Opinion
9:04-CV-0400.
November 28, 2007
FOR THE PETITIONER: MARLON JONES, Petitioner, pro se, No. 00-A-6511, Great Meadow Correctional Facility, Comstock, NY.
FOR THE RESPONDENT: HON. ANDREW CUOMO, Office of the Attorney General, GERALD J. ROCK, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, State of New York, Albany, NY.
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. Background
A. State Court Proceedings
The state court records reflect that on December 9, 1999, Dan Murtha was a student at the State University of New York at Albany who lived in the Steinmetz Hall dormitory. See Transcript of Trial of Marlon E. Jones (9/5/00) ("Trial Tr.") at pp. 156-57. At about 2:00 a.m. on December 9th, Murtha heard a knock on the door to his dorm room. Trial Tr. at p. 158. An acquaintance of Murtha, Greg Able, answered the door, Trial Tr. at p. 158, and a large hispanic male and a black male, later identified by Murtha as petitioner, pro se Marlon Jones, entered the room. Trial Tr. at pp. 159-60, 176. Once inside, the men began demanding money and drugs from the occupants. Trial Tr. at p. 163. When the hispanic male pushed Murtha, the two become embroiled in a fight which ended when Jones brandished a 9mm handgun. Trial Tr. at pp. 163-64. After it became apparent that there were no drugs in the room, Jones placed the gun against Murtha's neck and directed him to call someone and have marijuana brought to the dorm room. Trial Tr. at pp. 165-66. Murtha placed the call, during which he surreptitiously advised the friend whom he had called that Murtha was in trouble. Trial Tr. at pp. 167-68. Shortly thereafter, as Jones was standing in the room, Murtha noticed that Jones had pointed the gun he was holding toward the ground, which action prompted Murtha to lunge at Jones in an effort to wrest the gun away from him. Trial Tr. at pp. 169-71. During that struggle, the bandana that had been obscuring Jones's face since he entered the room came down, exposing his face. Trial Tr. at pp. 173-74. The hispanic male then hit Murtha, which enabled Jones to recover the gun. Trial Tr. at pp. 175-76. At about that time, someone knocked on Murtha's door. Trial Tr. at pp. 176-77. The hispanic male opened the door, revealing the presence of approximately one dozen people in the hallway. Trial Tr. at pp. 177-78. Upon seeing those individuals, Jones and his accomplice left the room, and fled the scene by a nearby staircase. Trial Tr. at p. 178.
At the time the bandana fell from Jones' face, the room was fully lit. Trial Tr at pp. 174-75.
Later that same day, at about 4:00 p.m., Murtha and another roommate entered the university's cafeteria and Murtha noticed that one of the individuals working in the cafeteria resembled the black male who had robbed him at gun point earlier that morning. Trial Tr. at p. 180. Jones noticed Murtha and eventually called him over to the food service counter. Trial Tr. at pp. 180-81. As Murtha approached Jones, they had a conversation regarding the events that had transpired earlier that day, which ended when Jones informed Murtha that he "shouldn't have been a hero." Trial Tr. at p. 181. Soon thereafter, Murtha left the area and reported the incident to security personnel at the university. Trial Tr. at p. 182. Murtha thereafter spoke with Investigator Wendy Knoebel of the State University of New York ("SUNY") at Albany's police division, and informed her what had transpired that evening. Trial Tr. at pp. 182-83.
During the course of her investigation into the crimes, Investigator Knoebel created a photographic array of potential suspects to be viewed by Murtha in order to ascertain whether he could identify the perpetrator of the crime. See Transcript of Suppression Hearing (5/31/2000) ("Suppression Tr.") at pp. 17, 36-37. The initial photo array shown to Murtha did not contain a picture of Jones, and Murtha did not identify any of the individuals in the array as a perpetrator. See Suppression Tr at pp. 37-38. Approximately five hours later, Investigator Knoebel replaced one of the photographs in the array with a picture of Jones — whom she then believed might be a suspect in crimes — and left the remaining photographs undisturbed. When the investigator showed this "second" array to Murtha, he positively identified Jones as the individual who had previously entered Murtha's room in the early morning hours of December 9, 1999. See Suppression Tr at pp. 38-39, 41. Subsequent to that identification, Investigator Knoebel applied for and was granted an arrest warrant relating to Jones.
After obtaining the arrest warrant, Murtha's roommate, Abel, also identified Jones from the same photo array that had been shown to Murtha. See Suppression Tr. at p. 45.
On December 12, 1999, Investigator Knoebel arrested Jones. Trial Tr. at pp. 226-28. At the time of his arrest, Jones was carrying a purple book bag. Trial Tr. at p. 227. Investigator Knoebel searched that bag at that time and discovered, inter alia, a 9mm handgun, 59 packets of crack cocaine, a red bandana, and a black hood. Trial Tr. at p. 229. Jones was then transported to the SUNY police station where he was advised of his Miranda rights. Trial Tr. at p. 242. After he acknowledged those rights and agreed to speak to law enforcement agents without an attorney being present, Jones spoke with the police and eventually provided them with a written statement in which he admitted that he had been in possession of the handgun at the time of his arrest, Trial Tr. at p. 246, however he did not implicate himself in the crime that occurred at Murtha's dormitory room. Trial Tr. at pp. 246-47.
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
Jones did, however, ask Investigator Knoebel at the time: "what kind of deal are you giving me?" Trial Tr. at p. 247.
As a result of the foregoing, on January 28, 2000, an Albany County grand jury returned a five count indictment against Jones. See Indictment (reproduced in Appellant's Appendix on Appeal ("App.") at pp. A2-6). In that accusatory instrument, Jones was charged with: first degree robbery (Count One); robbery in the second degree (Count Two); criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Count Three); third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Count Four); and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (Count Five). See Indictment.
A pretrial suppression hearing was held before County Court Judge Thomas A. Breslin on May 31, 2000. At the conclusion of that proceeding, Judge Breslin denied Jones' motion to preclude Murtha from making an in-court identification of Jones, and also denied Jones' motion to suppress the items seized from Jones at the time of his arrest. See App. at pp. A38-42. Judge Breslin also denied Jones' motion for severance of the robbery charges from the weapon and drug possession charges. See App. at p. A58.
Beginning on September 5, 2000, a jury trial was held regarding the foregoing charges in Albany County Court with Judge Breslin presiding. See Trial Tr. At the conclusion of that proceeding, the jury acquitted Jones of both robbery charges, but convicted him of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law § 265.03(2); criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law § 220.16(1); and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, in violation of N.Y. Penal Law § 220.09(1). See Trial Tr. at pp. 477-80.
On November 17, 2000, Jones appeared before Albany County Court Judge Dan Lamont for sentencing on the above convictions. At that proceeding, the court initially considered Jones' motion to set aside the verdict which he filed pursuant to Section 330.30(1) of New York's Criminal Procedure Law ("CPL"). See Transcript of Sentencing (11/17/00) ("Sentencing Tr.") at p. 5. After denying that application, id. at p. 6, and finding that Jones was a second felony offender, id. at pp. 6-7, Judge Breslin sentenced Jones to a determinate term of fourteen years imprisonment on the weapons possession conviction, and indeterminate terms of five to ten years imprisonment on each of the two drug convictions, with those sentences to be served concurrent to each other but consecutive to the term of imprisonment imposed on Jones relating to the weapons possession conviction. See Sentencing Tr. at pp. 13-15. Judge Breslin further ordered that those sentences were to be served consecutive to any undischarged term of imprisonment that Jones was still required to serve that related to his prior criminal conviction. Sentencing Tr. at pp. 15-16.
Petitioner appealed the foregoing to the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Department. On January 2, 2003, that court unanimously affirmed Jones' convictions and sentences. See People v. Jones, 301 AD.2d 678 (3d Dep't 2003). Jones' application for leave to appeal that decision to the New York Court of Appeals was denied by that court on February 27, 2003. People v. Jones, 99 N.Y.2d 616 (2003).
The records also reflect that in May, 2001, while his appeal was pending, Jones filed a motion to vacate his judgment of conviction pursuant to CPL § 440.10 ("May, 2001 CPL Motion"). That application was opposed by the Albany County district attorney, and in a Decision/Order dated July 9, 2001, Judge Lamont denied that application.
On August 31, 2005, Jones filed an application seeking a writ of error coram nobis in which he alleged that he received the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. That application was denied by the Appellate Division in a decision dated November 15, 2005, and New York's Court of Appeals denied Jones' application for leave to appeal that decision in its order filed February 6, 2006. See People v. Jones, 6 N.Y.3d 814 (2006). B. This Action
Although this Court was not provided with a copy of the Appellate Division's decision relating to Jones' coram nobis application, the Court of Appeals, in its decision denying Jones' application for leave to appeal, noted that the Third Department denied Jones's coram nobis request on November 15, 2005. See Jones, 6 N.Y.3d at 814.
On April 9, 2004, Jones filed a pro se petition in this District seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. See Dkt. No. 1. By order filed May 12, 2004, this Court directed Jones to file an amended pleading if he wished to proceed with this action, see Dkt. No. 2, and on May 28, 2004, Jones filed that amended petition. See Dkt. No. 3. This Court reviewed Jones' amended petition and thereafter directed the respondent to file his response to that submission. See Dkt. No. 5.
Jones also filed a supporting memorandum of law relating to that amended pleading. See Dkt. No. 4.
On November 9, 2004, the Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York, acting on respondent's behalf, filed a response in opposition to Jones' amended petition. See Dkt. No. 10.
On February 4, 2005, Jones filed a motion that requested that this Court stay this matter while he pursued his coram nobis application in the state courts. Dkt. No. 14. This Court granted that request on July 14, 2005, Dkt. No. 17, and, after that challenge was denied by the Appellate Division, Jones requested that the stay herein be lifted and that he be permitted to file a second amended petition in this action. See Dkt. No. 24. On October 30, 2006, Magistrate Judge David R. Homer granted Jones' application to lift the stay and also granted Jones' motion to amend. See Dkt. No. 33. On October 30, 2006, Jones filed a second amended pleading in this action. See Dkt. No. 34 ("Am. Pet.").
In his amended petition, Jones argues that: i) his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance when he failed to obtain a ruling on Jones' application which argued that the arrest warrant was obtained as a result of an unduly suggestive photo array utilized by law enforcement agents; ii) appellate counsel was ineffective because he failed to argue that Jones' trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance; and iii) the County Court improperly imposed consecutive sentences on Jones. See Am. Pet., Grounds One through Three. In the supporting memorandum of law he filed in support of that amended pleading, in addition to reasserting these three claims, Jones also claims, in the portion of that memorandum which he has labeled as "Ground One," that he was denied the opportunity to adequately litigate his Fourth Amendment claim in the state courts below. See Dkt. No. 41 ("Supporting Mem.") at pp. 17-19.
In his supporting memorandum, Jones numbered the pages relating to his statement of facts as page numbers one through fourteen, and then numbered the pages in support of his legal argument as page numbers one through fifteen. See Supporting Mem. When that brief was docketed by the Clerk of the Court, it was automatically assigned sequential numbers. For sake of clarity and consistency, this Court's reference to the page numbers contained in Jones' supporting memorandum will refer to the sequential numbers generated by the Clerk when that brief was filed herein.
On November 15, 2006, respondent filed a memorandum of law in opposition to Jones' amended pleading in which he argues that Jones' request for federal habeas intervention must be denied. See Dkt. No. 35 ("Resp. Mem."). Petitioner thereafter submitted a "traverse" in further support of his amended habeas application. See Dkt. No. 38.
II. Discussion
A. Standard of Review
The April, 1996 enactment of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act ("AEDPA") brought about significant new limitations on the power of a federal court to grant habeas relief to a state prisoner under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. In discussing this deferential standard, the Second Circuit noted in Rodriguez v. Miller, 439 F.3d 68 (2d Cir. 2006) that:
a federal court may award habeas corpus relief with respect to a claim adjudicated on the merits in state court only if the adjudication resulted in an outcome that: (1) 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) was "based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding."Id. at 73 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)); see also DeBerry v. Portuondo, 403 F.3d 57, 66 (2d Cir. 2005); Miranda v. Bennett, 322 F.3d 171, 177-78 (2d Cir. 2003); Boyette v. LeFevre, 246 F.3d 76, 88 (2d Cir. 2001). In providing guidance concerning application of this test, the Second Circuit has recently noted that:
It should be noted that "clearly established federal law" in this context "refers only to the holdings of the Supreme Court." Rodriguez v. Miller, 499 F.3d 136, 140 (2d Cir. 2007) (citing Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412 (2000)).
[A] state court's decision is "contrary to" clearly established federal law if it contradicts Supreme Court precedent on the application of a legal rule, or addresses a set of facts "materially indistinguishable" from a Supreme Court decision but nevertheless comes to a different conclusion than the Court did. [ Taylor, 529 U.S.] at 405-06; Loliscio v. Goord, 263 F.3d 178, 184 (2d Cir. 2001). . . . [A] state court's decision is an "unreasonable application of" clearly established federal law if the state court "identifies the correct governing legal principle from [the Supreme] Court's decisions but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts" of the case before it. Williams, 529 U.S. at 413.Thibodeau v. Portuondo, 486 F.3d 61, 65 (2d Cir. 2007); see also Williams v. Artuz, 237 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir. 2001) (citing Francis S. v. Stone, 221 F.3d 100, 108-09 (2d Cir. 2000)).
Significantly, a federal court engaged in habeas review is not charged with determining whether the state court's determination was merely incorrect or erroneous, but instead whether such determination was "objectively unreasonable." Williams, 529 U.S. at 409; see also Sellan v. Kuhlman, 261 F.3d 303, 315 (2d Cir. 2001). Objectively unreasonable in this context has been interpreted as meaning that "`some increment of incorrectness beyond error is required'" for the habeas court to properly grant the application. Earley v. Murray, 451 F.3d 71, 74 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting Francis S., 221 F.3d at 111).
B. Review of Jones' Amended Petition i. Fourth Amendment Claims
The Second Circuit has instructed federal district courts to construe pro se submissions liberally and to interpret them "to raise the strongest arguments that they suggest." Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 475 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also Bido v. Miller, No. 00 CV 8462, 2005 WL 1241898, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. May 24, 2005). Mindful of this directive, this Court has construed this action as one which asserts four grounds for relief — the three grounds raised in his amended pleading as well as the additional argument he asserts in his supporting memorandum of law.
This Court initially considers Jones' Fourth Amendment claims which argue that he was subjected to a wrongful arrest and that the evidence obtained in conjunction with that arrest should have been suppressed. See Supporting Mem. at pp. 17-19.
A claim that the police lacked probable cause to arrest an individual is one rooted in the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. See Rodriguez v. Zon, No. 01-CV-2036, 2004 WL 1752418, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 5, 2004); McPherson v. Greiner, No. 02 CIV. 2726, 2003 WL 22405449, at *16 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 22, 2003).
In Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S. 465 (1976), the Supreme Court determined that "where the State has provided an opportunity for full and fair litigation of a Fourth Amendment claim, a state prisoner may not be granted federal habeas corpus relief on the ground that evidence obtained in an unconstitutional search or seizure was introduced at his trial." Stone, 428 U.S. at 494 (footnote omitted); see also Wallace v. Kato, ___ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 1091, 1099 n. 5 (2007); Capellan v. Riley, 975 F.2d 67, 70 (2d Cir. 1992) (citing Stone); Morales v. Walsh, No. 02-CV-6045, 2003 WL 23185770, at *15 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 30, 2003) (" Stone v. Powell applies to all Fourth Amendment claims — including claims of arrest without probable cause — and regardless of the nature of the evidence that the defendant is seeking to suppress").
The Second Circuit has noted that federal review of Fourth Amendment claims in federal habeas petitions may only be undertaken in one of two instances: a) if the state has provided no corrective procedures at all to redress the alleged Fourth Amendment violations; or b) if the state has provided a corrective mechanism, but the defendant was precluded from using that mechanism because of an unconscionable breakdown in the underlying process. Capellan, 975 F.2d at 70 (citation omitted); James v. Marshall, No. CV-05-1992, 2007 WL 3232513, at *9 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 31, 2007) (citing Capellan); Hickey v. Conway, No. 03-CV-350, 2005 WL 1660115, at *4 (N.D.N.Y. July 6, 2005) (Scullin, C.J.) (citing Capellan).
New York State has provided an opportunity for defendants to fully and fairly litigate Fourth Amendment claims. See CPL § 710; Capellan, 975 F.2d at 70 n. 1; Jackson v. Lacy, 74 F.Supp.2d 173, 176 (N.D.N.Y. 1999) (McAvoy, C.J.) (adopting Report-Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Ralph W. Smith, Jr.).
Jones argues that an unconscionable breakdown occurred because the procedures utilized by law enforcement agents in creating the photo array, and thereafter displaying that array to Murtha, were unduly suggestive and violated Jones' Fourth Amendment rights. Supporting Mem. at pp. 17-18. Specifically, Jones argues that the fruit of the "poisoned" identification procedure — his arrest — should have been declared illegal by the County Court, and that the trial court's failure to grant the suppression motion and find the arrest of Jones to be unlawful ran afoul of the United States Constitution. Supporting Mem. at pp. 18-19.
In explaining what a petitioner must prove to demonstrate that an "unconscionable breakdown" occurred in the context of a Fourth Amendment claim that would permit a federal district court to consider such a ground for relief, the court in Brazeau v. Zon, No. 04-CV-031, 2007 WL 2903617 (W.D.N.Y. Oct. 1, 2007) recently observed:
[T]he Second Circuit has not defined precisely when an unconscionable breakdown has occurred. . . . [T]he district court pointedly observed in Cappiello v. Hoke, [ 698 F.Supp. 1042, 1050 (E.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 852 F.2d 59 (2d Cir. 1988), however, that] "an unconscionable breakdown in the state's process must be one that calls into serious question whether a conviction is obtained pursuant to those fundamental notions of due process that are at the heart of a civilized society." [ Id.,] 698 F.Supp. at 1050.Brazeau, 2007 WL 2903617, at *10.
In light of Jones' claim that the County Court's decision relating to the identification evidence establishes that an unconscionable breakdown occurred at the suppression hearing, this Court briefly reviews the factors that courts are to consider in determining whether a witness' in-court identification of the defendant is appropriate notwithstanding unduly suggestive identification procedures.
In Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188 (1972), the Supreme Court found that unnecessary suggestiveness alone does not require the exclusion of identification evidence. Specifically, that Court noted that courts are to consider the "totality of the circumstances" surrounding the identification in ascertaining whether the identification of the defendant was reliable notwithstanding the fact that the confrontation procedure was unduly suggestive. In arriving at that determination, the Biggers Court opined that courts must consider the following factors: (1) the opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime; (2) the witness' degree of attention at that time; (3) the accuracy of the witness' prior description of the suspect; (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation; and (5) the length of time between the crime and the confrontation. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199-200.
No single one of these factors is necessarily dispositive of this issue. See, e.g., United States v. Concepcion, 983 F.2d 369, 377 (2d Cir. 1992).
The transcript of the suppression hearing reflects that on the night of the alleged robbery, Murtha was at times only three inches from the face of Jones during that encounter, and that Murtha could "fully make out" Jones' face. Suppression Tr. at pp. 85-86. Murtha was clearly paying close attention to Jones at the time; Murtha testified at the suppression hearing that he was choking Jones and attempting to wrest a gun from him. Suppression Tr. at p. 85. Additionally, Murtha provided the police with an accurate description of: i) Jones' physical appearance (Suppression Tr. at pp. 34-35); ii) the clothing Jones was wearing at the time of the robbery and personal items that he had at that time ( id.); iii) Jones' then-current employer ( id. at p. 46); and iv) the first name of Jones ( id. at pp. 46-47); see also App. at pp. A55-56 (supporting deposition executed by Murtha on December 9, 1999). Murtha promptly identified Jones from the photo array and at trial, see Suppression Tr. at p. 42; Trial Tr. at p. 176, and less than one year had transpired between the time Jones entered Murtha's dorm room and the date on which he identified Jones as one of the perpetrators at trial.
This description of Jones was provided to Investigator Knoebel by Murtha after he had viewed the first photo array but before he had viewed the second array. Suppression Tr. at pp. 46-47.
Based upon the above, this Court concludes that Judge Breslin properly found that there existed "an independent basis" for Murtha's identification of Jones as the perpetrator of the crime. Suppression Tr. at p. 109. Therefore, petitioner's claim that such finding necessarily establishes that an unconscionable breakdown occurred at the suppression hearing is without substance. Moreover, this Court's review of the transcript of the suppression hearing and related state court records fails to confirm Jones' allegation that such a breakdown occurred. Specifically, the record reflects that Jones' defense counsel thoroughly questioned Investigator Knoebel, who arrested Jones, as well as Murtha, at the suppression hearing. Trial counsel also cogently argued — albeit unsuccessfully — that Murtha's identification of Jones as the perpetrator in the second photo array was flawed, that his arrest was unlawful, and that therefore all evidence thereafter obtained by the police after Jones' arrest was inadmissible. Suppression Tr. at pp. 103-04. Furthermore, the Appellate Division explicitly considered (but rejected) appellate counsel's arguments that the photo array was unduly suggestive, see Appellate Brief on Appeal ("App. Br."), Points I, II; Jones, 301 A.D.2d at 679-80. Nothing in the record before this Court suggests that "fundamental notions of due process" were violated by the state courts in considering and denying Jones' Fourth Amendment challenges. This Court therefore denies Jones' initial ground for relief in light of Stone and Capellan. ii. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
Judge Breslin concluded that Murtha's interactions with Jones before the arrest warrant was issued established that Murtha's in-court identification of petitioner was permissible, notwithstanding the flawed photo array. Suppression Tr. at p. 109.
In his next ground, petitioner argues that his conviction must be set aside because it was obtained as a result of the ineffective assistance of trial counsel. See Am. Pet. at attached pp. 10-11.
1. Clearly Established Supreme Court Precedent
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that: "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." U.S. Const., amend. VI. To establish a violation of this right to the effective assistance of counsel, a habeas petitioner must show both: a) that counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, measured in light of the prevailing professional norms; and b) resulting prejudice, i.e., a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional performance, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688-90 (1984); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 521 (2003) ("the legal principles that govern claims of ineffective assistance of counsel" were established in Strickland).
2. Contrary To, or Unreasonable Application Of, Clearly Established Supreme Court Precedent
In support of his claim that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel, Jones reiterates the fact that Judge Breslin found the procedure used by Investigator Knoebel with respect to the photo array to be improper, and argues that his counsel never: i) objected to the fact that the County Court never explicitly found that probable cause existed for the arrest warrant to be issued; and ii) lodged an objection to the County Court's purportedly erroneous conclusion that Able's identification of Jones justified the issuance of the arrest warrant. See Am. Pet. at attached p. 11; see also Supporting Mem. at pp. 21-24; Reply at pp. 3-4.
Abel did not identify Jones in the photo array until after the arrest warrant was issued. Suppression Tr. at p. 45.
Jones raised this argument in his supplemental pro se appellate brief dated July 22, 2002 (" Pro Se Appellate Brief"). See id. at pp. 5, 9-15. In denying Jones' direct appeal, the Third Department determined that the claims raised in Jones' Pro Se Appellate Brief were "without merit." See Jones, 301 A.D.2d at 680. This Court must therefore ascertain whether that determination is either contrary to, or represents an unreasonable application of, Strickland and its progeny.
In that brief, Jones argued that his trial counsel failed to challenge the propriety of Jones' arrest, see Pro Se Appellate Brief at p. 9, and claimed that such counsel employed "weak and lame tactics" at "critical stages" of the criminal proceeding below. Id. at p. 12. Jones specifically argued in that brief that his attorney improperly conceded the validity of the arrest warrant. Id. at p. 14.
At the suppression hearing, Jones' counsel argued that the "heart and soul of the People's application for the [arrest] warrant" was the fact that Murtha had identified Jones in the second photo array shown to him by Investigator Knoebel. See Suppression Tr. at p. 103. Counsel reasoned that such identification was tainted because the photo array Murtha was shown was unduly suggestive. Id. Counsel further claimed that the issuance of the arrest warrant was therefore fatally flawed, and that all physical evidence obtained by the police at the time of that arrest should have been suppressed. Id.
Specifically, defense counsel argued that absent Murtha's identification of Jones "there would be no [arrest] warrant. Absent the warrant, there would be no lawful arrest. Absent the lawful arrest, there would be no reason or way to properly search." Suppression Tr. at p. 103.
The County Court noted that Jones' Mapp claim "falls and rises on the Dunaway issue." Suppression Tr. at p. 104. Although Judge Breslin found that the manner in which the photographic array was presented to Murtha by law enforcement agents was "improper," see Suppression Tr. at p. 108, that court then made the following observations in support of its conclusion that the identification of Jones made by Murtha was nevertheless proper:
Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961). A Mapp hearing is held "to determine whether physical evidence sought to be used against a criminal defendant was obtained illegally by law enforcement officers and, thus, is inadmissible at the criminal defendant's trial." Edwards v. Mazzuca, No. 00 CIV 2290, 2007 WL 2994449, at *9 n. 4 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 2007) (citing Mapp).
Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S. 200 (1979). "The purpose of a Dunaway hearing [is] to establish whether there was probable cause for the arrest." Pinero v. Greiner, No. 01 CIV. 9991, 2007 WL 2712496, at *22 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2007).
Although Jones correctly argues that Judge Breslin never explicitly stated that the arrest warrant was lawfully issued, see Am. Pet. at attached p. 11, this claim appears to overlook the fact that the above-quoted excerpt from the suppression hearing establishes that County Court implicitly determined that the warrant was validly issued, notwithstanding the tainted photo array shown to Murtha.
Moreover, Judge Breslin's implicit finding that Murtha's detailed description of Jones to law enforcement agents prior to his viewing the tainted photo array provided the police with the probable cause necessary to obtain the arrest warrant is consistent with relevant case law that has addressed the issue of probable cause in the context of the propriety of an arrest. See Rizzo v. Edison, Inc., 419 F.Supp.2d 338, 346 (W.D.N.Y. 2005) ("[i]t is well established that probable cause to arrest a suspect exists when a crime victim identifies the suspect"); Breitbard v. Mitchell, 390 F.Supp.2d 237, 245 (E.D.N.Y. 2005) (victim's identification of suspect in a police complaint "provides probable cause for an arrest, so long as the arresting officer's belief in the complaint's allegations was reasonable") (citations omitted); People v. Martinez 298 A.D.2d 897, 897 (4th Dept. 2002) (arrest warrant application valid where it was supported by statement of the victim identifying defendant as the person who abducted her); People v. Harmon, 293 A.D.2d 303, 303-04 (1st Dept.) (victim's description of perpetrator's physical appearance and personal effects of suspect "was sufficiently specific to provide the police with probable cause to arrest defendant"), leave denied, People v. Harmon, 98 N.Y.2d 676 (2002); Dukes v. City of New York, 879 F.Supp. 335, 341 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) ("[i]n-person identifications by a witness are sufficient to make out probable cause for arrest); see, e.g., Gisondi v. Town of Harrison, 72 N.Y.2d 280, 283-84 (1988) (affirming dismissal of false arrest claim; probable cause existed to issue arrest warrant based upon the victim's identification of suspect).
In light of the foregoing, it was not objectively unreasonable for defense counsel to refrain from arguing that the trial court erred when it did not explicitly find that the arrest warrant was lawfully issued. Furthermore, since Murtha's identification of Jones afforded the authorities sufficient probable cause to issue the arrest warrant, petitioner's argument that defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by conceding that if the County Court found Murtha's identification of Jones to be valid, the issuance of the arrest warrant was also valid, see Supporting Mem. at p. 24, see also Suppression Tr. at p. 104, is without substance.
Petitioner further contends that defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to Judge Breslin's purported finding that the arrest warrant was properly issued on the basis of Able's identification of Jones. See Supporting Mem. at pp. 23-24.
As noted ante in n. 15, Able did not identify Jones until after the arrest warrant was issued. See Suppression Tr. at p. 45. Thus, petitioner correctly argues that Able's identification of Jones could not supply the requisite probable cause for the issuance of that warrant. However, Jones' claim that Judge Breslin based his finding that the arrest of Jones was lawful "entirely on Able['s identification] and not the actual complainant Murtha," see Reply at p. 4; see also Supporting Mem. at p. 23, overlooks the significant findings discussed above wherein Judge Breslin concluded that Murtha's identification of Jones was valid notwithstanding the fact that the photo array displayed to that witness was found by the County Court to be improper. See Suppression Tr. at pp. 108-09. Since Judge Breslin did not find that Able's identification of Jones was the only basis upon which the arrest warrant was lawfully issued, defense counsel did not render ineffective assistance by refraining from arguing that the County Court erred by concluding that Able's identification of Jones provided the probable cause necessary for the issuance of that warrant.
Murtha provided the supporting deposition to law enforcement agents on December 9, 1999. See App. at pp. A55-56. That deposition described the physical characteristics of the perpetrator, the personal items he brought with him when he entered Murtha's dorm room, as well as the name of his employer. See id. Murtha was not shown any photo array until the following day. See Suppression Tr. at pp. 37-39.
In sum, Jones has failed to demonstrate that his trial attorney rendered ineffective assistance during the course of the suppression hearing, including his failure to object to the County Court's failure to explicitly hold that the arrest warrant was properly issued. Therefore, petitioner has not demonstrated that the Appellate Division's decision denying this aspect of his appeal, see Jones, 301 A.D.2d at 680, is either contrary to, or represents an unreasonable application of, Strickland and its progeny. The Court therefore denies this ground for relief.
iii. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel
In his next ground, Jones argues that he received the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. See Am. Pet. at p. 5.
1. Clearly Established Supreme Court Precedent
The Sixth Amendment's provision that criminal defendants are entitled to the assistance of counsel has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to require that indigents be provided with assigned counsel for their first appeal as of right. Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353, 358 (1963). Thus, an individual is entitled to the effective assistance of appellate counsel. McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771 n. 14 (1970). The proper standard for evaluating a claim that appellate counsel was ineffective is the test enunciated in Strickland. See Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 287-89 (2000). In reviewing such a challenge, this Court is mindful that there is a "strong presumption of attorney competence," and the court's standard of review of an appellate counsel's performance is "highly deferential." Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 381-83 (1986). Furthermore, it is clear that an appellate counsel "need not (and should not) raise every nonfrivolous claim, but rather may select from among them in order to maximize the likelihood of success on appeal." Robbins, 528 U.S. at 287-88.
2. Contrary To, or Unreasonable Application Of, Clearly Established Supreme Court Precedent
In support of his claim that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance, Jones refers the Court to the `supporting facts" Jones asserted in support of his ground for relief alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel, see Am. Pet. at p. 5, and principally argues that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he failed to claim on appeal that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. See Supporting Mem. at pp. 25-27; see also Reply at pp. 7-8.
However, because this Court has concluded that trial counsel did not render ineffective assistance, appellate counsel cannot be found to have provided constitutionally deficient representation by failing to assert an ineffective assistance claim relating to defense counsel. See DeVivo v. Superintendent, Auburn Correctional Facility, No. 02-CV-0840, 2006 WL 581145, at *18 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2006) (citations omitted) (Kahn, J., adopting Report-Recommendation of Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles), appeal dismissed, DeVivo v. Goord, No. 06-2279-pr (2d Cir. June 13, 2007). In other words, appellate counsel cannot be found to have rendered ineffective assistance by failing to assert a meritless claim on appeal. See Lopez v. Fischer, No. 05 CIV. 2558, 2006 WL 2996548, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 16, 2006) ("petitioner cannot show that appellate counsel's failure to raise [meritless] claims on direct appeal renders his representation below an objective standard of reasonableness, nor can petitioner show that had these claims been presented on appeal, his outcome would have been any different"); Melenciano v. Walsh, No. 02 CIV. 9593, 2005 WL 768591, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 6, 2005) ("[w]here the underlying claim is without merit, the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel for not raising the issue during the trial is, likewise, meritless") (citations omitted); see also Mackenzie v. Portuondo, 208 F.Supp.2d 302, 319 (E.D.N.Y. 2002) ("`[t]he failure to include a meritless argument does not fall outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance to which Petitioner was entitled'") (quoting Aparicio v. Artuz, 269 F.3d 78, 99-100 n. 10 (2d Cir. 2001)) (other internal quotation and citation omitted).
Jones also contends, however, that appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance because the brief he filed was "wholly inadequate," and such counsel was "a family [c]ourt attorney" who failed to "exercise the skill, judgment, comprehension [and] diligence required of a reasonably competent attorney to perfect a complex criminal appeal." Supporting Mem. at p. 26.
The Court initially notes that appellate counsel argued in his brief — as Jones asserts herein — that: i) the People failed to establish that Murtha's identification of Jones was proper in light of the improperly suggestive photo array ( see App. Br., Point I; Supporting Mem. at pp. 19-25); and ii) because no probable cause justified the issuance of the arrest warrant, Jones' arrest — and the physical evidence obtained pursuant to that arrest — was improperly admitted into evidence against Jones ( see App. Br., Point II; Supporting Mem. at pp. 18-19). The fact that Jones has raised two of the same theories in his amended pleading that appellate counsel asserted in his brief calls into question petitioner's argument that such brief was "wholly inadequate." Supporting Mem. at p. 26.
Jones' claims challenging the propriety of the identification evidence are raised in the context of his claim that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in failing to assert such arguments. See Supporting Mem. at pp. 19-25.
Regardless, in conjunction with this claim, this Court has reviewed counsel's appellate brief. That review has satisfied this Court that appellate counsel's strategy was reasonable and sound, and that the claims asserted therein were cogently argued.
In that brief, counsel argued that: i) the trial court improperly failed to suppress Murtha's identification of Jones; ii) Judge Breslin erred in failing to suppress the physical evidence that was obtained as a result of an illegal arrest; and iii) the County Court wrongfully failed to sever the charges in the Indictment. See App. Br. at pp. 8-19. That brief was accompanied by an appendix in support thereof consisting of over seventy pages.
Since nothing before the Court suggests that the appellate brief filed by counsel was deficient, petitioner's ineffectiveness claim challenging the quality of counsel's appellate arguments must fail. E.g., Gonzalez v. Duncan, No. 00-CV-2857, 2001 WL 726985, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. June 22, 2001) (denying habeas claim alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel where appellate brief reveals sound appellate strategy on part of attorney); Davis v. Keane, No. 99 CV 71, 2001 WL 13288, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 4, 2001) (same), aff'd, No. 01-2110, 2002 WL 2009559 (2d Cir. Sept. 3, 2002).
The Court notes that the claims petitioner argues appellate counsel wrongfully failed to raise on appeal were nevertheless considered (and rejected) by the Third Department in its decision denying his coram nobis application. Thus, it is not clear that Jones could demonstrate that he was prejudiced by appellate counsel's failure to assert these claims on appeal. See Duncan v. Fischer, 410 F.Supp.2d 101, 120-21 (E.D.N.Y. 2006); Culbreath v. Bennett, No. 01-CV-6337, 2004 WL 1811394, at *18 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2004); Bingham v. Duncan, 01 Civ. 1371, 2003 WL 21360084 at *5 (S.D.N.Y. June 12, 2003) ("[a]s to appellate counsel's failure to raise certain claims on direct appeal, petitioner cannot demonstrate the requisite prejudice. Petitioner's pro se supplemental brief presented all of the issues he wished to raise").
In sum, petitioner has not demonstrated that the Appellate Division's decision denying his coram nobis application alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim is improper in any way. He has therefore failed to establish that such decision of the Third Department is either contrary to, or represents an unreasonable application of, the above-reference Supreme Court precedent. This Court therefore denies this ground for relief.
iv. Illegal Sentence
In his fourth and final claim, Jones argues that the consecutive sentences imposed on him by the trial court are "unlawful as a matter of law." See Am. Pet., Ground Four.
Appellate counsel did not assert a challenge to the legality of the sentences imposed on Jones in his appellate brief, see App. Br., and Jones did not raise this claim in his supplemental pro se appellate brief. See Pro Se Appellate Brief. Furthermore, petitioner did not raise this claim in his May, 2001 CPL Motion or the coram nobis application referenced above.
It is well settled that a federal district court "`may not grant the habeas petition of a state prisoner unless it appears that the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State. . . .'" Shabazz v. Artuz, 336 F.3d 154, 160 (2d Cir. 2003)) (quoting Aparicio v. Artuz, 269 F.3d 78, 89 (2d Cir. 2001) (other citation omitted); see also Ellman v. Davis, 42 F.3d 144, 147 (2d Cir. 1994). This is because "[s]tate courts, like federal courts, are obliged to enforce federal law." Galdamez v. Keane, 394 F.3d 68, 72 (2d Cir.) (quoting O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 844 (1999)), cert denied sub nom., Galdamez v. Fischer, 544 U.S. 1025 (2005).
This exhaustion requirement "reduces friction between the state and federal court systems by avoiding the unseemliness of a federal district court's overturning a state court conviction without the state courts having had an opportunity to correct the constitutional violation in the first instance." O'Sullivan 526 U.S. at 845; see also Galdamez, 394 F.3d at 72 (citing O'Sullivan).
Since petitioner does not appear to have ever presented his sentencing claim in the state courts, this claim is unexhausted. Respondent, however, has not argued that this ground must be dismissed due to petitioner's failure to exhaust his state court remedies. See Answer; Resp. Mem.
Habeas corpus petitioners bear the burden of demonstrating that they have exhausted available state remedies. Cruz v. Artuz, 97-CV-2508, 2002 WL 1359386 (E.D.N.Y. June 24, 2002) (citing Colon v. McCall, 19 F.Supp.2d 112, 119-20 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) (other citation omitted)); see also Ruine v. Walsh, 00 CIV. 3798, 2002 WL 1349713, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2002) (citing Colon).
In Acosta v. Artuz, 221 F.3d 117 (2d Cir. 2000), the Second Circuit noted that it is improper for a federal district court to sua sponte dismiss a federal habeas claim on the theory that such claim is unexhausted. Id. at 121-24. Thus, Jones' final ground cannot be sua sponte dismissed because he failed to exhaust this claim. However, because 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) authorizes federal district courts to address the merits of unexhausted habeas claims, id., this Court may nevertheless consider this ground.
The Second Circuit has not yet discussed the appropriate standard of review that district courts are to utilize when reviewing an unexhausted claim. See Carr v. Senkowski, No. 01-CV-689, 2007 WL 3124624, at *15 n. 12 (W.D.N.Y. Oct. 23, 2007); Brown v. State of New York, 374 F.Supp.2d 314, 318 (W.D.N.Y. 2005). As the Carr court recently noted, most courts within this circuit that have addressed this issue have utilized a "patently frivolous" standard. See Carr, 2007 WL 3124624, at *15 n. 12 (citations omitted); see also Brown, 374 F.Supp.2d at 318 (citing Naranjo v. Filion, No. 02-CIV-5449, 2003 WL 1900867, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 16, 2003)) (collecting cases) (footnote omitted). A minority of district courts, however, have opined that the dismissal of an unexhausted claim is appropriate when "it is perfectly clear" that the petitioner "does not raise even a colorable federal claim.'" Carr, 2007 WL 3124624, at *15 n. 12 (internal quotation and citation omitted); see also Hernandez v. Lord, No. 00-CIV-2306, 2000 WL 1010975, at *4 n. 8 (S.D.N.Y. July 21, 2000) (collecting cases); Russell v. Ricks, No. 02-CV-0940, 2006 WL 1555468, at *16 (N.D.N.Y. May 31, 2006) (Kahn, J.).
However, because this Court concludes that Jones' sentencing claim must be dismissed under either standard, it need not determine which of the above-referenced tests should be applied in considering this unexhausted claim.
The Second Circuit has clearly held that: "[n]o federal constitutional issue is presented where . . . the sentence is within the range prescribed by state law." White v. Keane, 969 F.2d 1381, 1383 (2d Cir. 1992) (citing Underwood v. Kelly, 692 F.Supp. 146 (E.D.N.Y. 1988), aff'd mem., 875 F.2d 857 (2d Cir. 1989)); see also Brown v. Donnelly, 371 F.Supp.2d 332, 343-44 (W.D.N.Y. 2005); Jackson, 74 F.Supp.2d at 181 ("[i]t is well-settled . . . that a prisoner may not challenge the length of a sentence that does not exceed the maximum set by state law").
In the present case, petitioner does not claim that the trial court imposed sentences that exceeded the maximum term permitted by New York law, but instead argues that the County Court improperly imposed consecutive sentences on Jones. See Am. Pet. at p. 6; Supporting Mem. at pp. 28-30. Thus, this Court briefly reviews case law which addresses the issue of when consecutive sentences may be legally imposed on criminal defendants.
As noted above, in the subject criminal case Judge Lamont ordered that the fourteen year determinate sentence imposed on Jones relating to the second degree criminal possession of a weapon conviction run consecutive to the sentences imposed on Jones for his convictions on the charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance. See Sentencing Tr. at pp. 13-15.
In New York, the discretionary power of trial courts in New York "includes the ability to impose consecutive penalties for multiple crimes." People v. Ramirez, 89 N.Y.2d 444, 450 (1996) (citing Matter of Walker v. Walker, 86 N.Y.2d 624, 629 (1995)) (other citation omitted). Consecutive sentences may be imposed on a defendant "when the offenses are committed through separate and distinct acts, though they are part of a single transaction," even where the statutory elements of the offenses overlap. See Ramirez, 89 N.Y.2d at 451. Concurrent sentences are only required in New York where two or more offenses are committed: "(1) `through a single act or omission,' or (2) `through an act or omission which in itself constituted one of the offenses and also was a material element of the other.'" Bethune v. Superintendent, Bare Hill Correctional Facility, 299 F.Supp.2d 162, 166 (W.D.N.Y. 2004) (emphasis added) (citing New York Penal Law § 70.25(2)); see also People v. Laureano, 87 N.Y.2d 640, 643 (1996).
In determining whether concurrent sentences are required, courts must initially examine the elements of the crimes for which the defendant was convicted and sentenced. See People v. Mack, 242 A.D.2d 543, 543-44 (2d Dept. 1997) (citing Laureano, 87 N.Y.2d 640) (other citations omitted). In conducting such examination, courts must determine whether the acts required to commit the crimes are identical for both offenses, or if the act required for one offense is a material element of the second offense. Laureano, 87 N.Y.2d at 643. If neither of these elements is present, the imposition of concurrent sentences is not legally required. Id.
To properly convict Jones of the third count in the Indictment, the prosecution was required to prove that on December 12, 1999, Jones possessed a loaded firearm with the intent to use that weapon unlawfully against another person. See New York Penal L. § 265.03. With respect to the drug related offenses of which Jones was found guilty, this Court notes that a person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree in New York when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses a narcotic drug with intent to sell it. See N.Y. Penal L. § 220.16(1). A person is guilty of fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance when "he knowingly and unlawfully possesses . . . one or more . . . substances containing a narcotic drug and said . . . substances are of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more." N.Y. Penal L. § 220.09(1).
The foregoing establishes that the elements of the weapons possession charge are not identical to the acts the prosecution was required to prove relating to the drug charges in the Indictment. Nor are any acts relating to the third count material elements of either the fourth or fifth counts in the Indictment. Thus, the imposition of consecutive sentences on Jones by Judge Lamont was clearly authorized under New York law.
Arguably, this ground could be construed as a claim that the sentence imposed on petitioner amounts to a violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the imposition of a sentence that is "grossly disproportionate to the severity of the crime." Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 271 (1980). However, "[o]utside the context of capital punishment, successful challenges to the proportionality of particular sentences have been exceedingly rare." Rummel, 445 U.S. at 272; see Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 995 (1991) (the Eighth Amendment only forbids sentences which are "grossly disproportionate" to the crime); see also Hutto v. Davis, 454 U.S. 370, 374 (1982). A sentence of imprisonment which is within the limits of a valid state statute is simply not cruel and unusual punishment in the constitutional sense. Brumfield v. Stinson, 297 F.Supp.2d 607, 622 (W.D.N.Y. 2003) (citing Thompson v. Lord, No. 97-CV-0792, 2002 WL 31678312, at *8 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 8, 2002) (Peebles, M.J.) [, adopted, Thompson v. Lord, No. 97-CV-0792 (Dkt. No. 19) (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2003) (Scullin, C.J.)] (other citations omitted). This Court's review of the state court record establishes that the imposed sentences in that proceeding are not grossly disproportionate to the severity of his crimes.
In sum, this Court finds petitioner's unexhausted sentencing claim to be patently frivolous. The Court alternatively concludes that it is perfectly clear that Jones has not raised even a colorable habeas claim relating to his sentences in this action. Therefore, the final ground in his amended petition must be denied.
III. Certificate of Appealability
Finally, the Court notes that 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) provides in relevant part that:
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. . . .
28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A). A Certificate of Appealability may only be issued "if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Since petitioner has failed to make such a showing herein, the Court declines to issue any Certificate of Appealability in this matter.
Rule 22 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure also provides that an appeal may not proceed "unless a circuit justice or a circuit or district judge issues a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)." See Fed.R.App.P. 22(b).
Rule 22 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure also provides that an appeal may not proceed "unless a circuit justice or a circuit or district judge issues a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)." See Fed.R.App.P. 22(b).
WHEREFORE, after having reviewed the state court record, the documents submitted by the parties in conjunction with this action, the applicable law, and for the reasons discussed herein, it is hereby
ORDERED, that Jones' amended habeas petition (Dkt. No. 34), as supplemented by him in his Supporting Memorandum of Law (Dkt. No. 41) is DENIED and DISMISSED, and it is further
ORDERED, that the Clerk of Court serve a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order upon the parties to this action by regular or electronic mail, and it is further
ORDERED, that any state court records that were not filed and docketed in this action be returned directly to the Attorney General at the conclusion of these proceedings (including any appeal of this Memorandum-Decision and Order filed by any party).
IT IS SO ORDERED.