Opinion
CV 16-100-M-DLC-JCL
10-05-2018
BRIAN HOLM, Plaintiff, v. LEROY KIRKEGARD; ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF MONTANA, Defendant.
ORDER
United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch entered his Order and Findings and Recommendation in this case on July 7, 2018, recommending that Claims 3, 4, and 5 of Holm's amended petition be dismissed with prejudice as procedurally defaulted. (Doc. 43 at 7.) Through counsel, Holm timely filed an objection as to Claim 4. (Doc. 46.) Consequently, Holm is entitled to de novo review of those findings and recommendations to which he has specifically objected. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). Absent objection, this Court reviews findings and recommendations for clear error. United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). Clear error exists if the Court is left with a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v. Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).
Holm objects to Judge Lynch's recommendation that Claim 4 of his amended petition be dismissed as procedurally defaulted. Holm's fourth habeas claim is for ineffective assistance of trial counsel. (Doc. 20 at 23-26.) Judge Lynch recommended dismissal because Holm did not appeal to the state appellate court after the state trial court dismissed his petition for post-conviction relief. Holm objects, arguing that "the Ninth Circuit has not yet determined whether the Martinez exception should apply to issues defaulted on appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief." (Doc. 46 at 4.)
Reviewing de novo, the Court concludes that Judge Lynch's recommendation is consistent with Martinez v. Ryan, which expressly "does not concern attorney errors in other kids of proceedings, including appeals from initial-review collateral proceedings." 566 U.S. 1, 16 (2012); see also Davila v. Davis. 137 S. Ct. 2058, 2066 (2017) ("Applying Martinez's highly circumscribed, equitable exception to new categories of procedurally defaulted claims would do precisely what this Court disclaimed in Martinez: Replace the rule of Coleman with the exception of Martinez."). Accordingly, the Court cannot look past Holm's failure to appeal the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 730 (1991).
Reviewing the remaining portions of Judge Lynch's Findings and Recommendations for clear error and finding none,
IT IS ORDERED that Judge Lynch's Findings and Recommendations (Doc. 43) are ADOPTED. Claims 3, 4, and 5 of Holm's Amended Petition (Doc. 1) are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE as procedurally defaulted.
DATED this 5th day of October, 2018.
/s/_________
Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge
United States District Court