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Thabet v. Subia

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, E.D. California
Apr 8, 2011
CV 07-00540 TJH (E.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2011)

Opinion


HAFED THABET, Petitioner, v. R.J. SUBIA, Respondent. No. CV 07-00540 TJH United States District Court, E.D. California. April 8, 2011.

          ORDER

          TERRY J. HATTER Jr., Senior District Judge

         The Court has considered the petition for a writ of habeas corpus, together with the moving and opposing papers.

         In a recent decision, the Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit's holding that federal courts could undertake a substantive review of state courts' application of state law. Swarthout v. Cooke, 562 U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 859, 860, 178 L.Ed.2d 732, 740 (2011). While California's some evidence standard does create a liberty interest in parole, Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 112 S.Ct. 475, 116 L.Ed.2d 385 (1991) held that there should be no substantive due process examination of a state's laws. Swarthout, 562 U.S. at ___, 131 S.Ct. at 861-62, 178 L.Ed.2d at 742. Therefore, federal courts may only undertake a procedural due process review of habeas petitions concerning parole denials. Swarthout, 562 U.S. at ___, 131 S.Ct. at 862, 178 L.Ed.2d at 743. This review, however, is limited to the standard articulated in Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal & Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 99 S.Ct. 2100, 60 L.Ed.2d 668 (1979): As long as the prisoner has received notice and an opportunity to be heard during parole proceedings, federal procedural due process has been satisfied. Swarthout, 562 U.S. at ___, 131 S.Ct. at 862, 178 L.Ed.2d at 743.

         Here, Petitioner has not alleged a lack of notice or opportunity to be heard. Indeed, the record clearly reflects Petitioner was present, with counsel, at his parole hearing. Therefore, procedural due process is satisfied under Swarthout .

         It is Ordered that Petitioner's petition for a writ of habeas corpus be, and hereby is, Denied.


Summaries of

Thabet v. Subia

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, E.D. California
Apr 8, 2011
CV 07-00540 TJH (E.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2011)
Case details for

Thabet v. Subia

Case Details

Full title:HAFED THABET, Petitioner, v. R.J. SUBIA, Respondent.

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

Date published: Apr 8, 2011

Citations

CV 07-00540 TJH (E.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2011)