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Hendrix v. Solis

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, E.D. California
Aug 6, 2007
1:04-cv-06180-TAG-HC (E.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 2007)

Opinion


ARTHUR HENDRIX, JR., Petitioner, v. ASSOC. WARDEN J. SOLIS, Respondent. No. 1:04-cv-06180-TAG-HC United States District Court, E.D. California. August 6, 2007

          ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY (Doc. 36)

          THERESA A. GOLDNER, Magistrate Judge

         Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in an application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 72-302. On June 21, 2007, the Magistrate Judge filed an Order denying the instant petition on the merits. (Doc. 34). Judgment was entered on June 21, 2007. (Doc. 32). On July 30, 2007, Petitioner filed a motion for issuance of a certificate of appealability. (Doc. 36). The requirement that a petitioner seek a certificate of appealability is a gate-keeping mechanism that protects the Court of Appeals from having to devote resources to frivolous issues, while at the same time affording petitioners an opportunity to persuade the Court that, through full briefing and argument, the potential merit of claims may appear. Lambright v. Stewart , 220 F.3d 1022, 1025 (9th Cir. 2000). However, a state prisoner seeking a writ of habeas corpus has no absolute entitlement to appeal a district court's denial of his petition, and an appeal is only allowed in certain circumstances. Miller-El v. Cockrell , 537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003). The controlling statute, 28 U.S.C. § 2253, provides as follows:

(a) In a habeas corpus proceeding or a proceeding under section 2255 before a district judge, the final order shall be subject to review, on appeal, by the court of appeals for the circuit in which the proceeding is held.

(b) There shall be no right of appeal from a final order in a proceeding to test the validity of a warrant to remove to another district or place for commitment or trial a person charged with a criminal offense against the United States, or to test the validity of such person's detention pending removal proceedings.

(c)(1) Unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability, an appeal may not be taken to the court of appeals from-

(A) the final order in a habeas corpus proceeding in which the detention complained of arises out of process issued by a State court; or

(B) the final order in a proceeding under section 2255.

(2) A certificate of appealability may issue under paragraph (1) only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.

(3) The certificate of appealability under paragraph (1) shall indicate which specific issue or issues satisfy the showing required by paragraph (2). Accordingly, final orders issued by a federal district court in habeas corpus proceedings are reviewable by the circuit court of appeals, and, in order to have final orders reviewed, a petitioner must obtain a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253. This Court will issue a certificate of appealability when a petitioner makes a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To make a substantial showing, the petitioner must establish that "reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further'." Slack v. McDaniel , 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle , 463 U.S. 880, 893 (1983)).

In the present case, the Court finds that Petitioner has not made the required substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right to justify the issuance of a certificate of appealability. Reasonable jurists would not find it debatable that Petitioner has not shown an entitlement to federal habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS that Petitioner's motion for a certificate of appealability (Doc. 36), is DENIED.

         IT IS SO ORDERED.


Summaries of

Hendrix v. Solis

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, E.D. California
Aug 6, 2007
1:04-cv-06180-TAG-HC (E.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 2007)
Case details for

Hendrix v. Solis

Case Details

Full title:ARTHUR HENDRIX, JR., Petitioner, v. ASSOC. WARDEN J. SOLIS, Respondent.

Court:United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, E.D. California

Date published: Aug 6, 2007

Citations

1:04-cv-06180-TAG-HC (E.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 2007)