Opinion
Case Number: 05-10172-BC.
October 18, 2005
ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER'S MOTION TO STAY HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDING AND ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSING CASE
The petitioner, Antonio Garcia-Dorantes, presently confined at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging the constitutionality of his convictions for second-degree murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm in violation of Michigan law. He raised four issues in his direct appeal in state court, which he asserts again in this Court. He also seeks to add two more issues, but asks to abate these proceedings to allow him to return to state court to present them there first. The Court will grant the petitioner's motion, stay the petition, establish conditions under which the petitioner must proceed, and administratively close the case.
The doctrine of exhaustion of state remedies requires state prisoners to "fairly present" their claims as federal constitutional issues in the state courts before raising those claims in a federal habeas corpus petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A) and (c); O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 844 (1999); McMeans v. Brigano, 228 F.3d 674, 680-81 (6th Cir. 2000); Rust v. Zent, 17 F.3d 155, 160 (6th Cir. 1994). The exhaustion requirement is satisfied if a prisoner invokes one complete round of the state's established appellate review process, including a petition for discretionary review to a state supreme court. O'Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 845. A prisoner "`fairly presents' his claim to the state courts by citing a provision of the Constitution, federal decisions using constitutional analysis, or state decisions employing constitutional analysis in similar fact patterns." Levine v. Torvik, 986 F.2d 1506, 1516 (6th Cir. 1993); see also Prather v. Rees, 822 F.2d 1418, 1420 (6th Cir. 1987) (holding that "[o]rdinarily, the state courts must have had the opportunity to pass on defendant's claims of constitutional violations"). A Michigan petitioner must present each ground to both Michigan appellate courts before seeking federal habeas corpus relief. See Mohn v. Bock, 208 F. Supp. 2d 796, 800 (E.D. Mich. 2002); see also Hafley v. Sowders, 902 F.2d 480, 483 (6th Cir. 1990). The petitioner bears the burden of showing that state court remedies have been exhausted. Rust, 17 F.3d at 160.
The petitioner was convicted of murder and assault following a jury trial in the Kent County Circuit Court. His convictions were affirmed on appeal. People v. Garcia-Dorantes, 239306 (Mich.Ct.App. October 23, 2003); lv. den. 470 Mich. 865, 680 N.W.2d 897 (2004). On July 12, 2005, the petitioner signed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus. He also filed a motion to hold the habeas petition in abeyance so that he can return to the Kent County Circuit Court to present new claims in a post-conviction motion for relief from judgment, after which he will move to amend his habeas petition to add these additional claims.
The Michigan Court Rules provide a process by which the petitioner may raise his unexhausted claims. The petitioner may file a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Michigan Court Rule 6.500 et seq., which allows the trial court to appoint counsel, seek a response from the prosecutor, expand the record, permit oral argument, and conduct an evidentiary hearing on the petitioner's claims. The petitioner may appeal the trial court's disposition of his motion for relief from judgment to the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court, and he may thereafter file a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. To obtain relief in state court, he will have to show cause for failing to raise his unexhausted claims on direct review and resulting prejudice or a significant possibility of innocence. See Mich. Ct. R. 6.508(D)(3). However, he would have to make a similar showing here if the Court concluded that there was no state remedy to exhaust. Gray v. Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 161-62 (1996); Hannah v. Conley, 49 F.3d 1193, 1195-96 n. 3 (6th Cir. 1995); Rust, 17 F.3d at 160. The petitioner's unexhausted claims should be addressed to, and considered by, the state courts in the first instance so the state court will have an opportunity to decide whether he has established "cause" for his failure to present this claim on direct review.
A federal district court has the authority to abate or dismiss a federal habeas action pending resolution of state post-conviction proceedings, provided there is good cause for the failure to exhaust claims and reasonable time limits are imposed. Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. ___, 125 S. Ct. 1528, 1535 (2005). In this case, the Court finds a dismissal of the petition may render subsequent petitions in this court untimely. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Although the petition in this case is deemed filed on July 12, 2005, see Neal v. Bock, 137 F. Supp. 2d 879, 882 n. 1 (E.D. Mich. 2001) (discussing th4 "prison mailbox rule"), the Supreme Court has held that the filing of a federal habeas corpus petition does not suspend the running of the one-year limitations period under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2). See Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 181-82 (2001). However, the Supreme Court's decision in Duncan did not prevent district courts from "retain[ing] jurisdiction over a meritorious claim and stay[ing] proceedings pending the complete exhaustion of state remedies," or from "deeming the limitations period tolled for [a habeas] petition as a matter of equity." Id. at 182-83 (Stevens, J., concurring). The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has advised that it is preferable for a district court to dismiss the unexhausted claims, retain jurisdiction over the exhausted claims, and stay proceedings pending exhaustion where to do otherwise would jeopardize the timeliness of a subsequent petition. Griffin v. Rogers, 308 F.3d 647, 652 n. 1 (6th Cir. 2002); see also Palmer v. Carlton, 276 F.3d 777, 780-81 (6th Cir. 2002) (finding "eminently reasonable" district court's holding dismissing unexhausted claims in habeas petition and staying proceedings on the remaining claims pending exhaustion of state court remedies).
In this case, the dismissal of the petition, even without prejudice, may preclude future consideration of the petitioner's claims in this Court due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). The Michigan Supreme Court denied the petitioner's application for leave to appeal on May 28, 2004. People v. Garcia-Dorantes, 470 Mich. 865; 680 N.W.2d 897 (2004). The petitioner's conviction became final ninety days later, on August 26, 2004, when the time during which the petitioner could have filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court expired. The one-year limitations period commenced the following day, August 27, 2004. See Bronaugh v. Ohio, 235 F.3d 280, 284-85 (6th Cir. 2000) (holding that the last day on which a petitioner can file a petition for a writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court is not counted toward the one-year limitations period applicable to habeas corpus petitions). The petitioner "filed" the pending habeas petition on July 12, 2005. Thus, if the Court does not toll the limitations period during the pendency of this petition, the limitations period expired on August 26, 2005, and any subsequent habeas petition filed by the petitioner would be untimely.
It appears that the petitioner has not had the opportunity to present his unexhausted claims to the state courts. One claim is a sentencing issue based on recent federal law and the other involves the alleged ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. The Court is satisfied that good cause has been shown for the failure to exhaust to date, that the claims are potentially meritorious, and that the petitioner has not engaged in intentionally dilatory tactics. See Rhines, 125 S. Ct. at 1535.
To avoid injustice, the Court will allow the petitioner to return to state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims and the Court will stay further proceedings in the current action, provided that the petitioner acts promptly. See Palmer, 276 F.3d at 781. The petitioner must proceed in the state court within fifty-six days of this order. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of this case without prejudice.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the petitioner's motions to stay habeas corpus proceeding contained in his petition [dkt #1] and "request for guidance" [dkt #4] are GRANTED. The petitioner may file a motion for relief from judgment with the state trial court within fifty-six days from the date of this order. If the petitioner fails to file a motion for relief from judgment by that date, the Court will dismiss the petition for writ of habeas corpus without prejudice.
If the petitioner files a motion for relief from judgment in the trial court, he shall notify this Court that such papers have been filed. The case shall then be held in abeyance pending the petitioner's exhaustion of the unexhausted issues. The petitioner shall file an amended petition in this Court within twenty-eight days after the conclusion of the state court proceedings. If the petitioner files an amended petition, the respondent shall file an answer addressing the allegations in the petition in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts within twenty-one days thereafter.
The Court warns the petitioner that the one-year statute of limitations will not be tolled unless his motion for relief from judgment is "properly filed," 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2), and addresses "the pertinent judgment or claim[s]." Cowherd v. Million, 380 F.3d 909, 912 (6th Cir. 2004). An application for post-conviction relief is "properly filed" within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2) if it is submitted in accordance with the state's procedural requirements. Artuz v. Bennett, 531 U.S. 4, 8 (2000). These procedural requirements usually specify the form of the document, the time limits for delivery, the location for filing a post-conviction motion, and the filing fee. Ibid. If, and when, the petitioner returns to federal court with an amended petition, following exhaustion of state remedies, he shall use the same caption and case number as appears on this order.
It is further ORDERED that to avoid administrative difficulties the Clerk of Court CLOSE this case for statistical purposes only. Nothing in this order or in the related docket entry shall be considered a dismissal of this matter.
It is further ORDERED that upon receipt of a motion to reinstate the habeas petition following exhaustion of state remedies, the Court may order the Clerk to reopen this case for statistical purposes.