-RSB Smith v. Director of the Department of Corrections, No. 7:2011cv00359 - Document 20 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 07/12/2012. (kab)

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O KSAT R CEU. DI . COURT OFFI S. ST OANOKE,VA F? ED I I TH E UN I N TED STA TES DI RI CO UR T ST CT FO R TH E W E STER N DI STRI T O F V I I I C RG N A ROANOKE DI I ON V SI JASO N LEE SM I , TH J L 12 2 1 U / 2 BJ L Cy 'z, LR KUI A . GE K , o u zzR . , tK * M E M O R AN D U M O PI I N N O Pettoner, ii CA SE N O .7: 11CV 00359 V. D I EC TO R O F T H E D EPA R TM EN T R O F C O RR EC TI N S, O By: G l E .Conr en ad C hi fU ni e St t sD i t i tJudge e t d a e s rc Res pondent . J on Le Sm ih, a f r e V igi a i a epr e ng pr K , f l t spe ii f a as e t o m r r ni nm t oc edi o 1 ied hi tton or m ' ofha sc puspurua t 28U. C.j2254. Smihc lng t vai t ofhi i t bea or s nt o S. t hale ed he ldiy s c n ie n p ls n t t e20 7j d me to t eCic i Co r o Pityv ni Co t o fn me t trua t o h 0 u g n f h rut u t f ts la a uny c c i hi ofaha t lofende vi ai a r l t c r .Re ponde fl am o i onvitng m biua f r ol ton nd e aed ha ges s nt ied ton t dim is a Sm ih r ponde ma ng t m a trrpef diposton. Afe a r vi w oft o s s , nd t es d, ki he te i or s ii tr e e he r co d, he c tgr nt t m o i n t dim isSmih' c am sa t i ey fl a pr dur ly e r t our a s he to o s s t s l i s mtm l ied nd oce a l defule a t d. Af e a benc ti lo Se e be 25,2007,t Cic tCou ofPit yl a Co mt f tr h r a n pt m r he r ui rt t s vani t y ound Sm ih guit ofbei a ha t lofe r s c ors e ntofe e; ut rz us ofa t ly ng n biua f nde , e ond ubs que f ns una ho ied e ve cl a eudi polc ( eNos CR07000515 00t ough CR0700051 00. Afera hi e, nd l ng ie. Cas . 3- hr 5- ) t s t nc ng hea i on Oc obe 24, en e i rng t r 2007, he Cour i pos d a s- ars nt nc f t ha t l t tm e ye e e e or he biua of e rvi a i a s- a s t nce f una horz us a 1 m ont f e udi t polc f nde ol ton; ye r en e or ut i ed e; nd 2 hs or l ng he i e. The Co ts pende t s e e f t a ho i ed us a e udi f a a tve t r offve ur us d he ent nc s or m ut r z e nd l ng, or n c i e m i ye r i prs Fi l udgmen e ee on Ocobe 25,2007. a s n ion. na j t ntrd t r 1 Some mont aferflng hi f alhabeaspetton, Smih notfed t cour t thehad bee hs t ii s eder ii t ii he t ha n r eas fom prion. Becaus he hassus nded s ences however hi petton i notm oot el ed r s e pe ent , , s ii s . Smih a a e by c t ppe l d, ouns ,a gui t tt e de ew a no s fc e t s el r ng ha he vi nc s t ufi i nt o uppor hi t s c nvitons The Cou tofAppe l o Vigi a de ed Sm ih' pe ii f a o ci . r a s f r ni ni t s tton or ppea by o de da e l r r td J l 1 , 0 .( c r No. 6 6 0 - . S t sa p a o tesmeis e t teS p e u y 6 20 8 Re o d 2 2 - 7 3) mih' p e l n h n su s o h u r me Cour ofVigi awa de e byor rdaedNove r7,2008.( or No.081 ) t r ni s nid de t mbe Rec d 395. On J 9,201 Sm ih e cu e a pr î pe ii f a w r tofha asco pus i t une 0, t xe t d o q tton or i be r n he Supr me Cour ofVigi a.TheCour f und Smih' pe ii n t betm e ba r unde Vig ni e t r ni to t s tto o i - red r ri a Codej8. - 4( ( ,t saeha sc pussaut oflmiai ,sl rl dimis dt 01 65 A)2) he tt bea or tt e i ttons lmma iy s s e he pe ii by or rda e Augus 4,201 a de ed Sm ih' pe ii f r hemi on Se e be tton de t d t 0, nd ni t s tton or e ng pt m r 22,201 ( or No.1 260. 0. Rec d 01 ) l hi j225 peii Smiha ast riet f l ngalegai : n s 4 tton, t ppe r o as he olowi l tons Th Co n at k o n l us dpej r dt si n a tila c u e fie t e mmo we 1 n wig y e ru e e tmo y t ra, nd o nsl ald o h rpo t te sr c n ai n a de p ec -o s iao sa p ru is e r wi s e a tto s n x os o c n p rtr nd ej re . n 2. Couns lpr de i f c i a s sa e ofcouns la t i land on a e ovi d nef e tve s i t nc e t ra ppea . Couns l l e c omm itd m apr tc and wa vi c i a hetm l i o a s ond pr e ut f t Stt te l aci e, s nditve s t ed nt ec os c or or he a e. Coms lfi dt p ito t ru e tsi n o o j c t hihyp eu iil tras t e al o on u pej rd e t y r be t o g l rj dca maeil e mo t oug hr houtt til Couns lf l t r pond t t pe ii rby m al Couns lkne t he ra . e aied o es o he ttone i. e w he c i esha no oc r e Couns lf ie t pr ve a c pia y ort f r he a e ofo ,a rm d t cu r d. e a l d o e nt ons r c he u t r nc ne nd a bandone hi cle whie hewa i diene d. d s int l sn r e 2 3.Thepr e ut c mitd m ic os c or om te s onduc t obt i t c ci , t s t nc t o an he onvi tons and he en e e cons iut d c t a t ua pt i hm e a e ee d t s a ut y m a m um s nt nc 2 tt e rz nd mus l m s nt nd xc de he t t or el xi e e e. Our g o sj d ca c n uc alwe t smaiiusp o e u in,e utngi flei rs n n ta e u u iil o d t l d hi lco r s c to r s li n as mp io me t o a c edt peii nd aus he ttoners ve e e i ldite sf t dtr ton ofhi f s i ionm e . e r motona sr s or he la i s ale mprs nt 4. The pe ii ' co c i on a1 t e c r d of e esi il land i c r r t ttoner s nvi ton 1 hr e ha ge f ns s lega s ont a y o lw, u t ab d fi a us o p o e s Th Co n at u e p ru e tsi n t s c r a d e o a at b e f r c s . e mmo we lh s d ej rd e tmo y o e u e h t c ci nsa t f lel i prs t pettone f a non- rm i ,e e ge y a t he onvito nd o a s y m ion he ii r or e i nal m r nc c . 11 A . St ut ofLi ia i at e m t tons Ha e speiinsfldt e j2 5 aes be t oao ey a p ro o lmiaint t b a tt ie md r 2 4 r u j c t n - e r e id f i tto ha o be nst r n on t l t toff l da es gi o u he a es ot t : r ( t d t o whc t ej g n be a fna b t c n lso o d rc A) he ae n ih h ud me t c me i l y he o cu in f ie t r vi w ort e r ton oft tm e f s e ng s h r vi w ; e e he xpia i he i or e ki uc e e ( ted t o whiht i e i n t fln a a pl ain ce tdb S ae B) h ae n c he mp dme t o i g n p i to rae y tt i c a ton i vi ai oft Co tt i orl oft Unie Stt i r m oved,i c i n ol ton he nsiuton aws he t d a es s e f t a ia wa pr ve e fom flngby s h St e a ton; he pplc nt s e nt d r ii uc at ci ( t daeonwhiht co tt i rghtase tdwa i talyr ogni dby C) he t c he nsiutonal i sre s nii l ec ze t Supr me Cour, ft rgh hasbe ne y r cog z byt Supr m e Cour he e t i he i t en wl e nied he e t and m a r t oa tve y a i a e t c s s o c l t a r vi w ;o de e r c i l pplc bl o a e n ola er l e e r ( t daeonwhiht fcua prdi t oft cli orcli pr s nt c d D) he t c he a t l e cae he am ams e e ed oul ha bee dic r d t o h t e r ieofdue dii nce ve n s ove e hr ug he xe c s lge . 2 Alh ghr s on n a g dt ta 1 Smih' j22 camswe ep o du al de a tda t ou e p de t r ue ha 1 of t s 54 li r r ce r ly fule nd untmel fld,couns f r i y ie el or esponde conceded t tSm ih' s nt nt ha t s e encef t m ide eanorel ng t or he s m udi he ? l ec ag e c e e tesauoymni m u d r . d An . 4 .- 1 a dbo g ths oi h re x e d d h tttr c mu n e Va Co e n j 62 8 7 n ru h ti Jurs c i erort t a tnton oft Cicui Cour. Becaus onlne courtr dsi cae t tt iditonal r o he te i he r t t e i ecor ndi t ha he Cour e er an or ofcor ec i on Novem ber23,2011 r di Sm ih' s ence on t el ng t nt ed der r ton , egar ng t s ent he udi t polce of ense,Sm ih' habeascl m chale ng t orgi s encef t sof e e i m oot he i f t s ai lngi he i nal ent or hi f ns s . 28U. C. 2 4 ( )1. n r l t speidb gn t nm fo t ed t o wh c t j d me t S. j 2 4 d ( ) Ge eal hi ro e is o r m h ae n ih he u g n y, ofc onvi ton be m esfna w he t pe ii ne ha e us e hi opporunii s t s e die t ci co i l n he tto r s xha t d s t te o e k r c r ve Se 28U. C. 2 4 ( )1( . e iw. e S. j 2 4 d ( )A) Sm ih' die ta alt t Su e Cour ofVigi awa c t s r c ppe o he pr me t r ni s omplt d on Nove be 7, ee m r 2008. Hi co c i be m e fna on Fe ua y 5,2009,whe t 90- y pe i f hi t fl s nvi tons cn i l br r n he da rod or m o i e a pe ii f a w rtofc r i a ii t U nied St t Supr m e Cour e r See Sup. . . tton or i e tor r n he t a es e t xpied. Ct R 1 1 .Oneye ltr onFe uay8,201 Smih' opporuniyt fl atmel j2254peii 34 ) ar ae , br r 0, t s t t o ie i y tton e r d. Sm ih di note cu e hi f de alha aspe ii untlJ y 1 20113 Thus t es a xpie t d xe t s e r be tton i ul 9, . , ml s sa ut y t lng pr vi i orequiabl t lng pr nc pl a i t Sm ih' pe ii i i untm e y t t or oli o s on t e oli i i e pples o t s tton, t s i l fldu e j2 4 ( )1( . ie nd r 2 4 d ( )A)4 B. Toli l s lng s ues Un e 2 U. C. 2 4 ( )2 ,h o ey a fln p ro i tle wh l a imae s d r 8 S. j 2 4 d () t e n -e r iig e id s o ld ie n n t' S ope l fl a ia i f St t pos- onviton orot rc lt r lr vi w'i G ndi ' û pr ry ied pplc ton or ae tc c i he ola e a e e ' s û pe ng. ' <An a pl ain i çr pel fld'(o p r o e o t lngu e j2 4 ( )2 )wh nis ç ) p i to s p o ry ie fr u p s s f ol nd r 2 4 d ( ) e t ( c i de i r a a e a e a e i c pla e w ih t a i abl l w s a rze gove i tlngs' lve y nd cc pt nc r n om i nc t he pplc e a nd t s l m ng i i , ' whih i l st E e ci e f r oft docume ,hetmelmisupo isdelve y,he c ncude he t s rbegd) om he pr ntt i i t n t i r t cour al ofi e i whih i m us bel d, t r st flng f e.'Aruz v.Be t,531 t td fc n c t t odge and he equiie ii e ' t nne t U.. , ( 0 0 .Smih ssaeha e sc rusp tto ddn ttl tefl pei du e S48 20) t ' tt b a op eiin i o o lh ii ro nd r ng j2 4 ( 2 frt ra o . 2 4 *( ) o wo e s ns 3 A prs ' habeaspe ii i deemed fl w hen hedelver i t prs ofk i sf m aii ioners tton s ied i s t o ion f al or lng t t c r. S eRul 3 d , esGo e ni j2 4Cas s Ho t v. c 48 U. 266( 988 .Fo o he ou t e e ( ) Rul v r ng 25 e ; uson La k, 7 S. 1 ) r pur esoft stmelnes anal s,t cour hasus t da eon whih Sm ih execut hi i tal pos hi i i s ysi he t ed he t c t ed s nii j22 peiin, c t c ur s mma iydimisd, tltrr i ttd.Smih' c re tj2 4 54 tto whih he o t u rl s s e bu ae ensae t s u r n 25 pe ii wasexecut on Oct tton ed ober6,2011. 4 Sm ih doesnotalege f t i ca i t thew oul be entted t have hi sat or flng t l ac s ndi tng ha d il o s t ut y ii pei c lultdund ra oft o he s bdi sonso j2 4( )1 . rod ac ae e ny he t r u vii f 24 d ( ) 4 Fis,Sm ih di notfl t sa epe ii untlJ 201 f mont a t hi f r l rt t d ie he tt tton i une 0, our hs fer s ede a flng pe i ha e r d.Thus t spe ii n di nott lt f de a lm ia i c oc Se ec. ii rod d xpie , hi tto d ol he e r l i t tons l k. e, . , Vr nv. i no,346F. 5 602( h Ci.2003)(i ngt tt lngpr vii ma not oma Brga 3d 98, 6t r fndi ha oli o son y rvi almiai pei t thasale ye rd) e ve i ttons rod ha rad xpie . Se cond,be us t Supr e Cour ofV i gi a di m i s d Sm ih' s a e pe ii as ca e he em t r ni s s e t s t t tton t i y unde sae lw,hi sat pe ii wa no t ope l fl d'f pur esoft lng unde mtmel r tt a s t e tton s t û pr ry ie ' or pos oli r j2 4 d () S ePa ev Di l l 5 4U. 4 8 41 - 5( 0 5 (id n t a saeh be s 2 4( )2 . e c . Gugi mo, 4 S. 0 , 4 1 2 0 ) fn i g h t tt a a e peii dim is d ast i l t rsa e sa u eoflm ia i wa no i ope l fld'f tton s s e mtme y mde tt t t t i ttons s t t pr ry ie ' or p r o e o t ligu d rj2 4 ( )2 ) F rt sr a o as t ep n n yofS t ssae u p s s f oln n e 2 4 d ( ). o hi e s n lo,h e de c mi tt h' peii di nota f c t r nni oft f de alflng pe i tton d fe t he u ng he e r ii rod. Eq tbl t lngi onl a ia ei fdealha swheet peii rs :( )he uia e oli s y valbl n e r bea r he ttone hows 1 ptrue hi rg swihras na edii nc a ( s e r di r cicl tnc pr ntd ls d s iht t e o bl lge e; nd 2) ome xtaor na y rtmsa e eve e hi fom tm ey flng hi habe pe ii Se Holand v.Fl i m r i l ii s as tton. e l orda, U . ,130 S. .2549, S. Ct - - 2 6 ( 01 ) On yi t s laeisa c swh r -d et cru tn e e tma t t ep ry s 5 2 2 0 . l n ho e t r n tn e e e u o ic msa c s x e l o h a t' r own co nduc -i woul be unc conabl t e or e t lmia i perod agans t pary a t t d ons i e o nf c he i tton i i t he t nd g o sij siewo dr s l'i e utbet ligwa rne .Gr e v. o n o , 5F.d2 0 3 4 r s n u tc ul e ut's q i l oln ra td e n J h s n 51 3 9 , 0 a (t Ci. 4h r 2008) . Smih a lgest teq t et lng s d a y bec us oft aci ofhi a lt t le ha uiabl oli houl ppl a e he tons s ppela e c ouns la t Clr oft Supr m eCour ofVig ni hn r d hi a lt t tl atm e y sa e e nd he e k he e t r i a mpe e s biiy o ie i l t t ha a peii Afe Smih' a t ne ha s be s tton. tr t s tor y d ubmit a a lt bre i t ca e,Smih ted n ppela e i f n he s t a tm p edt s te t o ubmi apr y a a pe ii n i Aug t2008. The Cl r wr e t Sm ih on t o q ppe l tt o n us e k ot o t - A ugus 12,2008,st i t atng: Thi w ila know l s l c edge r e ptofyourpr s pe ii n f a ec i o e tto or ppea i t a l n he bove ca e. s Si e you a e r pr s nt by c nc r e e e ed ouns l w ho ha a r a f l a pe ii f a e, s l e dy ied tton or ppea l on yotrbe f a a gum e sa is sr ltng t yotra z hal, ny r nt nd s ue ea i o l ppea s d ber s d l houl aie by hi . I t f t e, s d c m n he u ur you houl ommt c t di c l wih yotrl mia e re ty t l awye . r ( te fo Clr , p e Co r o Vigni, g s 1 , 0 8 (mph ssi o ii l S t Letr r m ek Su r me u t f r i a Au u t 2 2 0 ) e a i n rgna) mih t n wr t t t Clr on Augu t1 2008 as ngt co t o co i rhi pr K a al he o e o he e k s 4, , ki he ur t nsde s o ppe . t he ppea . The l pe ii a s i hi w ilngnes t fr hi a tr y a pr e pr K w ih t a tton nd utng s li s o ie s to ne nd oce d o . Supr m eCour ofVigi ae e e an o de on Se e be 5, e t r ni nt r d r r ptm r 2008,de ng Sm ih' r ue tt nyi t s eq s o fl apr # a ie o q ppea peii and onN o mbe 7, l tton, ve r 2008,de edt a al ni he ppe . - Sm ih cai st thi appel t c ms f l t no iyhi t tt Supr m eCour of t l m ha s lae ot el aied o tf m ha he e t Vigi a ha de e hi appe . On M ay 20,201 Sm ih s ntt Supr m e Cour ofVigi aa r ni d ni d s al 0, t e he e t r ni pr K pl di as e tng t thi c c i a s nt nc we ei ld f vmi r as . o ea ng s ri ha s onvitons nd e e es r nva i or ous e ons The Clr co t e t s e k nsnld he ubmi son asa i r a utt sausofSmih' c e,a wr e si n nquiy bo he t t t s as nd ot bac i or i Sm ih t t r c dhad be n r t ne t t Cic tCour. Sm ih wr t k, nf m ng t hat he e or e eur d o he r ui t t oe ano he l te ,da e M a 23, 0,e es l a ki whehert Co tha de i d hi ha as t r e tr t d y 201 xpr sy s ng t he ur d c de s be pe ii n. Sm ih sa e t the ha r e ve no l lm a li 1 m ont a c a m e vague y t t tt o t t t d ha d ec i d ega i n 8 hs nd l i d l ha heha wrte t c ms la d itn o ot e boutt a a s r ltm e ,buthadr c i d nor s ns The he ppe l eve a i s e e ve e po e. Clr wr eba o M a 26,201 pr di Sm ih wih aco oft Nove be 7, e k ot ck n y 0, ovi ng t t py he m r 2008 or r de r f s ng hi pe ii f a al eui s tton or ppe . The c t nno fnd t Sm ih hass a e f c s o whi h he i e il t equiabl our cn t i hat t tt d a t n c s ntted o t e t lng. Sm ih c ea l kne t a es oft Supr e Cour ofV igi a ashe ha w rte t oli t l ry w he ddr s he em t r ni , d it n o t Cour a l s t c bef r hi a he t t ea t wi e o e s ppea wasde de TheCl r sl te ofAug t1 2008, l ci d. e k' e tr us 2, advii Smih t comm u c t diec l wih hi a t ney a sng t o nia e r ty t s tor boutt a gu e sand is she he r m nt s ue w i hed t r i e o a s o a s n ppea , d no di co zage Sm ih f o i m edi t l w rtng a t rpr K l di t s lr t rm m a e y ii no he o l te t t co t Y e , r m A ugus 2008 t M a 201 Sm ih m ade no di e ti r t t e t r o he ur . t f o t o y 0, t r c nqui y o he Cour a utt sausofhi a a.Het stonhi rght f mor t nayea a ahaf t bo he tt s ppe l hus a s i s or e ha r nd l 6 be or communia i wih t Cour t dee ne i hi a alhadbe n de i f e c tng t he t o t nni f s ppe e cded. Even a t fer t Supr me Co tofVigi ade e Smih' peii f r he rng on Se e r22,201 he e ur r ni nid t s tton or e a i pt mbe 0, Sm ih w a t d a he t n m ont be or e utng hi f de alpe ii on J y 1 2011 Sm ih t ie not r e hs f e xec i se r tton ul 9, . t ofe snor a on wha s ve f t sdely.Thi s ue e ofe nt doesno s ppor a fndi fr es toe r or hi a s eq nc ve s tu t i ng t tSm ih e r i ed r as bl dii e e i ptr ui hi rght ort ta e r or na y ha t xe c s e ona e lg nc n ls ng s i s ha ny xt a di r cr t tnceouti hi own c icdmsa sde s onduc pr ve e hi fom flng atm ey sat habe petton or t e nt d m r ii i l te as ii atmel j2254peii i y tton. Il I l co l i t c twilg a tt motont dimisanddimist j2254peii n ncuson,he our l r n he i o s s s s he tton upon fndi t tpe ii rscai sa epr ed al ba r d fom r vi o t m e is t thi i ng ha ttone ' l m r oc ur ly re r e ew n he rt , ha s cli aeuntmel fldunde j2244( ( )A) andt thefist de ams r i y ie r d)1( , ha al o monsrt a gr f tae ny ound or sa ut y orequia e t lng oft lm ia i pe i unde t s s c i A n a opr a e or r t t or t bl oli he i t ton rod r hi e ton. ppr i t de w ili s t s da l s ue hi y. Peii ttoneri a s t themay a alt sdec son, ls ntt Rul s3 a 4 oft s dvied ha ppe hi ii ptr ua o e nd he Fe ea Rue o Ap elt Pr c d r, f u g o t eUni dS ae Co r o Ap asf rte d rl ls f p l e o e u e i aj d e f h t tts u t f pe l o h a e FourhCicui o t sc tis sac riiaeofa lbiiy,purua t 28U. C.j2253() t r t r hi our sue e tfc t ppeaa lt s nt o S. c. A c r ik a e ofa e tt t ppea abiiy m a i s onl i t a i n hasm a a s t nta s i of l lt y s ue y f he pplca t de ubs a i l how ng t d n a o ac n tt to l ih . j2 5 ()1 . Th c u ti d t a p tto e h sf ie t he e il f o siuina rg t 2 3 c( ) e o r fn s h t ei n r a ald o i demonsr t t s t nta s ta e û ubsa i l howi oft de alofaconsiutonalrght'a t r or ,t a ng he ni tt i i ' nd he ef e he c u t e l st is ea y c ri t o a p aa ii p ts a tt Rul 2 ( )o t eFe e a Ruls o r d ci o su n e tkae f p e lb ly t u n o e 2 b f h d rl e ne t t r ofAppelaePr edlr Se M il - v. kr l 537U. 322 ( lt oc ze. e lerEl Coc el, S. 2003) Slc v. cDani , ; ak M el 529U. 473( ) l peii i endst a ala s e ac tfc t ofa aa lt fom S. 2000 . f ttoner nt o ppe nd e k eriiae ppe lbiiy r t U nie St t Cour ofA ppea s f t Fourh Cic t hi fr ts e i t fl a notc of he t d a es t l or he t r ui, s i s t p s o ie ie 7 a ppea wih t sc twihi 30 da oft daeofen r oft sm e a l t hi our t n ys he t ty hi mor ndum o ni n a t pi o nd he a om pa ng or r orw ihi s h ext nde pe i a t c tm a g a pur uan t Rul cc nyi de , t n uc e d r od s he our y r nt s t o e 4a() ()5 . TheCl k i die edt s nd c e oft smemor ndlm o ni n a a om pa ng er s r ct o e opi s hi a l pi o nd cc nyi o de t t pe ii ne a t c ms lofr c d f t r ponde . r r o he tto r nd o ot e e or or he es nt ENTER : Thi tA a da ofJ y,201 s y ul 2. ' â / # Chi fUnied St t sDititJ e t a e src udge 8

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