(HC) Banks v. Sherman ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 LARRY BANKS, No. 1:20-cv-01225-DAD-EPG (HC) 12 Petitioner, 13 v. ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISMISSING 14 STU SHERMAN, PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS 15 Respondent. (Doc. Nos. 11, 19, 22) 16 17 18 Petitioner Larry Banks is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a 19 petitioner for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter was referred to a 20 United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. 21 On March 4, 2021, the assigned magistrate judge issued findings and recommendations, 22 recommending that the pending petition for federal habeas relief be dismissed for failure to state a 23 cognizable claim for federal habeas relief. (Doc. No. 22.) Specifically, the magistrate judge 24 concluded that because petitioner is seeking relief under California Senate Bill 14371, an issue 25 1 On September 30, 2018, then California Governor Brown signed Senate Bill No. 1437, which amended California Penal Code §§ 188 and 189, and created Penal Code § 1170.95. The 26 legislation limited accomplice liability in California for felony murder and murder under the 27 natural and probable consequences theory, and provided a petition procedure through which qualifying defendants could seek to vacate their murder convictions and obtain resentencing. The 28 amendments went into effect on January 1, 2019. See Cal. Const., art. IV, § 8, subd. (c). 1 involving only the interpretation of state law, petitioner has not stated a cognizable federal habeas 2 claim because “‘alleged errors in the application of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas 3 corpus.’” (Id. at 3) (citing Langford v. Day, 110 F.3d 1380, 1389 (9th Cir. 1996)). These 4 findings and recommendations were served on all parties and contained notice that any objections 5 thereto were to be filed within thirty (30) days of service. (Id.) On April 1, 2021, petitioner 6 timely filed objections. (Doc. No. 23.) Therein, petitioner’s arguments focus solely on his 7 alleged denial of relief under California Senate Bill 1437. Petitioner’s objections do not address 8 the fact that issues of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas and therefore fail to present a 9 reason why this action should not be dismissed. 10 In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), this court has conducted a 11 de novo review of this case. Having carefully reviewed the entire file, including petitioner’s 12 objections, the court concludes that the findings and recommendations are supported by the 13 record and proper analysis. 14 Having found that petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief, the court now turns to whether 15 a certificate of appealability should issue. A petitioner seeking a writ of habeas corpus has no 16 absolute entitlement to appeal a district court’s denial of his petition, and an appeal is only 17 allowed in certain circumstances. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003); 28 U.S.C. 18 § 2253. The court should issue a certificate of appealability if “reasonable jurists could debate 19 whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different 20 manner or that the issues presented were ‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed 21 further.’” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 22 880, 893 & n.4 (1983)). 23 In the present case, the court finds that reasonable jurists would not find the court’s 24 determination that the petition should be dismissed debatable or wrong, or that petitioner should 25 be allowed to proceed further. Therefore, the court declines to issue a certificate of appealability. 26 Accordingly, 27 1. The findings and recommendations issued on March 4, 2021 (Doc. No. 22) are 28 adopted in full; 1 2. Respondent’s motion to dismiss (Doc. No. 11) is granted; 2 3. Petitioner’s request to disregard the motion to dismiss (Doc. No. 19) is denied; 3 4. The petition for writ of habeas corpus (Doc. No. 1) is dismissed; 4 5. The court declines to issue a certificate of appealability; and 5 6. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. 6 | IT IS SO ORDERED. a 7 ji je Ff; Dated: _ May 4, 2021 Aa T rr 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28