Edwards v. Williams et al, No. 2:2015cv00673 - Document 25 (D. Nev. 2021)
Court Description: ORDER granting 21 Motion to Dismiss. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents have 30 days to file an answer to petitioner's remaining ground for relief: 1(a). Signed by Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on 5/17/2021. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - HAM)
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Edwards v. Williams et al Doc. 25 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 4 Jareal Edwards, 5 Case No. 2:15-cv-00673-JAD-NJK Petitioner v. 6 Jo Gentry, et al., 7 and related case Respondents 8 9 Jareal Edwards, 10 Case No. 2:20-cv-00520-JAD-DJA Petitioner v. 11 Order Granting Motion to Dismiss All But Ground 1(a) of the Petition Warden Howell, et al., 12 [ECF No. 21] Respondents 13 14 15 Petitioner Jareal Edwards brings his pro se second amended petition for writ of habeas 16 corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 1 to challenge his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to 17 commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, and first-degree kidnapping. 18 Respondents move to dismiss grounds 1(b), 1(c), 2, and 3 of his second amended petition as 19 either procedurally defaulted, untimely, or not cognizable in federal habeas proceedings, leaving 20 unchallenged only ground 1(a). 2 Because Edwards’s claims are procedurally barred or not 21 cognizable in federal habeas proceedings, I grant respondents’ motion and dismiss grounds 1(b), 22 1(c), 2, and 3. This case thus proceeds only on ground 1(a), Edwards’s claim that his trial 23 counsel was ineffective for failing to file an appeal. 24 25 26 27 1 ECF No. 19. 28 2 ECF No. 21. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 2 Background A. Procedural History 3 Edwards pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly 4 weapon, and first-degree kidnapping. 3 The state district court sentenced Edwards to consecutive 5 terms of 12–48 months; 26-120 months; and 12–120 months for the use of a deadly weapon, in 6 addition to a concurrent term of 60–180 months. Following sentencing, Edwards filed a motion 7 to withdraw guilty plea 4 and the state district court denied his motion finding his plea was 8 entered freely and voluntarily. 5 On August 13, 2013, the state district court entered the judgment 9 of conviction. 6 Edwards did not file a direct appeal. Edwards then filed a state habeas petition seeking post-conviction relief alleging a single 10 11 claim that his counsel was ineffective for failing to file a direct appeal. 7 The state district court 12 denied his petition 8 and the Nevada Supreme Court affirmed. 9 Edwards filed his federal habeas 13 petition on April 13, 2015. 10 Edwards, however, did not demonstrate that he exhausted all 14 grounds alleged in his petition in state court. I directed Edwards to file an amended petition 15 demonstrating exhaustion of the grounds alleged in the federal petition, 11 and filed one on 16 December 3, 2015. 12 Because that amended petition contained both exhausted and unexhausted 17 18 3 Ex. 23. Exhibits referenced in this order are exhibits to respondents’ motion to dismiss and are found at ECF Nos. 22–24. 19 4 Ex. 17. 5 Ex. 24. 6 Ex. 23. 7 Ex. 25. 8 Ex. 31. 25 9 Ex. 49. 26 10 ECF No. 1. 27 11 See ECF No. 4. 28 12 ECF No. 6. 20 21 22 23 24 2 1 claims, I instructed Edwards to elect how to proceed. 13 I then granted Edwards’s motion for stay 2 and abeyance pending exhaustion of his unexhausted claims. 14 Edwards filed another pro se state habeas petition and counseled supplemental state 3 4 petition in state court. 15 The state district court denied the petition finding his claims 5 procedurally barred. 16 The Nevada Court of Appeals affirmed. 17 On March 12, 2020, Edwards 6 filed a new federal habeas petition, which was construed as a request to reopen his habeas case 7 and to file an amended petition. 18 I instructed the Clerk of the Court to reopen this case and 8 designate the new petition as Edwards’s second amended petition, which alleges the following 9 grounds for relief: 10 • Ground 1(a): Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file an appeal. 11 • Ground 1(b): Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to ensure the State followed through with the agreement to allow Edwards to withdraw his plea. • Ground 1(c): Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to contest Edwards’s dual convictions for kidnapping and robbery. • Ground 2: Trial counsel failed to challenge the state’s use of cell-site location information without first obtaining a warrant. • Ground 3: Edwards is entitled to equitable tolling based on counsel’s failure to properly represent him. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 13 ECF No. 10. 14 ECF No. 15. 25 15 Ex. 82. 26 16 Ex. 90. 27 17 Ex. 104. 28 18 ECF Nos. 18, 19. 23 24 3 1 2 Discussion A. Grounds 1(b), 1(c), and 2 are procedurally barred. Federal courts are barred from considering a state prisoner’s habeas claim if the state 3 4 courts denied his claim based on an independent and adequate state procedural rule. 19 Nevada’s 5 one-year statute of limitation 20 for post-conviction petitions and prohibition on second or 6 successive post-conviction petitions are independent and adequate state procedural rules as 7 applied in non-capital cases. 21 When a petitioner “procedurally defaults” a federal claim, judicial 8 review is barred unless he can show either: (1) “cause for the default and actual prejudice as a 9 result of the alleged violation of federal law,” or (2) “that failure to consider the claims will 10 result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.” 22 To demonstrate cause, the petitioner must show that some external and objective factor 11 12 impeded his efforts to comply with the procedural rule. 23 Ignorance or inadvertence does not 13 establish cause. 24 To show prejudice, a petitioner must prove not merely that the error created a 14 possibility of prejudice, but that the error worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage, 15 infecting the entire proceeding with constitutional error. 25 To demonstrate a fundamental 16 miscarriage of justice, a petitioner must show that the constitutional error complained of 17 probably resulted in the conviction of an actually innocent person. 26 This is a narrow exception 18 19 Edwards v. Carpenter, 529 U.S. 446, 454–55 (2000). 20 20 NRS 34.726; NRS 34.810(2). 21 21 19 22 See, e.g., Williams v. Filson, 908 F.3d 546, 580 (9th Cir. 2018); Bargas v. Burns, 179 F.3d 1207, 1211–14 (9th Cir. 1999). 22 23 24 Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991); McQuiggin v. Perkins, 569 U.S. 383, 386 (2013) (the miscarriage of justice exception ensures “that federal constitutional errors do not result in the incarceration of innocent persons”). 25 23 Maples v. Thomas, 565 U.S. 266, 280–81 (2012). 26 24 Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 486–87 (1986). 27 25 Carrier, 477 U.S. at 494; Bradford v. Davis, 923 F.3d 599, 613 (9th Cir. 2019). 28 26 Boyd v. Thompson, 147 F.3d 1124, 1127 (9th Cir. 1998). 4 1 and it is reserved for extraordinary cases only. 27 Edwards’s claims in grounds 1(b), 1(c), and 2 28 are procedurally barred. In ground 1(b), 2 3 Edwards alleges that counsel rendered ineffective assistance for failing to ensure that the 4 prosecution followed through with the agreement that Edwards would be allowed to withdraw 5 his guilty plea. 29 In ground 1(c), Edwards alleges that counsel rendered ineffective assistance for 6 failing to contest his robbery and kidnapping convictions that arose from the same course of 7 conduct. 30 In Ground 2, Edwards alleges that he was denied effective assistance of counsel 8 because counsel failed to challenge the State’s use of cell-site location information without 9 obtaining a warrant and for cumulative errors of trial and appellate counsel. 31 Edwards did not 10 file a direct appeal and raised these three grounds for the first time in state proceedings in his 11 second state habeas petition. 32 The Nevada Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of these claims 12 as procedurally barred under NRS 34.726(1) and NRS 34.810(2). 33 13 The Nevada Court of Appeals’ determination that grounds 1(b), 1(c), and 2 were 14 procedurally barred under NRS 34.726(1) and NRS 34.810(2) was an independent and adequate 15 ground to affirm the denial of the claims in Edwards’s second state habeas petition. The burden 16 thus falls on Edwards to prove good cause for the default and actual prejudice. 34 Here, Edwards 17 does not argue that he can show cause and prejudice or actual innocence sufficient to overcome 18 19 20 21 22 27 Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 340 (1992). 28 Respondents also argue that Ground 2 is untimely. I will address Ground 2 in relation to procedural default. See Cooper v. Neven, 641 F.3d 322, 327–28 (9th Cir. 2011) (stating that when a particular issue is dispositive, a district court “need not consider alternative reasons for dismissing the petition.”). 29 ECF No. 19 at 3. 30 Id. 25 31 Id. at 5. 26 32 Ex. 82. 27 33 Ex. 104. 28 34 See NRS 34.726(1); NRS. 34.810(3). 23 24 5 1 this procedural bar. I thus dismiss grounds 1(b), 1(c), and 2 as procedurally barred from federal 2 habeas review. 3 B. Ground 3 is not cognizable in federal habeas. 4 A state prisoner is entitled to federal habeas relief only if he is being held in custody in 5 violation of the constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. 35 Unless an issue of federal 6 constitutional or statutory law is implicated by the facts presented, the claim is not cognizable 7 under federal habeas corpus. 36 Claims based on conclusory allegations are not a sufficient basis 8 for federal habeas relief. 37 Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United 9 States District Courts (Habeas Rules) requires a federal habeas petition to specify all grounds for 10 relief and “state the facts supporting each ground.” 11 In ground 3, Edwards alleges that he is “entitled to equitable tolling because his counsel 12 failed to properly represent him.” 38 Respondents assert that ground 3 is not cognizable because 13 it does not allege a constitutional violation. Respondents are correct that ground 3 does not 14 present an actionable habeas claim based on constitutional error. Further, a habeas petitioner 15 must allege enough facts that allow the court to draw a reasonable inference that he is entitled to 16 relief. 39 Particularly in habeas cases, legal conclusions without facts are not sufficient – “it is the 17 relationship of the facts to the claim asserted that is important.” 40 Ground 3 does not contain 18 either direct or inferential allegations showing entitlement to habeas relief. Therefore, I dismiss 19 ground 3 for failure to state a claim for which federal habeas relief may be granted. 20 21 22 35 28 U.S.C § 2254(a). 23 36 Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 68 (1991). 24 37 Mayle v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644, 655–56 (2005). 38 ECF No. 19 at 7. 39 See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). 25 26 27 40 28 Mayle, 545 U.S. at 655 (noting that Habeas Rule 2(c) “is more demanding” than the pleading rule for other civil cases). 6 1 2 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that respondents’ motion to dismiss [ECF No. 21] is GRANTED as follows: 3 1. Grounds 1(b), 1(c), and 2 are DISMISSED as procedurally barred; 4 2. Ground 3 is DISMISSED as non-cognizable in federal habeas and/or for failure to 5 6 state a claim. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents have 30 days to file an answer to 7 petitioner’s remaining ground for relief: 1(a). The answer must contain all substantive and 8 procedural arguments as to all surviving grounds of the petition and must comply with Rule 5 of 9 the Rules Governing Proceedings in the United States District Courts under 28 U.S.C. §2254. 10 Petitioner will then have 30 days following service of respondents’ answer to file a reply. 11 _________________________________ U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey Dated: May 17, 2021 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7
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