Ronald Dean Lowe, Petitioner-appellant, v. Ron Champion and Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma,respondents-appellees, 111 F.3d 140 (10th Cir. 1997)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT^* 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 urging collateral relief from the sentence imposed after he pled nolo contendere to a charge of first degree perjury. Petitioner stated in his petition that he did not appeal the perjury conviction because he did not want to withdraw the plea of nolo contendere, which would have been required to pursue a direct appeal. See R. Doc. 2 at 3. The district court dismissed the petition and granted a certificate of probable cause.¹  Our jurisdiction arises under § 2253, and we affirm.² 

In order for a petitioner to bring a claim to a federal court under § 2254, "the substance of [his] federal habeas corpus claim must first be presented to the state courts." Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 278 (1971). When a petition contains claims that have not been first presented to a state court, those claims are considered to be unexhausted, and the federal court is required to dismiss such petitions. See Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 510 (1982). Because he did not appeal his perjury conviction, petitioner did not exhaust his state court remedies.

Additionally, because petitioner did not pursue a direct appeal of his perjury conviction, his claim is procedurally barred.

In all cases in which a state prisoner has defaulted his federal claims in state court pursuant to an independent and adequate state procedural rule, federal habeas review of the claims is barred unless the prisoner can demonstrate cause for the default and actual prejudice as a result of the alleged violation of federal law, or demonstrate that failure to consider the claims will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.

Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 724 (1991). Oklahoma courts consistently prohibit post-conviction collateral relief based on claims that could have been raised on direct appeal but were not. See Steele v. Young, 11 F.3d 1518, 1522 (10th Cir. 1993). Petitioner has shown neither cause nor prejudice nor a fundamental miscarriage of justice which would excuse his procedural default and allow a federal court to examine the merits of his claim. See id. " 'Cause' must be 'something external to the petitioner, something that cannot fairly be attributed to him....' " Id. (quoting Coleman, 501 U.S. at 753). Petitioner's decision not to appeal his perjury conviction because of his reluctance to renounce his nolo contendere plea does not establish cause. Because petitioner has made no "colorable showing of factual innocence," Herrera v. Collins, 506 U.S. 390, 404 (1993) (further quotation omitted), there is no basis upon which to conclude that failure of the federal court to hear petitioner's claim will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.

The judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.