(HC) Odom v. Solano County Superior Court ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 TINA M. ODOM, No. 2:21-cv-00487 TLN GGH P 12 Petitioner, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 SOLANO CO. SUPERIOR COURT, 15 Respondent. 16 17 Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus 18 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2254. Petitioner has not, however, filed an in forma pauperis affidavit or 19 paid the required filing fee ($5.00). See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a); 1915(a). Nevertheless, the 20 undersigned will recommend summary dismissal of the pending petition based on a failure to 21 raise a federal cognizable claim. 22 In her habeas petition, petitioner seeks to appeal a denial of her resentencing petition 23 pursuant to Cal. Pen. Code § 1170.95 from the Solano County Superior Court. ECF No. 1 at 11. 24 Petitioner was convicted and sentenced in Solano County Superior Court for murder, murder by 25 torture, and found true the special circumstances of kidnapping and torture. ECF No. 1 at 1. In its 26 present form, the petition fails to raise a federal cognizable claim. 27 A writ of habeas corpus is available under 28 U.S.C.§ 2254(a) only on the basis of some 28 transgression of federal law binding on the state courts. Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1085 1 (9th Cir. 1985); Gutierrez v. Griggs, 695 F.2d 1195, 1197 (9th Cir. 1983). It is unavailable for 2 alleged error in the interpretation or application of state law. Middleton, 768 F.2d at 1085; see 3 also Lincoln v. Sunn, 807 F.2d 805, 814 (9th Cir. 1983); Givens v. Housewright, 786 F.2d 1378, 4 1381 (9th Cir. 1986). “In conducting habeas review, a federal court is limited to deciding whether 5 a conviction violated the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” Estelle v. McGuire, 6 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). “Penal Code section 1170.95 creates a procedure for vacating a 7 murder conviction when the person convicted of murder didn't personally kill anyone, act with 8 the intent to kill, or participate in a felony with reckless indifference to human life. (Pen. Code, § 9 1170.95, subd. (d)(2).) The Legislature's concern was not that murderers are, or had been, 10 sentenced too harshly; rather, it was that those who don't meet the mens rea requirements set forth 11 in Penal Code sections 188 and 189 should not be, or should not have been, convicted of murder, 12 regardless the specifics of the punishment. (See Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subd. (e) [discussing 13 “culpability of the individual”].)” People v. Johns, 50 Cal. App. 5th 46, 63–64 (2020). 14 Petitioner does not set forth any type of federal claim which could be pertinent to the state 15 law resentencing process. Rather, she generally asserts that the Solano Superior Court 16 misinterpreted the state statute (on multiple occasions).1 Accordingly, petitioner’s claim that her 17 murder sentence should be vacated pursuant to Cal. Pen. Code § 1170.95 is not a cognizable 18 federal claim. 19 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Habeas Corpus Cases Under Section 2254 provides for 20 summary dismissal of a habeas petition “[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the petition and 21 any exhibits annexed to it that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.” The 22 Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 8 also indicates that the court may deny a petition for writ of 23 habeas corpus, either on its own motion under Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent’s motion to 24 dismiss, or after an answer to the petition has been filed. In the instant case, it is plain from the 25 petition and the attachments provided, that petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief. 26 Therefore, the petition should be summarily dismissed. 27 //// 28 1 In addition, the exhaustion of any claim, state or federal is in much doubt. 1 Pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, this court must 2 issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. A 3 certificate of appealability may issue only “if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the 4 denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). For the reasons set forth in these 5 findings and recommendations, a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right has 6 not been made in this case. 7 In addition, petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. There currently exists no 8 absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 9 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at 10 any stage of the case “if the interests of justice so require.” See Rule 8(c), Fed. R. Governing § 11 2254 Cases. In the present case, the court does not find that the interests of justice would be 12 served by the appointment of counsel at the present time. 13 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s motion for 14 appointment of counsel (ECF No. 5) is denied. 15 Further, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 16 1. Petitioner's application for a writ of habeas corpus be summarily dismissed for failure 17 to state a federal cognizable claim; and 18 2. This court decline to issue the certificate of appealability referenced in 28 U.S.C. § 19 2253. 20 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 21 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within twenty-one days 22 after being served with these findings and recommendations, petitioner may file written 23 objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge's 24 Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive 25 the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir.1991). 26 Dated: April 29, 2021 /s/ Gregory G. Hollows 27 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 28