The trial court denied Petitioner's motion after concluding that Petitioner was raising the same issue that had been decided against him on direct appeal. The Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court denied Petitioner's subsequent applications for leave to appeal. See People v. Carrington, No. 20403 1 (Mich.Ct.App. Jan. 14, 1998); People v. Carrington, No. 112170 (Mich.Sup.Ct. Dec. 30, 1998). On December 6, 1999, Petitioner signed and dated the pending habeas corpus petition.