Opinion
Case No.: 21-CV-661 JLS (BGS)
04-22-2021
MARQUELL SMITH, Petitioner, v. J. SUTTON, Warden, et al., Respondents.
ORDER (1) DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND (2) DENYING MOTION TO STAY AND REQUEST TO APPOINT COUNSEL AS MOOT
(ECF Nos. 1, 2)
Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging a November 4, 2020 San Diego Superior Court judgment in case number SCD137023. See ECF No. 1. Petitioner has also filed a motion to stay and a request for appointment of counsel. See ECF No. 2.
FAILURE TO SATISFY FILING FEE REQUIREMENT
Petitioner has not paid the $5.00 filing fee and has not filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. Because this Court cannot proceed until Petitioner has either paid the filing fee or qualified to proceed in forma pauperis, the Petition is subject to dismissal without prejudice. See Rule 3(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. / / /
ABSTENTION
It is also evident that the Petition must be dismissed because the Court is barred from considering Petitioner's claims pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). Under Younger, federal courts may not interfere with ongoing state criminal proceedings absent extraordinary circumstances. Id. at 45-46; see Middlesex Cty. Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 U.S. 423, 431 (1982) (noting Younger "espouse[d] a strong federal policy against federal-court interference with pending state judicial proceedings"). These concerns are particularly important in the habeas context, where a state prisoner's conviction may be reversed on appeal, thus rendering the federal matter moot. Sherwood v. Thompkins, 716 F.2d 632, 634 (9th Cir. 1983). Thus, absent extraordinary circumstances, abstention under Younger is required when: (1) state judicial proceedings are ongoing; (2) the state proceedings involve important state interests; and (3) the state proceedings afford an adequate opportunity to raise the federal issue. Columbia Basin Apartment Ass'n v. City of Pasco, 268 F.3d 791, 799 (9th Cir. 2001).
All three criteria are satisfied here, and Petitioner has not established extraordinary circumstances. First, Petitioner indicates he has yet to file a direct appeal, much less receive a decision on direct appeal from the California Court of Appeal. See ECF No. 1 at 2 ("Appeal on new judgment is underway now, not even filed yet."); see also id. at 6. Second, it is not only clear that Petitioner's criminal case remains ongoing in state court, but also that such proceedings involve important state interests. Finally, Petitioner fails to show he has not been, and will not be, afforded an adequate opportunity to raise his federal issues in state court. Indeed, Petitioner's claims of insufficient evidence, prosecutorial failure to disclose favorable evidence concerning the credibility of a witness, and prosecutorial interference in presentation of witnesses are the types of claims state courts provide an opportunity to raise on direct appeal. Accordingly, abstention is required here. See Drury v. Cox, 457 F.2d 764, 764-65 (9th Cir. 1972) ("[O]nly in the most unusual circumstances is a defendant entitled to have federal interposition by way of injunction or habeas corpus until after the jury comes in, judgment has been appealed from and the case concluded in the state courts."); see also Juidice v. Vail, 430 U.S. 327, 337 (1977) (holding that if Younger abstention applies, a court may not retain jurisdiction but should dismiss the action).
Previously, in another case in this District, the Court conditionally granted Petitioner's prior federal petition as to count 75 and ordered the State to recalculate Petitioner's sentence or retry him on that count within a reasonable amount of time. See ECF No. 43 at 166 in Case No. 06-CV-2546 MMA (BLM) (S.D. Cal.). In a November 30, 2018 Order, the Ninth Circuit denied Petitioner's application for authorization to file a second or successive 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition in the district court but acknowledged the district court's order conditionally granting habeas relief and indicated its own order was "without prejudice as to the applicant filing a section 2254 habeas petition in the district court after the state court enters a new judgment upon resentencing or after retrial." ECF No. 10 in Case No. 17-72075 (9th Cir.). Petitioner indicates his new judgment was issued on November 4, 2020. See ECF No. 1 at 1. For the reasons provided herein, regardless of whether Petitioner intended with the instant filing to attempt to reopen his prior case or initiate a new case, the Court must still abstain.
CONCLUSION
In light of the foregoing, the Court DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the Petition (ECF No. 1) for failure to satisfy the filing fee requirement and because the Court must abstain from interference in the ongoing state court proceedings. Accordingly, the Court DENIES AS MOOT Petitioner's motion for stay and request for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 2).
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: April 22, 2021
/s/_________
Hon. Janis L. Sammartino
United States District Judge