Sammy John Arce, Sr., Petitioner-appellant, v. John Shanks, Warden; Attorney General of the State of Newmexico, Respondents-appellees, 117 F.3d 1428 (10th Cir. 1997)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT^* 

Mr. Arce, an inmate appearing pro-se, appeals from the denial of his habeas corpus petition, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The district court, upon recommendation of the magistrate judge, rejected Mr. Arce's collateral attack on his state conviction. Mr. Arce contends that he was denied due process because (a) he was not permitted to collaterally attack a prior conviction used to enhance his sentence for cocaine trafficking, and (b) the evidence is insufficient. He also contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel based upon inadequate impeachment of an informant's credibility and a failure to present videotape surveillance.

The district court denied Mr. Arce leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis based upon a finding "that this appeal is not well-taken." I R. doc. 21. It also denied him a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). Mr. Arce has renewed both requests. Because the recent mandatory filing fee requirements enacted by the Prison Litigation Reform Act do not apply to habeas petitions, United States v. Simmonds, 111 F.3d 737, 743-44 (10th Cir. 1997), the standard for granting leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal is whether a petitioner has demonstrated a financial inability to pay the fee and whether he has made a reasoned argument on the law and the facts is support of the issues raised on appeal. McIntosh v. United States Parole Comm'n, No. 96-1221, 1997 WL 321272, at * 4 (10th Cir. June 13, 1997). For a certificate of appealability, the petitioner must make "a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right," 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) (2); Lennox v. Evans, 87 F.3d 431, 434 (10th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 746 (1997), which means a demonstration that the issues are debatable among jurists of reason, a court could resolve the issues differently, or the questions presented are deserving of further proceedings. Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n. 4 (1983).

We have carefully considered Mr. Arce's claims, but in light of the record, we reject them substantially for the reasons contained in the Magistate Judge's Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition. See I R. doc. 15. Mr. Arce's request for appointment of counsel contained in his opening brief is DENIED; his Motion for Leave to Proceed on Appeal Without Prepayment of Costs or Fees is GRANTED; his Application for a Certificate of Appealability is DENIED; and the appeal is DISMISSED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.