Emerson v. Najera ( 2024 )

1 2 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 5 PRESTON EMERSON, Case No. 2:21-cv-01215-GMN-NJK 6 Petitioner, v. ORDER 7 WILLIAM HUTCHINGS, et al., 8 Respondents. 9 10 Counseled Petitioner Preston Emerson brings this second amended habeas corpus Petition 11 (ECF No. 34) under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 to challenge his state court conviction of Murder with Use 12 of a Deadly Weapon, Battery with Use of a Deadly Weapon, and three counts of Attempt Murder 13 with Use of a Deadly Weapon Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm. Respondents move to 14 dismiss certain grounds of the Petition as untimely, not cognizable in federal habeas, or 15 unexhausted. ECF No. 39. 16 Background 17 In May 2016, the state court entered a judgment of conviction and sentenced Emerson to 18 an aggregate total of 27 years to life. ECF No. 40-50. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the 19 conviction. ECF No. 41-25. In January 2019, Emerson filed a state habeas Petition. ECF No. 41- 20 30. The state court denied post-conviction relief and in April 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court 21 affirmed the denial of relief. ECF No. 41-57. 22 In June 2021, Emerson initiated this federal habeas corpus proceeding pro se. ECF No. 1. 23 Following appointment of counsel, he filed his first and second amended federal habeas 24 Petitions. ECF Nos. 11, 34. His second amended Petition raises 14 claims for relief. 25 Respondents move to dismiss ground 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 14. ECF No. 39. 26 Discussion 27 I. Relation Back 28 A new claim in an amended petition that is filed after the expiration of the Antiterrorism 1 and Effective Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”) one-year limitation period will be timely only if the 2 new claim relates back to a claim in a timely-filed pleading. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c). An untimely 3 amendment properly “relates back to the date of the original pleading” as long as it arises out of 4 the same “conduct, transaction, or occurrence.” Id. “Relation back depends on the existence of a 5 common core of operative facts uniting the original and newly asserted claims.” Mayle v. Felix, 6 545 U.S. 644, 659 (2005). 7 New claims in an amended habeas petition do not arise out of “the same conduct, 8 transaction or occurrence” as prior claims merely because they challenge the same trial, 9 conviction, or sentence. Mayle, 545 U.S. at 661; Hebner v. McGrath, 543 F.3d 1133, 1134 (9th 10 Cir. 2008). Rather, to properly relate back, a new claim must arise from the same collection of 11 facts alleged in the earlier petition. Mayle, 545 U.S. at 661; Schneider v. McDaniel, 674 F.3d 12 1144, 1151 (9th Cir. 2012) (holding that one shared fact in two divergent legal theories was “not 13 sufficient to conclude that they arise out of a common core of operative facts.”). An amended 14 habeas petition “does not relate back (and thereby escape AEDPA’s one-year time limit) when it 15 asserts a new ground for relief supported by facts that differ in both time and type” from those 16 alleged in the timely petition. Mayle, 545 U.S. at 650. 17 In Ground 1, Emerson alleges a freestanding actual innocence claim based on new 18 evidence that there was another shooter. ECF No. 34 at 37. Respondents argue that Ground 1 19 does not relate back to the allegations in Emerson’s timely first amended Petition because he 20 relies on newly presented evidence, in the form of declarations, that do not appear in his first 21 amended Petition. ECF No. 49 at 5. As such, Respondents assert that Ground 1 as asserted in 22 Emerson’s timely first amended Petition does not share the core operative facts contained in the 23 declarations attached to the second amended Petition. Id. 24 Although particular facts may not have been alleged in the first amended Petition, the 25 challenged factual allegations are tied to the same core operative facts as alleged in first amended 26 Petition. Relation back does not require that “the facts in the original and amended petitions be 27 stated in the same level of detail.” Ross, 950 F.3d at 1168 n.4 (noting that relation back may be 28 appropriate if the later pleading expands or amplifies the facts alleged in the earlier pleading and 1 stating that “[s]ufficient correspondence exists if two claims arise out of the same episode-in- 2 suit.”). Because the claims are tied to a common core of operative facts and a common legal 3 theory, the Court finds that Ground 1 is not time-barred. The respondents’ motion to dismiss 4 Ground 1 as untimely is denied. 5 II. Exhaustion 6 A state prisoner first must exhaust state court remedies on a habeas claim before 7 presenting that claim to the federal courts. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A). This exhaustion 8 requirement ensures that the state courts, as a matter of comity, will have the first opportunity to 9 address and correct alleged violations of federal constitutional guarantees. Coleman v. 10 Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 730–31 (1991). “A petitioner has exhausted his federal claims when 11 he has fully and fairly presented them to the state courts.” Woods v. Sinclair, 764 F.3d 1109, 12 1129 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 844–45 (1999). To satisfy the 13 exhaustion requirement, a claim must have been raised through one complete round of either 14 direct appeal or collateral proceedings to the highest state court level of review available. 15 O’Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 844–45; Peterson v. Lampert, 319 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003) (en 16 banc). 17 A properly exhausted claim “‘must include reference to a specific federal constitutional 18 guarantee, as well as a statement of the facts that entitle the petitioner to relief.’” Woods, 764 19 F.3d at 1129 (quoting Gray v. Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 162–63 (1996)) and Davis v. Silva, 511 20 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir. 2008) (“Fair presentation requires that the petitioner ‘describe in the 21 state proceedings both the operative facts and the federal legal theory on which his claim is based 22 so that the state courts have a “fair opportunity” to apply controlling legal principles to the facts 23 bearing upon his constitutional claim.’”)). “A claim has not been fairly presented in state court if 24 new factual allegations either ‘fundamentally alter the legal claim already considered by the state 25 courts,’ or ‘place the case in a significantly different and stronger evidentiary posture than it was 26 when the state courts considered it.’” Dickens v. Ryan, 740 F.3d 1302, 1318 (9th Cir. 2014). 27 Respondents argue that Ground 1, portions of Grounds 3 and 5(A), and Grounds 12, 13, 28 and 14 should be dismissed as unexhausted. Emerson concedes that Grounds 1 and 14 are 1 unexhausted. ECF No. 45 at 5. Although Emerson comments that “he is filing a new state petition 2 to exhaust these claims,” he does not provide any further information or argument regarding 3 exhaustion of these claims. In addition, he concedes that Ground 3, to the extent that he alleges a 4 Sixth Amendment violation, is unexhausted. Id. at 6. Accordingly, Grounds 1, 3, to the extent that 5 Emerson alleges a Sixth Amendment violation, and 14 are unexhausted. 6 a. Ground 5(A) 7 In Ground 5(A), Emerson alleges trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance for failure 8 to object to the admission of evidence that numerous firearms, ammunition, and firearm 9 accessories were in the house where Emerson was arrested. ECF No. 34 at 63-64. In his second 10 amended Petition, Emerson alleges that the State highlighted the evidence in a PowerPoint 11 slideshow during its closing argument. Id. Respondents argue that Ground 5(A) is unexhausted 12 to the extent that is relies on the contents of the PowerPoint slides because Emerson did not 13 fairly present a claim regarding the State’s PowerPoint presentation to the state appellate court. 14 ECF No. 49 at 7. 15 The Court finds that Emerson’s reference to the State’s PowerPoint slideshow does not 16 fundamentally alter his claims. The visual representation of the PowerPoint slides in his second 17 amended Petition may add some further information, but nothing in Ground 5(A) fundamentally 18 alters the exhausted claim or places it in a different and significantly stronger posture than when 19 the claim was presented to the state courts. See generally Dickens, 740 F.3d at 1318. Ground 20 5(A) is exhausted. 21 b. Ground 13 22 In Ground 13, Emerson alleges a cumulative error claim with respect to Grounds 2 23 through 12. ECF No. 34 at 78. Respondents argue that Emerson did not present a cumulative 24 error claim that referred to all the legal and factual allegations presented in his second amended 25 Petition. ECF No. 39 at 11. Emerson, however, raised cumulative error in his direct appeal and 26 postconviction Petition and did so for most of the same claims raised here. Accordingly, to the 27 extent that his underlying claims have been exhausted, the Court finds that his cumulative error 28 claim is exhausted. 1 c. Ground 12 2 In Ground 12, Emerson alleges that he was deprived of his Fifth and Fourteenth 3 Amendment rights to due process when perjured testimony supported his conviction. ECF No. 4 34 at 84. Respondents argue that Ground 12 is unexhausted because the state appellate court 5 determined that Emerson never fairly presented this claim. “Submitting a []claim to the state’s 6 highest court in a procedural context [where] its merits will not be considered” does not satisfy 7 the fair presentation for exhaustion. Roettgen v. Copeland, 33 F.3d 36, 38 (9th Cir. 1994). 8 Emerson, however, asserts that Ground 12 is technically exhausted, but procedurally defaulted. 9 Emerson further asserts that he can demonstrate cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural 10 default of Ground 12, which the Court will address below. 11 III. Procedural Default 12 Where a petitioner “has defaulted his federal claims in state court pursuant to an 13 independent and adequate state procedural rule,” federal review is barred unless he “can 14 demonstrate cause for the default and actual prejudice as a result of the alleged violation of 15 federal law or demonstrate that failure to consider the claims will result in a fundamental 16 miscarriage of justice.” Coleman, 501 U.S. at 750. To demonstrate cause, the petitioner must 17 establish some external and objective factor impeded efforts to comply with the state’s 18 procedural rule. E.g., Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S. 266, 280 (2012) (finding cause to excuse 19 procedural default due to attorney abandonment but remanding for a determination of prejudice). 20 “[T]o establish prejudice, [a petitioner] must show not merely a substantial federal claim, such 21 that ‘the errors … at trial created a possibility of prejudice,’ but rather that the constitutional 22 violation ‘worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage.’” Shinn v. Ramirez, 596 U.S. 366, 23 379-80 (2022). 24 With one exception, Nevada’s cause and prejudice standards are functionally identical to 25 the federal standards for cause and prejudice. Robinson v. Ignacio, 360 F.3d 1044, 1052 n. 3 (9th 26 Cir. 2004). That exception is for a procedurally defaulted claim of ineffective assistance of trial 27 counsel when the cause for the default is the ineffective assistance or absence of postconviction 28 counsel in the initial postconviction proceedings in accordance with Martinez v. Ryan, 566 U.S. 1 1(2012). Brown v. McDaniel, 130 Nev. 565, 571-76 (2014). A Nevada federal habeas petitioner 2 who relies on Martinez—and only Martinez—as a basis for overcoming a state procedural bar 3 can successfully argue that the state courts would hold the claim procedurally barred, but that he 4 nonetheless has a potentially viable argument for cause and prejudice under federal law. 5 Emerson asserts that he can demonstrate cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural 6 default of Grounds 8 and 12 7 a. Ground 8 8 In Ground 8, Emerson alleges a substantive claim that he was deprived of his Fifth and 9 Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process when the state court permitted improper 10 prosecutorial argument during closing. Emerson asserts that he can overcome the procedural 11 default of Ground 8 because his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this claim. ECF 12 No. 45 at 11. 13 In certain circumstances, counsel’s ineffectiveness in failing to properly preserve a 14 habeas claim for review in state court will suffice as cause to excuse a procedural default. 15 Edward v. Carpenter, 529 U.S. 446, 450-51 (2000). “Not just any deficiency in counsel’s 16 performance will do, however; the assistance must have been so ineffective as to violate the 17 Federal Constitution.” Id. For Emerson to establish cause to overcome the procedural default of 18 Ground 8, he must first demonstrate that trial counsel’s performance in failing to object to 19 improper closing argument (as alleged in Ground 7) was constitutionally ineffective under 20 Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). If he does so, then counsel’s ineffectiveness, as 21 alleged in Ground 7, may be used as cause to set aside the procedural default for the 22 corresponding substantive claim in Ground 8. 23 Because the question of whether Emerson can overcome the procedural default of 24 Ground 8 is intertwined with the merits of Ground 7, the Court defers its determination of 25 whether Emerson can excuse the procedural default of Ground 8 until the time of its merits 26 decision. The Court denies the motion to dismiss as to Ground 8 without prejudice to 27 Respondents asserting the procedural default defense to the claim in their Answer. 28 /// 1 b. Ground 12 2 In Ground 12, Emerson alleges a substantive claim that he was denied his Fifth and 3 Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process when the State relied on perjured witness testimony 4 to convict him. The Nevada Supreme Court declined to address this claim on postconviction 5 appeal because Emerson improperly attempted to incorporate his claims raised in his pro se 6 petition by reference and did not provide cogent argument or supporting authority. ECF No. 41- 7 57 at 8. Emerson asserts that he can overcome procedural default of Ground 12 because his trial 8 counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this claim. ECF No. 45 at 12. 9 As noted above, ineffective assistance of counsel can, if independently pleaded and 10 proved, establish cause for a default of a habeas claim. Carpenter, 529 U.S. at 451, 453. 11 Emerson, however, did not assert a corresponding ineffective assistance of counsel claim related 12 to Ground 12. Emerson does not show cause and prejudice relative to the procedural default of 13 this claim, or any other showing that excuses the procedural default. The Court will therefore 14 grant the motion to dismiss Ground 12 as it is procedurally defaulted. 15 IV. Cognizable Claims 16 AEDPA “places limitations on a federal court’s power to grant a state prisoner’s federal 17 habeas petition.” Hurles v. Ryan, 752 F.3d 768, 777 (9th Cir. 2014). When conducting habeas 18 review, a federal habeas court is limited to deciding whether a conviction violates the 19 Constitution, law, or treaties of the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 20 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). Unless an issue of federal constitutional or statutory law is implicated by 21 the facts presented, the claim is not cognizable in federal habeas. McGuire, 502 U.S. at 68. 22 a. Ground 1 23 Respondents contend that Emerson cannot obtain federal habeas relief on a freestanding 24 claim of actual innocence because neither the Supreme Court nor the Ninth Circuit have 25 recognized a freestanding claim of actual innocence of a noncapital offense. ECF No. 39 at 7. 26 See McGuiggin v. Perkins, 569 U.S. 383, 392 (2013). Although the Court has already 27 determined that Count 1 is unexhausted, given the open nature of this question, the Court 28 concludes that this cognizability argument is more appropriately addressed in connection with 1 the merits of Emerson’s Petition. Therefore, the Court denies Respondents’ motion to dismiss 2 Count 1 as noncognizable without prejudice. Respondents may renew this argument in their 3 Answer. 4 b. Ground 13 5 Respondents contend that cumulative error claims are noncognizable on federal habeas 6 review, citing decisions from other circuits. ECF No. 39 at 7-8 (citing opinions from Sixth, 7 Fourth, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits holding that cumulative error claims are noncognizable). 8 Respondents acknowledge that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized cumulative 9 error habeas claims but contends that in the absence of Supreme Court precedent recognizing a 10 claim of cumulative error, this ground is not clearly established by federal law. Id. at 8. The 11 Court, however, is bound by the Ninth Circuit’s interpretation, and therefore finds that 12 Emerson’s cumulative error claim is cognizable. 13 V. Emerson’s Options Regarding Unexhausted Claims 14 A federal court may not entertain a habeas petition unless the petitioner has exhausted 15 available and adequate state court remedies with respect to all claims in the petition. Rose v. 16 Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 510 (1982). A “mixed” petition containing both exhausted and 17 unexhausted claims is subject to dismissal. Id. In the instant case, the Court concludes that 18 Grounds 1, 3, to the extent that Emerson alleges a Sixth Amendment violation, and 14 are 19 unexhausted. Because the Court finds that the Petition contains unexhausted claims, Emerson 20 has these options: 21 1. He may submit a sworn declaration voluntarily abandoning the unexhausted claim in his federal habeas petition, and proceed only on the exhausted 22 claims; 23 2. He may return to state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims, in which case his federal habeas petition will be denied without prejudice;1 or 24 3. He may file a motion asking this court to stay and abey his exhausted federal 25 habeas claims while he returns to state court to exhaust his unexhausted claims. 26 27 28 1 This Court makes no assurances as to the timeliness of any future-filed petition. 1 With respect to the third option, a district court has discretion to stay a petition that it may 2 validly consider on the merits. Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 276, (2005). The Rhines Court 3 stated: 4 [S]tay and abeyance should be available only in limited circumstances. Because granting a stay effectively excuses a petitioner’s failure to present his claims first 5 to the state courts, stay and abeyance is only appropriate when the district court determines there was good cause for the petitioner’s failure to exhaust his claims 6 first in state court. Moreover, even if a petitioner had good cause for that failure, the district court would abuse its discretion if it were to grant him a stay when his 7 unexhausted claims are plainly meritless. Cf. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus may be denied on the merits, 8 notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust the remedies available in the courts of the State”). 9 544 U.S. at 277. 10 11 If Emerson wishes to ask for a stay, he must file a motion for stay and abeyance in which 12 he demonstrates good cause for his failure to exhaust his unexhausted claims in state court and 13 presents argument regarding the question of whether or not his unexhausted claims are plainly 14 meritless. Respondents would then be granted an opportunity to respond, and Emerson to reply. 15 Or Emerson may file a declaration voluntarily abandoning his unexhausted claims, as described 16 above. Emerson’s failure to choose any of the three options listed above, or seek other 17 appropriate relief from this court, will result in his federal habeas petition being dismissed. 18 Emerson is advised to familiarize himself with the limitations periods for filing federal habeas 19 petitions contained in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d), as those limitations periods may have a direct and 20 substantial effect on whatever choice he makes regarding his petition. 21 Conclusion 22 It is therefore ordered that Respondents’ Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 39) is granted, in 23 part, as follows: 24 1. Ground 12 is dismissed as procedurally defaulted. 25 2. Grounds 1, 3, to the extent that Emerson alleges a Sixth Amendment violation, and 26 14 are unexhausted. 27 It is further ordered that the Court defers its determination of whether Emerson can 28 excuse the procedural default of Ground 8 until the time of its merits decision. The Court denies 1 || the Motion to Dismiss as to Ground 8 without prejudice to Respondents asserting the procedural 2 || default defense to the claim in their Answer. 3 It is further ordered that Emerson shall have 30 days to either: (1) inform this court in a 4 || sworn declaration that he wishes to formally and forever abandon the unexhausted grounds for 5 || relief in his federal habeas petition and proceed on the exhausted grounds; OR (2) inform this 6 || court in a sworn declaration that he wishes to dismiss this petition without prejudice in order to 7 || return to state court to exhaust his unexhausted grounds; OR (3) file a motion for a stay and 8 || abeyance, asking this court to hold his exhausted grounds in abeyance while he returns to state 9 || court to exhaust his unexhausted grounds. If Emerson chooses to file a motion for a stay and 10 || abeyance, or seek other appropriate relief, respondents may respond to such motion as provided 11 || in Local Rule 7-2. 12 Failure to timely comply with this order will result in the dismissal of Emerson’s mixed 13 || petition without further advanced notice. 14 DATED: September 10, 2024 15 16 M UNITHD STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28