Fernando Hernandez, Also Known As Fernie Hernandez,petitioner-appellant, v. Tim Lemaster; Attorney General for the State of New Mexico,respondents-appellees, 166 F.3d 1221 (10th Cir. 1999)

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) (2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). Therefore, the case is ordered submitted without oral argument.

Petitioner Fernando Hernandez, a state prisoner appearing pro se, appeals the district court's dismissal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition on statute of limitations grounds. We affirm.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to several state crimes in 1995 and was sentenced to twenty-five years' imprisonment. He did not file a direct appeal. On April 17, 1997, he attempted to file a habeas petition in state court, but his petition was not properly filed until July 6, 1997. The petition was denied on July 11, 1997, and certiorari was denied by the state supreme court on July 23, 1997. Hernendez allegedly "applied immediately with [prison authorities] for a copy of [his] inmate account edger [which] is required to file an application for a copy of this habeas corpus in Federal Court." Hernandez' Memorandum Br. at 3. He allegedly "received this (IFC) inmate financial certificate on August 7, 1997." Id. He filed his federal habeas petition on August 8, 1997, accompanied by his request to proceed in forma pauper and his inmate financial certificate. The district court adopted the magistrate's recommendation dismissed motion the petition. The district court issued a certificate of appealability.

The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996(AEDPA) amended the "long-standing prior practice in habeas petition in federal court." Hoggro v. Boone, 150 F.2d 1223, 1225 (10th Cir. 1998). The AEDPA established a one-year time limitation for filing petitions and mandated that the period begin to run on the "date on which the judgment [of conviction] became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review." 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d) (1) (A). To avoid potential injustices, we have held that for prisoners "whose convictions became final before April 24, 1996." Hoggro, 150 F.3d at 1225. The AEDPA identifies a number of circumstances requiring a tolling of the limitations period. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d) (1) & (2). In particular, " [t]he time during which a properly filed application for State post-conviction or other collateral review with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is pending shall not be counted toward" the one-year time limit. § 2244(d) (2). We have also indicated the one-year period of limitations "may be subject t equitable tolling." Miller v. Marr, 141 F.3d 976, 978 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 119 S,Ct. 210 (1998).

Hernandez asks us to toll not only the time during which his state post-conviction proceedings were pending (June 6 to July 23, 1997), but also (1) the time from April 17 until June 6, 1997, while he was communicating with the state court regarding proper filing of his post-conviction application, (2) the time from July 23 to July 28, 1997, while he was allegedly waiting to receive a copy of the state supreme court's denial of certiorari, and (3) the time from July 28 to August 7, 1997, while he was allegedly waiting for prison officials to complete his inmate financial certificate.

Although we are bound by statute to toll the time during which his state post-conviction proceedings were pending, we refuse to equitably toll any other time. In Miller, we indicate equitable tolling principles apply only where a prisoner has diligently pursued federal habeas claims. 141 F.3d at 978. See Davis v. Johnson, 158 F.3d 806, 811 (5th Cir. 1998) (one-year limitation period of AEDPA will be equitable tolled only "in rare and exceptional circumstances"); Miller v. New Jersey State Dept. of Corrections, 145 F.3d 616, 618-19 (3d Cir. 1998) (equitable tolling applies only where prisoner has diligently pursued claims but has in some "extraordinary way" been prevented from asserting rights). Here, there is no indication in the record that Hernandez took any steps to pursue his federal claims between April 24, 1996, and April 17, 1997. Hernandez' one-year period of limitation expired on April 23, 1997, prior to his filing of an application for post-conviction relief in state court.