Opinion
CASE NO. C19-5435 BHS
10-21-2020
JAMES C. ROWLEY, Petitioner, v. RON HAYNES, Respondent.
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This matter comes before the Court on the Report and Recommendation ("R&R") of the Honorable Theresa L. Fricke, United States Magistrate Judge, Dkt. 12, and Petitioner James Rowley's ("Rowley") objections to the R&R, Dkt. 13.
On August 17, 2020, Judge Fricke issued the R&R recommending that the Court deny Rowley's request for an evidentiary hearing and his petition. Dkt. 12. On August 25, 2020, Rowley filed objections. Dkt. 13. On September 8, 2020, the State responded. Dkt. 14.
The district judge must determine de novo any part of the magistrate judge's disposition that has been properly objected to. The district judge may accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition; receive further evidence; or return the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
In this case, Rowley presents two objections. First, he objects to the denial of an evidentiary hearing because he has never been afforded the opportunity to discover evidence of bad faith. Rowley's claim is based on the State's destruction of a cigarette that was found at the crime scene. Because the evidence is not material, Rowley is required to show that the State acted in bad faith when it destroyed it. Arizona v. Youngblood, 488 U.S. 51, 58 (1988) ("unless a criminal defendant can show bad faith on the part of the police, failure to preserve potentially useful evidence does not constitute a denial of due process of law."). Rowley requests an evidentiary hearing to discover such evidence of bad faith. Judge Fricke denied Rowley's request because Rowley's claim for relief may be denied on the existing record. Dkt. 12 at 5. The Court agrees. The evidence in the record shows that the State destroyed the cigarette during a routine evidence purge. Beyond pure speculation, Rowley provides no allegation or fact to discredit, undermine, or even question the State's position. Thus, Rowley has failed to establish any need for an evidentiary hearing because his claim may be decided on the record. See, e.g., Phillips v. Woodford, 267 F.3d 966, 987 (9th Cir. 2001) (denying evidentiary hearing and destruction of evidence claim when petitioner made "no colorable showing, or indeed any showing at all," that the State acted in bad faith).
Second, Rowley argues that the state court's adjudication of his claim was erroneous because it relied on an undeveloped record. This objection is without merit because Rowley has failed to establish any need to further develop the record. Therefore, the Court having considered the R&R, Rowley's objections, and the remaining record, does hereby find and order as follows:
(1) The R&R is ADOPTED;
(2) Rowley is DENIED an evidentiary hearing;
(3) Rowley's petition is DENIED;
(4) A Certificate of Appealability is DENIED; and
(5) The Clerk shall enter a JUDGMENT and close the case.
Dated this 21st day of October, 2020.
/s/_________
BENJAMIN H. SETTLE
United States District Judge