(HC) Avila v. Martel, No. 2:2010cv02375 - Document 12 (E.D. Cal. 2011)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 4/8/11 RECOMMENDING that 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus be denied; and 9 MOTION to DISMISS be denied as moot. Referred to Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.; Objections to F&R due within 21 days.(Dillon, M)
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(HC) Avila v. Martel Doc. 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 DAVID AVILA, 11 12 13 14 Petitioner, vs. MICHAEL MARTEL, Respondent. 15 16 No. 2:10-cv-2375 FCD KJN P FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS / Petitioner is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with an application for a 17 writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner challenges the 2008 decision of 18 the California Board of Parole Hearings (“Board”) denying petitioner parole. This matter is 19 before the court on respondent’s motion to dismiss, based on the contention that petitioner’s 20 claims are barred by the statute of limitations. However, subsequent to the briefing in this case, 21 the United States Supreme Court decided Swarthout v. Cooke, 131 S. Ct. 859 (Jan. 24. 2011), 22 which is dispositive of petitioner’s claims on the merits. On this basis, the court recommends 23 that the petition be denied. 24 Petitioner contends that his federal constitutional right to due process was violated 25 by the Board’s finding that petitioner’s release would pose a threat to public safety. Petitioner 26 claims that the Board’s decision was not supported by sufficient evidence of petitioner’s current 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 dangerousness, that the Board improperly relied on static factors to reach its decision, and that 2 petitioner’s commitment offense was “not particularly egregious.” 3 The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits state action that 4 deprives a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. A litigant alleging a 5 due process violation must first demonstrate that he was deprived of a liberty or property interest 6 protected by the Due Process Clause and then show that the procedures attendant upon the 7 deprivation were not constitutionally sufficient. Kentucky Department of Corrections v. 8 Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 459-60 (1989). 9 A protected liberty interest may arise under the Due Process Clause of the United 10 States Constitution either “by reason of guarantees implicit in the word ‘liberty,’” or from “an 11 expectation or interest created by state laws or policies.” Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 12 221 (2005) (citations omitted). The United States Constitution does not, of its own force, create 13 a protected liberty interest in a parole date, even one that has been set. Jago v. Van Curen, 454 14 U.S. 14, 17-21 (1981); Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal and Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 15 1, 7 (1979) (there is “no constitutional or inherent right of a convicted person to be conditionally 16 released before the expiration of a valid sentence”). However, “a state’s statutory scheme, if it 17 uses mandatory language, ‘creates a presumption that parole release will be granted’ when or 18 unless certain designated findings are made, and thereby gives rise to a constitutional liberty 19 interest.” Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 12; see also Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369, 376-78 20 (1987) (a state’s use of mandatory language (“shall”) creates a presumption that parole release 21 will be granted when the designated findings are made). 22 California’s parole statutes give rise to a liberty interest in parole protected by the 23 federal Due Process Clause. Swarthout v. Cooke, 131 S. Ct. at 861-62. In California, a prisoner 24 is entitled to release on parole unless there is “some evidence” of his or her current 25 dangerousness. In re Lawrence (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1181, 1205-06, 1210; In re Rosenkrantz (2009) 26 29 Cal.4th 616, 651-53. However, in Swarthout, the Supreme Court held that “[n]o opinion of 2 1 [theirs] supports converting California’s ‘some evidence’ rule into a substantive federal 2 requirement.” Swarthout, 131 S. Ct. at 862. In other words, the Court specifically rejected the 3 notion that there can be a valid claim under the Fourteenth Amendment for insufficiency of 4 evidence presented, or relied upon, at a parole proceeding. Id. at 862-63. Rather, the protection 5 afforded by the federal Due Process Clause to California parole decisions consists solely of the 6 “minimum” procedural requirements set forth in Greenholtz, specifically “an opportunity to be 7 heard and . . . a statement of the reasons why parole was denied.” Id. at 862. Thus, under 8 Swarthout, petitioner’s claims, challenging the factors and sufficiency of the evidence underlying 9 the Board’s parole decision, are not cognizable. 10 The Supreme Court has stated that “the beginning and the end of the federal 11 habeas courts’ inquiry” is whether petitioner received “the minimum procedures adequate for 12 due-process protection.” Swarthout, 131 S. Ct. at 862. Respondent has submitted a copy of the 13 transcript of petitioner’s January 16, 2008, parole hearing. (Dkt. No. 9, Exh. 1.) The transcript 14 reflects that petitioner was present, with counsel, at the hearing, that petitioner was afforded 15 access to his record in advance, that petitioner participated in the hearing, and that he was 16 provided with the reasons for the Board’s decision to deny parole. According to the United 17 States Supreme Court, the federal Due Process Clause requires no more. 18 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 19 1. Petitioner’s application for writ of habeas corpus be denied; and 20 2. Respondent’s motion to dismiss be denied as moot. 21 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 22 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty- 23 one days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 24 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 25 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” If petitioner files 26 objections, he shall also address whether a certificate of appealability should issue and, if so, why 3 1 and as to which issues. A certificate of appealability may issue under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 “only if 2 the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. 3 § 2253(c)(3). Any response to the objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after 4 service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the 5 specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 6 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 7 DATED: April 8, 2011 8 9 _____________________________________ KENDALL J. NEWMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 10 11 avil2375.mtd.157.swarth 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 4
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