared unconstitutional by this Court, be deducted from his parole period; this Court's earlier order regarding a new hearing be enforced; the 1992 probation officer's report and the 2009 psychological reports, as well as all references to them, be expunged; the application of Proposition 9 to Petitioner be prohibited; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the BPH be ordered to cease the discriminatory practice of denying parole to life inmates because of segregated placement; and an evidentiary hearing be ordered.
Reference to the transcript of the parole suitability hearing held before a panel of commissioners of the BPH on December 7, 2009, reflects that Petitioner appeared before a panel of commissioners of the BPH with counsel, who advocated on his behalf; further, Petitioner was given an opportunity to correct or clarify the record, answered questions from the commissioners under oath, and made a personal statement regarding his suitability. (Doc. 1-1, 130-223, 134, 138, 149-205, 208-14, 214-221.) Petitioner stated that his counsel had reviewed with him the procedures and his rights concerning the parole hearings, and he confirmed that Petitioner or his counsel were given all the documentation on the panel's checklist. (Id. at 139-40, 153-54.) Counsel objected to use of the 2009 psychological report because it was prepared so close to the time of the hearing, and because Petitioner declined to participate in the review process, he had not had a chance to clarify or address the clinician's concerns. (Id. at 141-44.) There was also objection to use of the probation officer's report used at Petitioner's sentencing because Petitioner did not have an opportunity to read it before the judge approved it, and to Petitioner's having been validated as a prison gang member. (Id. at 145-46.)
Petitioner was present when the panel announced the reasons for its finding that Petitioner was unsuitable for parole and would not be considered again for four years because he would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to society or a threat to public safety if released from prison, which included Petitioner's extensive and serious misconduct while in prison, which caused concern that Petitioner could not follow the rules and conditions of parole; the commitment offense, in which Petitioner inflicted without any apparent motive thirteen stab wounds, including wounds to the back of a vulnerable, unarmed, intoxicated victim; Petitioner's criminal history and unstable social history; his failure on previous grants of probation and parole; a psychological report of 2009 which was not totally supportive of release; failure to participate sufficiently in beneficial self-help concerning substance abuse; and his attitude towards the crime, including denying culpability for the offense and lack of insight into the factors causing his criminal conduct. (Id. at 224-34, 205-07.)
III. Denial of Access to the Courts
Because the petition was filed after April 24, 1996, the effective date of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), the AEDPA applies in this proceeding. Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320, 327 (1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1008 (1997); Furman v. Wood, 190 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 1999).
A district court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a state court only on the ground that the custody is in violation of the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254(a), 2241(c)(3); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 375 n.7 (2000); Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. -, -, 131 S.Ct. 13, 16 (2010) (per curiam).
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254 provides 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
(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an
unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.
Clearly established federal law refers to the holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of the decisions of the Supreme Court as of the time of the relevant state court decision. Cullen v. Pinholster, - U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1388, 1399 (2011); Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 71 (2003); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412 (2000). It is thus the governing legal principle or principles set forth by the Supreme Court at the pertinent time. Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 71-72.
To the extent that Petitioner complains of the state court's procedures of failing to order prison authorities to copy a record of Petitioner's parole proceedings for the purpose of permitting Petitioner to bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus, the Court notes preliminarily that the documentation submitted in support of the petition reveals that Petitioner received a copy of the proceedings, and the allegedly offensive prison rule or policy that limited the provision of copies was repealed. (Id. at 46-50.) It thus appears that the claim is moot in the sense that this Court could not order any effective relief.
Further, Petitioner has not cited any authority, and the Court is aware of none, that Petitioner is entitled to counsel in a state court habeas proceeding for review of a denial of parole.
In any event, Petitioner's claim is not cognizable in this proceeding. Federal habeas relief is not available to retry a state issue that does not rise to the level of a federal constitutional violation. Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. — , 131 S.Ct. 13, 16 (2010); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). Alleged errors in the application of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas corpus. Souch v. Schiavo, 289 F.3d 616, 623 (9th Cir. 2002). Thus, it is established that federal habeas relief is not available to redress procedural errors in the state collateral review process. Ortiz v. Stewart, 149 F.3d 923, 939 (9th Cir. 1998) (claim concerning the alleged bias of a judge in a second post-conviction proceeding for relief); Carriger v. Stewart, 95 F.3d 755, 763 (9th Cir. 1996), vacated on other grounds, Carriger v. Stewart, 132 F.3d 463 (1997) (Brady claim in post-conviction proceedings); Franzen v. Brinkman, 877 F.2d 26, 26 (9th Cir. 1989) (claim that a state court's delay in deciding a petition for post-conviction relief violated due process rights).
Further, to the extent that Petitioner contends that the rule obstructed his access to the courts, Petitioner's complaint concerns not matters that affect the legality or duration of his confinement, but rather the conditions of his confinement. It is established that a habeas corpus petition is the correct method for a prisoner to challenge the legality or duration of his confinement. Badea v. Cox, 931 F.2d 573, 574 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 485 (1973)); Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 1, 1976 Adoption. In contrast, a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is the proper method for a prisoner to challenge the conditions of that confinement. McCarthy v. Bronson, 500 U.S. 136, 141-42 (1991); Preiser, 411 U.S. at 499; Badea, 931 F.2d at 574; Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 1, 1976 Adoption.
Therefore, Petitioner's claim concerning access to the courts must be dismissed. Because the defect in Petitioner's pleading is based on the nature of the claim, Petitioner could not state a tenable claim of denial of access to the courts if leave to amend were granted.
Accordingly, it will be recommended that the claim be dismissed without leave to amend. Petitioner may bring his claim by filing a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
IV. Absence of Some Evidence to Support the Decision
A. Due Process
To the extent that Petitioner complains that the absence of "some evidence" to support the BPH's finding violated his right to due process of law, Petitioner fails to state a tenable due process claim.
The Supreme Court has characterized as reasonable the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that California law creates a liberty interest in parole protected by the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause, which in turn requires fair procedures with respect to the liberty interest. Swarthout v. Cooke, 562 U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 859, 861-62 (2011).
However, the procedures required for a parole determination are the minimal requirements set forth in Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal and Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 12 (1979). Swarthout v. Cooke, 131 S.Ct. 859, 862. In Swarthout, the Court rejected inmates' claims that they were denied a liberty interest because there was an absence of "some evidence" to support the decision to deny parole. The Court stated:
In Greenholtz, the Court held that a formal hearing is not required with respect to a decision concerning granting or denying discretionary parole; it is s ufficient to permit the inmate to have an opportunity to be heard and to be given a statement of reasons for the decision made. Id. at 16. The decision maker is not required to state the evidence relied upon in coming to the decision. Id. at 15-16. The Court reasoned that because there is no constitutional or inherent right of a convicted person to be released conditionally before expiration of a valid sentence, the liberty interest in dis cretionary parole is only conditional and thus differs from the liberty interest of a parolee. Id. at 9. Further, the discretionary decision to release one on parole does not involve retrospective factual determinations, as in disciplinary proceedings in prison; instead, it is generally more discretionary and predictive, and thus procedures designed to elicit specific facts are unnecessary. Id. at 13. In Greenholtz, the Court held that due process was satisfied where the inmate received a statement of reasons for the decision and had an effective opportunity to insure that the records being considered were his records, and to present any special considerations demonstrating why he was an appropriate candidate for parole. Id. at 15.
There is no right under the Federal Constitution to be conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence, and the States are under no duty to offer parole to their prisoners. (Citation omitted.) When, however, a State creates a liberty interest, the Due Process Clause requires fair procedures for its vindication-and federal courts will review the application of those constitutionally required procedures. In the context of parole, we have held that the procedures required are minimal. In Greenholtz, we found that a prisoner subject to a parole statute similar to California's received adequate process when he was allowed an opportunity to be heard and was provided a statement of the reasons why parole was denied. (Citation omitted.)Swarthout, 131 S.Ct. 859, 862. The Court concluded that the petitioners had received the process that was due as follows:
They were allowed to speak at their parole hearings and to contest the evidence against them, were afforded access to their records in advance, and were notified as to the reasons why parole was denied. . . .Swarthout, 131 S.Ct. at 862. The Court in Swarthout expressly noted that California's "some evidence" rule is not a substantive federal requirement, and correct application of California's "some evidence" standard is not required by the federal Due Process Clause. Id. at 862-63.
That should have been the beginning and the end of the federal habeas courts' inquiry into whether [the petitioners] received due process.
Here, Petitioner asks this Court to engage in the very type of analysis foreclosed by Swarthout. Petitioner does not state facts that point to a real possibility of constitutional error or that otherwise would entitle Petitioner to habeas relief because California's "some evidence" requirement is not a substantive federal requirement. Review of the record for "some evidence" to support the denial of parole is not within the scope of this Court's habeas review under 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
Petitioner cites state law concerning the appropriate weight or significance to be given to evidence that was before the BPH. Petitioner further contends that the BPH denied due process by relying on the commitment offense and past substance abuse instead of weighing other evidence that tended to show that Petitioner had not committed violent offenses or engaged in substance abuse in prison. To the extent that Petitioner's claim or claims rest on state law, they are not cognizable on federal habeas corpus. Federal habeas relief is not available to retry a state issue that does not rise to the level of a federal constitutional violation. Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. — , 131 S.Ct. 13, 16 (2010); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). Alleged errors in the application of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas corpus. Souch v. Schiavo, 289 F.3d 616, 623 (9th Cir. 2002).
Accordingly, Petitioner's due process claim must be dismissed.
Because the defect in the claim proceeds from the nature of the claim and not a dearth of factual allegations, it does not appear that Petitioner could state a tenable due process claim concerning the evidence if leave to amend were granted. Thus, it will be recommended that the claim be dismissed without leave to amend.
B. Equal Protection
Petitioner alleges generally that the failure to make or order copies of the record of his parole proceedings for him deprived him of the equal protection of the laws.
Prisoners are protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment from invidious discrimination based on race, religion, or membership in a protected class subject to restrictions and limitations necessitated by legitimate penological interests. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556 (1974); Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 545-46 (1979). The Equal Protection Clause essentially directs that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985). Violations of equal protection are shown when a respondent intentionally discriminates against a petitioner based on membership in a protected class, Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 686 (9th Cir. 2001), or when a respondent intentionally treats a member of an identifiable class differently from other similarly situated individuals without a rational basis, or a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose, for the difference in treatment, Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000); Engquist v. Oregon Department of Agriculture, 553 U.S. 591, 601-02 (2008).
Here, Petitioner has not alleged that membership in a protected class was the basis of any alleged discrimination. Petitioner has not alleged that there was any invidiousness or any intentional treatment of Petitioner that was different from treatment of any similarly situated individuals, or that any such treatment lacked a rational basis, or a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose, for the difference in treatment. Instead, Petitioner premises his claim upon the absence of evidence to support the suitability decision.
It may be that Petitioner is arguing that he was denied the equal protection of the laws because under the circumstances of his commitment offense and his personal history, he presented no risk to society, and yet he was denied release even though he had served over twenty years for second degree murder. Petitioner may be attempting to argue that he has served a longer sentence than some prisoners who have been convicted of more serious offenses.
However, Petitioner has not alleged or shown that with respect to all pertinent factors of parole suitability, he is similarly situated with others who may have served less time after conviction of murder.
Legislation that discriminates based on characteristics other than race, alienage, national origin, and sex is presumed to be valid and need only be rationally related to a legitimate state interest in order to survive an equal protection challenge. City of Cleburne, 473 U.S. at 440. Prisoners who are eligible for parole are not a suspect class entitled to heightened scrutiny. See, Mayner v. Callahan, 873 F.2d 1300, 1302 (9th Cir. 1989) (prisoners not a suspect class). Furthermore, public safety is a legitimate state interest. See, Webber v. Crabtree, 158 F.3d 460, 461 (9th Cir. 1998) (health and safety are legitimate state interests). Under California law, a prisoner's suitability for parole is dependent upon the effect of the prisoner's release on the public safety. Cal. Pen. Code § 3041(b) (mandating release on parole unless the public safety requires a more lengthy period of incarceration). California's parole system is thus both intended and applied to promote the legitimate state interest of public safety. See, Webber v. Crabtree, 158 F.3d at 461. Petitioner has not shown or even suggested how the decision in the present case could have constituted a violation of equal protection of the laws.
Further, the Court notes that parole consideration is discretionary and does not provide the basis of a fundamental right. Mayner v. Callahan, 873 F.2d 1300, 1301-02 (9th Cir. 1989).
The Court concludes that Petitioner's claim should be dismissed.
The full record of Petitioner's parole proceedings is before the Court and reveals no facts to support a conclusion that if leave to amend were granted, Petitioner could state a tenable equal protection claim. Thus it will be recommended that Petitioner's equal protection claim be dismissed without leave to amend.
V. Miscellaneous Due Process Claims
In a previous proceeding in this Court, the BPH was ordered in 2009 to give Petitioner a new parole hearing because Petitioner had been ill on the date of a parole hearing that was held in August 2007. (Pet., doc. 1, 22, 143-54.) Petitioner argues that this Court's order was disregarded because the rehearing he received pursuant to that direction, namely, the hearing held in December 2009 that is challenged in this proceeding, violated his right to due process of law in various respects.
Petitioner complains that he was deprived of a meaningful opportunity to be heard regarding a psychological evaluation in which he refused to participate because it was set about two weeks before, and thus too close to, the parole rehearing date as it was initially set. However, there is no federally recognized right to have a psychological evaluation provided at any particular time or with any particular period of notice in relation to a parole hearing. Further, Petitioner has not shown that any prejudice resulted from the timing of the evaluation, in which Petitioner declined to participate.
Petitioner further contends that the BPH failed to report or document errors in the report of the 2009 psychological evaluation and erred in relying on it because it was unreliable. Petitioner complains that the BPH ignored evidence that contradicted its findings, wrongly considered and relied upon the unreliable report of the probation officer that was prepared for the sentencing hearing held in connection with the commitment offense, and wrongly relied on the unchanging factor of the commitment offense and Petitioner's history of criminal behavior and substance abuse. With respect to these allegations, Petitioner is asking this Court to review the state court's application of the "some evidence" standard, which is not within the scope of this Court's review in a proceeding pursuant to § 2254.
To the extent the Petitioner relies on state law in connection with his contention that the finding of unsuitability was not supported by some evidence, Petitioner likewise fails to state a claim that is cognizable in this proceeding.
With respect to procedural due process, the record reflects that Petitioner or his counsel were given access to the pertinent records in advance, were allowed to speak at the hearing and to contest the evidence against Petitioner, and Petitioner was notified as to the reasons why parole was denied. Thus, Petitioner received all process that was due.
Accordingly, it will be recommended that these claims be dismissed without leave to amend.
VI. The Passing of Petitioner's Release Dates
Petitioner argues that his right to due process of law was violated by the failure to release him on parole even though both his minimum and maximum release dates had passed. Petitioner argues that this denied him his liberty interest guaranteed by Cal. Pen. Code § 3041.
To the extent that Petitioner relies on state law, Petitioner's claim should be dismissed without leave to amend as not cognizable in this proceeding.
Petitioner contends that the failure to release him violated the Eight Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.
It is established that there is no right under the Federal Constitution to be conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence, and the states are under no duty to offer parole to their prisoners. Swarthout v. Cooke, 131 S.Ct. at 862. A criminal sentence that is "grossly disproportionate" to the crime for which a defendant is convicted may violate the Eighth Amendment. Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 72 (2003); Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 1001 (1991) (Kennedy, J., concurring); Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 271 (1980). Outside of the capital punishment context, the Eighth Amendment prohibits only sentences that are extreme and grossly disproportionate to the crime. United States v. Bland, 961 F.2d 123, 129 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 1001, (1991) (Kennedy, J., concurring)). Such instances are "exceedingly rare" and occur in only "extreme" cases. Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. at 72-73; Rummel, 445 U.S. at 272. So long as a sentence does not exceed statutory maximums, it will not be considered cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. See United States v. Mejia-Mesa, 153 F.3d 925, 930 (9th Cir.1998); United States v. McDougherty, 920 F.2d 569, 576 (9th Cir. 1990).
In California, Petitioner's offense, second degree murder, is generally punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of fifteen (15) years to life. Cal. Pen. Code § 190(a). Pursuant to California law, it is established that an indeterminate life sentence is in legal effect a sentence for the maximum term of life. People v. Dyer, 269 Cal.App.2d 209, 214 (1969). Generally, a convicted person serving an indeterminate life term in state prison is not entitled to release on parole until he is found suitable for such release by the Board of Parole Hearings (previously, the Board of Prison Terms). Cal. Pen. Code § 3041(b); Cal. Code of Regs., tit. 15, § 2402(a). Under California's Determinate Sentencing Law, an inmate such as Petitioner who is serving an indeterminate sentence for murder may serve up to life in prison, but he does not become eligible for parole consideration until the minimum term of confinement is served. In re Dannenberg, 34 Cal.4th 1061, 1078 (2005). The actual confinement period of a life prisoner is determined by an executive parole agency. Id. (citing Cal. Pen. Code § 3040).
Thus, Petitioner's sentence has not exceeded the statutory maximum.
Accordingly, Petitioner has not stated facts that would entitle him to relief in a proceeding pursuant to § 2254 under the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. In view of the pertinent state statutory scheme, it does not appear that Petitioner could allege a tenable cruel and unusual punishment claim.
Therefore, it will be recommended that Petitioner's cruel and unusual punishment claim be dismissed without leave to amend.
VII. Ex Post Facto
Petitioner argues that Proposition 9 was applied to him in violation of the prohibition against ex post facto laws.
Petitioner's contention concerns California's Proposition 9, the "Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law," which on November 4, 2008, effected an amendment of Cal. Pen. Code § 3041.5(b)(3) that resulted in a lengthening of the periods between parole suitability hearings.
The Constitution provides, "No State shall... pass any... ex post facto Law." U.S. Const. art I, § 10. The Ex Post Facto Clause prohibits any law which: 1) makes an act done before the passing of the law, which was innocent when done, criminal; 2) aggravates a crime and makes it greater than it was when it was committed; 3) changes the punishment and inflicts a greater punishment for the crime than when it was committed; or 4) alters the legal rules of evidence and requires less or different testimony to convict the defendant than was required at the time the crime was committed. Carmell v. Texas, 529 U.S. 513, 522 (2000). Application of a state regulation retroactively to a defendant violates the Ex Post Facto Clause if the new regulations create a "sufficient risk" of increasing the punishment for the defendant's crimes. Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 854 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Cal. Department of Corrections v. Morales, 514 U.S. 499, 509 (1995)). When the rule or statute does not by its own terms show a significant risk, the claimant must demonstrate, by evidence drawn from the rule's practical implementation by the agency charged with exercising discretion, that its retroactive application will result in a longer period of incarceration than under the earlier rule. Garner v. Jones, 529 U.S. 244, 250, 255 (2000).
Previous amendments to Cal. Pen. Code § 3041.5, which initiated longer periods of time between parole suitability hearings, have been upheld against challenges that they violated the Ex Post Facto Clause. See, e.g., California Department of Corrections v. Morales, 514 U.S. 499, 509 (1995); Watson v. Estelle, 886 F.2d 1093, 1097-98 (9th Cir. 1989). Similarly, it has been held that a state law permitting the extension of intervals between parole consideration hearings for all prisoners serving life sentences from three to eight years did not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause where expedited parole review was available upon a change of circumstances or receipt of new information warranting an earlier review, and where there was no showing of increased punishment. Under such circumstances, there was no significant risk of extending a prisoner's incarceration. Garner v. Jones, 529 U.S. at 249.
In Gilman v. Schwarzenegger, 638 F.3d 1101, 1109-11 (9th Cir. 2011), the Ninth Circuit reversed a grant of injunctive relief to plaintiffs in a class action seeking to prevent the board from enforcing Proposition 9's amendments that defer parole consideration. The court noted that the changes wrought by Proposition 9 were noted to be more extensive than those before the Court in Morales and Garner; however, advanced hearings, which would remove any possibility of harm, were available upon a change in circumstances or new information. Id. The Court concluded that in the absence of facts in the record from which it might be inferred that Proposition 9 created a significant risk of prolonging Plaintiffs' incarceration, the plaintiffs had not established a likelihood of success on the merits on the ex post facto claim. Id. at 1110-11.
This Court may take judicial notice of court records. Fed. R. Evid. 201(b); United States v. Bernal-Obeso, 989 F.2d 331, 333 (9th Cir. 1993); Valerio v. Boise Cascade Corp., 80 F.R.D. 626, 635 n.1 (N.D. Cal. 1978), aff'd, 645 F.2d 699 (9th Cir. 1981).
The Court takes judicial notice of the docket and specified orders in the class action pending in this district, Gilman v. Fisher, 2:05-cv-00830-LKK-GGH, including the order granting motion for class certification filed on March 4, 2009 (Doc. 182, 9:7-15), which indicates that the Gilman class is made up of California state prisoners who 1) have been sentenced to a term that includes life, 2) are serving sentences that include the possibility of parole, 3) are eligible for parole, and 4) have been denied parole on one or more occasions. The docket further reflects that the Ninth Circuit affirmed the order certifying the class. (Docs. 257, 258.) The Court also takes judicial notice of the order of May 31, 2012, in which the Court described the case as including in claim 8 challenges to Proposition 9's deferral provisions based on the Ex Post Facto Clause, and the Court denied a motion for judgment on the pleadings with respect to that claim. (Doc. 420, 1-2.) The Court described the class concerning claim 8 as "all California state prisoners who have been sentenced to a life term with the possibility of parole for an offense that occurred before November 4, 2008." (Id. at 2.)
Although Petitioner ultimately seeks release from custody, resolution of Petitioner's claim might well involve the scheduling of Petitioner's next suitability hearing and the invalidation of state procedures used to deny parole suitability, matters removed from the fact or duration of confinement. Such types of claims have been held to be cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as claims concerning conditions of confinement. Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 82 (2005). Thus, they may fall outside the core of habeas corpus relief. See, Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 485-86 (1973); Nelson v. Campbell, 541 U.S. 637, 643 (2004); Muhammad v. Close, 540 U.S. 749, 750 (2004).
Further, the relief Petitioner requests overlaps with the relief requested in the Gilman class action. It is established that a plaintiff who is a member of a class action for equitable relief from prison conditions may not maintain an individual suit for equitable relief concerning the same subject matter. Crawford v. Bell, 599 F.2d 890, 891-92 (9th Cir. 1979). This is because it is contrary to the efficient and orderly administration of justice for a court to proceed with an action that would possibly conflict with or interfere with the determination of relief in another pending action, which is proceeding and in which the class has been certified.
Here, Petitioner's own allegations reflect that he qualifies as a member of the class in Gilman. The court in Gilman has jurisdiction over the same subject matter and may grant the same relief. A court has inherent power to control its docket and the disposition of its cases with economy of time and effort for both the court and the parties. Landis v. North American Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254-255 (1936); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992). In the exercise of its inherent discretion, this Court concludes that dismissal of Petitioner's ex post facto claim in this action is appropriate and necessary to avoid interference with the orderly administration of justice. Cf., Crawford v. Bell, 599 F.2d 890, 892-93; see Bryant v. Haviland, 2011 WL 23064, *2-*5 (E.D.Cal. Jan. 4, 2011).
A petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears that no tenable claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave granted. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440 F.2d 13, 14 (9th Cir. 1971). In view of the allegations of the petition and the pendency of the Gilman class action, amendment of the petition with respect to the ex post facto claim would be futile.
Accordingly, it will be recommended that Petitioner's ex post facto claim be dismissed without leave to amend.
VIII. Discrimination
Petitioner alleges generally that parole was denied on the basis of "underground discriminatory practice of SHU status." (Pet. 8.)
This claim is unclear.
The matter of assigning suspected gang affiliates to SHU is not disciplinary, but rather is an administrative strategy to preserve order in the prison and protect safety of all inmates, matters essentially within the administrative discretion of prison authorities. Munoz v. Rowland, 104 F.3d 1096, 1098 (9th Cir. 1997). Petitioner has alleged no facts that would indicate that the BPH denied parole based on Petitioner's status as an administratively segregated inmate who had been validated as a gang member. Instead, the statement of reasons for the BPH's findings reflects that the BPH considered Petitioner's efforts to engage in programming in the context of his segregated housing. The BPH concluded that Petitioner continued to display negative behavior while incarcerated, and as a result was placed in special housing where program participation was limited and the ability to demonstrate parole readiness was hampered. The BPH noted that Petitioner did complete some self-help programming despite having been in the security housing unit, which was commendable; however, the BPH concluded that Petitioner had not sufficiently participated in beneficial self-help, specifically, substance abuse programming. (Pet., doc. 1-1, 229-34.)
The record precludes Petitioner from being able to state a tenable claim of discrimination based on Petitioner's housing status.
Accordingly, it will be recommended that the claim be dismissed without leave to amend.
In summary, it will be recommended that the petition be dismissed without leave to amend.
IX. Certificate of Appealability
Unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability, an appeal may not be taken to the Court of Appeals from the final order in a habeas proceeding in which the detention complained of arises out of process issued by a state court. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A); Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336 (2003). A certificate of appealability may issue only if the applicant makes a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. § 2253(c)(2). Under this standard, a petitioner must show that reasonable jurists could debate whether the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 336 (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)). A certificate should issue if the Petitioner shows that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in any procedural ruling. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000).
In determining this issue, a court conducts an overview of the claims in the habeas petition, generally assesses their merits, and determines whether the resolution was debatable among jurists of reason or wrong. Id. It is necessary for an applicant to show more than an absence of frivolity or the existence of mere good faith; however, it is not necessary for an applicant to show that the appeal will succeed. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 338.
A district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.
Here, it does not appear that reasonable jurists could debate whether the petition should have been resolved in a different manner. Petitioner has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
Accordingly, the Court should decline to issue a certificate of appealability.
X. Recommendations
Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that:
1) The petition be DISMISSED without leave to amend; and
2) The Court DECLINE to issues a certificate of appealability; and
3) The Clerk be DIRECTED to close the case.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Court Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy, 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." Replies to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days (plus three (3) days if served by mail) after service of the objections. The Court will then review the Magistrate Judge's ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Barbara A. McAuliffe
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE