-RSB Garland v. Commonwealth Of Virginia, No. 7:2012cv00031 - Document 3 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 1/28/2012. (tvt)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA ROANOKE DIVISION JONATHAN D. GARLAND, Petitioner, v. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. 7:12-cv-00031 MEMORANDUM OPINION By: Hon. Michael F. Urbanski United States District Judge Jonathan D. Garland, a Virginia inmate proceeding pro se, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner challenges the validity of his confinement pursuant to the August 2011 judgment of the Circuit Court of Wythe County. After reviewing the petition, the court finds that it should be dismissed summarily pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases.1 A federal court may not grant a § 2254 habeas petition unless the petitioner exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the state in which he was convicted. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b); Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475 (1973); Slayton v. Smith, 404 U.S. 53 (1971). The exhaustion requirement is satisfied by seeking review of the claim in the highest state court with jurisdiction to consider the claim. O Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838 (1999). In Virginia, a non-death row convict can exhaust state remedies in one of three ways, depending on the nature of the claims raised. First, the convict can file a direct appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals with a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the Court of Appeals rules against the convict. VA. CODE § 17.1-411. Second, the convict can attack the conviction collaterally by filing a state habeas petition with the circuit court where the convict was convicted, with an appeal of an adverse decision to the Supreme Court of Virginia. Id. § 8.01-654(A)(1); Va. Sup. 1 A petition may be dismissed pursuant to Rule 4 if it is clear from the petition that petitioner is not entitled to relief. Ct. R. 5:9 (a). Finally, the convict can exhaust remedies by filing a state habeas petition directly with the Supreme Court of Virginia. VA. CODE § § 8.01-654(A)(1). Whichever route the convict chooses to follow, it is clear that the convict ultimately must present the claims to the Supreme Court of Virginia and receive a ruling from that court before a federal district court can consider the claims. A federal habeas petitioner cannot have exhausted state remedies if the petitioner has the right under state law to raise the question presented by any available procedure and fails to do so. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(c). The petition clearly shows that petitioner has not presented the claims to the Supreme Court of Virginia.2 Petitioner s failure to exhaust state remedies mandates summary dismissal of the petition by this court.3 Based upon the finding that petitioner has not made the requisite substantial showing of denial of a constitutional right as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c), a certificate of appealability is denied. The Clerk is directed to send certified copies of this Memorandum Opinion and the accompanying Order to petitioner. Entered: January 28, 2012 /s/ Michael F. Urbanski Michael F. Urbanski United States District Judge 2 Petitioner acknowledges in his petition that he has not challenged his conviction via a state habeas corpus action or an appeal from the Court of Appeals of Virginia to the Supreme Court of Virginia. 3 Petitioner may refile his federal habeas petition if he unsuccessfully presents the claims to the Supreme Court of Virginia through one of the three routes described. Petitioner is advised, however, that his time to file state or federal habeas petitions is now limited. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d); Virginia Code § 8.01-654(A)(2). 2

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