Russell v. Kansas, No. 11-3156 (10th Cir. 2011)

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Justia Opinion Summary

Appellant Julian Russell petitioned the Tenth Circuit for a certificate of appealablity (COA) to challenge a district court's denial of his application for the writ of habeas corpus. Appellant filed an application for habeas relief to challenge his pretrial detention at the Marion County Jail in Kansas. The district court dismissed his application, concluding abstention was appropriate based on the doctrine enunciated in "Younger v. Harris," (401 U.S. 37 (1971)). The court also concluded that Appellant failed to exhaust his state remedies. Upon review of Appellant's COA application, appellate brief, and district court record, the Tenth Circuit concluded that Appellant was not entitled to a COA. The Court denied his request for a COA and dismissed his appeal.

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FILED United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit November 15, 2011 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Elisabeth A. Shumaker Clerk of Court TENTH CIRCUIT JULIAN L. RUSSELL, Petitioner - Appellant, v. No. 11-3156 D. Kansas STATE OF KANSAS, (D.C. No. 5:11-CV-03011-SAC) Respondent - Appellee. ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY Before BRISCOE, Chief Judge, MURPHY, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges. Appellant, Julian L. Russell, filed an application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 on January 11, 2011. Russell challenged his pretrial detention at the Marion County Jail in Marion, Kansas. The district court dismissed Russell s § 2241 habeas application without prejudice, concluding abstention was appropriate based on the doctrine enunciated in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). The court also concluded that Russell had failed to exhaust his state remedies. Russell now seeks a certificate of appealability ( COA ) to enable him to appeal the district court s denial of his § 2241 application. A COA may issue only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A petitioner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that jurists of reason could disagree with the district court s resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003). This requires an overview of the claims in the habeas petition and a general assessment of their merits. Id. at 336. Further, when the district court denies a habeas petition on procedural grounds without reaching the applicant s underlying constitutional claim, a COA should issue only when the applicant shows, at least, that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) . This court has reviewed Russell s application for a COA and appellate brief, the district court s order, and the entire record on appeal pursuant to the framework set out by the Supreme Court in Miller-El and concludes that Russell is not entitled to a COA. The record contains no indication that Russell pursued his claims in Kansas state court or has exhausted his state remedies. Accordingly, the district court s resolution of Russell s claims is not reasonably subject to debate and the claims are not adequate to deserve further proceedings. -2- Because Russell has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, he is not entitled to a COA. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). This court denies Russell s request for a COA and dismisses this appeal. ENTERED FOR THE COURT Michael R. Murphy Circuit Judge -3-

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