us district court oregon habeas corpus exhaustion of state appelate court remedies 0 (1)
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I N THE UNI TED S TATES D I S T R I C T COURT
FOR THE D I S T R I C T OF OREGON
S OTT B RIAN STEF F L E R ,
P e t i t i o n e r ,v.
BR I A N B E LLEQ U E,
R e sp o n d ent .
PATR ICK J . EHL ERSA s s i s t a n t F e d e ra l P u b l i c D ef ende r 10 1 S o u th w e st M a in S t r e e t , S u i t e 170 0P o r t l a n d , Or eg on 9 7 204
A tto rn e y f o r P e t i t i o n e r
ELLEN F. ROSENBLUM A t to r n e y G en era lJONATHAN W. D IEHL A s s i s t a n t A t to r n e y G e ne r a lO rego n D e p ar tm ent o f J u s t i c e
11 62 C o u r t S t r e e t N o r t h e a s tS al em , O r ego n 9730 1 -409 6
l l
l l
A tto rn e y s f o r Re s pon d ent
1 - O PINIO N AND ORDER
3:0 9 -cv- 0 1371 - M A
O PINIO N AND ORDER
ffler v. Belleque D
Dockets.Justia.
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/oregon/ordce/3:2009cv01371/95576/http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/oregon/ordce/3:2009cv01371/95576/72/http://dockets.justia.com/http://dockets.justia.com/http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/oregon/ordce/3:2009cv01371/95576/72/http://dockets.justia.com/docket/oregon/ordce/3:2009cv01371/95576/ -
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MARSH J udg e
P e t i t i o n e r , an inm at e a t Two R iv e rs C o r r e c t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n ,
b r i n g s t h i s h ab eas c o rpus p ro c ee d in g p u r su a n t t o 2 8 U. S .C. 2254 .
F o r t h e rea s ons s e t f o r t h be low , p e t i t i o n e r ' s hab ea s co rpus
p e t i t i o n i s d e n ied .
B C KG ROU ND
On Aug u st 15 , 199 9 , p e t i t i o n e r S c o t t B r i a n S t e f f l e r murd e red
S h e i l a T h ee le r on a h i l l o u t s i d e R o seb ur g , O rego n by s t a b b ing h e r
o v er t h i r t y t im e s and c u t t i n g h er t h r o a t . Ov e r t h e nex t t wo d a y s ,
p e t i t i o n e r ma d e t e l e p h o n e c a l l s t o h i s f a t h e r d u r in g wh ich h e
co n fess e d t o th e m ur der. On Au g ust 1 7 , p e t i t i o n e r ' s f a t h e r
n o t i f i e d Ros eb urg P ol ic e t h a t p e t i t i o n e r h ad m urder ed a fema l e
n e igh b or, l a t e r c o n f i rm ed t o be M s. T h e e le r . Ro s eburg P o l i c e
d is c o v e r e d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r wa s on a sou th bou n d G re yh oun d b us . A t
ap p rox i m a te ly 9 : 55 pm o n Augu st 17 , p e t i t i o n e r w as a r r e s t e d by
Sa cr am en to P o l i c e a t a S acra m ent o bu s t e r m i n a l . D e te c t i v e s f ro m
Ro seb ur g f lew do w n t o S acram ento t h a t n i g h t an d , s h o r t l y a f t e r
t h e i r a r r i v a l i n t h e e a r l y m o rnin g hour s o f Aug u st 18, q u e st io n e d
p e t i t i o n e r a b o u t t h e m urd e r. P e t i t i o n e r c o n fe sse d t o k i l l i n g M s.
T h e e le r and e x t e n s i v e l y d is c us se d th e d e t a i l s o f t h e m u r der. A
s e a r c h o f h i s b e lo n g i n g s tu rn e d up a brok e n , b loo dy k n i f e .
R o seb urg P o l ice l a t e r fo un d M s . T h e e l e r ' s body i n t h e l o c a t i o n
d e sc r i b e d b y p e t i t i o n e r .
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I n t h e l a t e e v e n in g o f A u gus t 1 8 , t h e d e t e c t i v e s d ro ve
p e t i t i o n e r b ac k t o R o s e bu rg . D u ring t h e d r i v e , p e t i t i o n e r sh a re d
m o re d e t a i l s o f t h e m urd e r w i t h d e t e c t i v e s , i n c l u d in g s h ow i ng t he m
t h e r e s t s t o p w he r e h e d i sp o se d o f so m e o f M s. T h e e l e r ' s p e r s o n a l
i t e m s . S h o r t l y a f t e r a r r iv i n g i n D oug las C o un t y , p e t i t i o n e r
a cco m p a nie d d e t e c t i v e s t o t h e s ce n e o f t h e c rim e a n d r e e n a c t e d t h e
m u rd er. L a t e r t h a t d ay , p e t i t i o n e r a g a i n r e c o u n t e d h i s s t o r y t o
Dr . C a l i s t r o , a s t a t e p s y c h i a t r i s t .
On J u l y 12 , 20 01, a j u r y c o n v i c t e d p e t i t i o n e r o f Mur der and
A gg r ava t ed M u rd er . R e s p . ' s E xh . 1 01 . P e t i t i o n e r av o ided a
p o t e n t i a l d e a th p e n a l t y by s t i p u l a t i n g t o a se n te n c e o f l i f e
w i t h o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f p a r o l e . R e s p . ' s Ex h . 1 20. P e t i t i o n e r ' s
c o n v i c t io n w a s a f f i rm e d , w i t h o u t o p in i o n , b y t h e O re go n C ou r t o f
A p p e a ls , a n d th e O r ego n S up re m e C o urt d en ie d r e v iew . S t a t e v .
S t e f f l e r , 2 00 O r. A pp . 2 9 1, 1 14 P . 3d 11 57 , re v . d e n i e d , 33 9 O r. 5 4 4
(2 0 0 5 ) , c e r t . d e n i ed 548 U .S . 9 26 ( 2 0 0 6 ) .
P e t i t i o n e r su b se q u e n t ly s ou g h t s t a t e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f .
T h e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n c o u r t d e n i e d r e l i e f on a l l g ro u n d s , t h e O r e go n
C o u rt o f A p p e a ls a f f i rm e d w i th o u t o p in io n , and t h e O reg o n S up re m e
C o u rt d e n ie d re v ie w . S t e f f l e r v . B e lle q u e ,230 O r. Ap p . 24 8 , 2 1 4
P . 3d 8 53, r e v . d e n ied , 3 4 7 O r . 29 0 (2 0 0 9 ) .
In t h e i n s t a n t p ro c e e d in g , p e t i t i o n e r r a i s e s s i x g ro u n d s f o r
r e l i e f . R es p on d en t m ov e s t o den y h a be a s r e l i e f o n t h e b a s i s t h a t
g r o u n d f o u r i s p r o c e d u r a l l y d e f a u l t e d , g r o u n d s o ne an d f i v e f a i l t o
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s t a t e a b a s i s f o r h a b ea s r e l i e f , an d gr o u n ds t w o , t h r e e , a nd s i x
f a i l on t h e m e r i t s .
D IS C U S SI O N
I . P ro c ed u ra l D e f a u l t G rou nd F ou r )
A A p p l i ca b le L a w
G e n e ra l ly, a 225 4 p e t i t i o n e r m u st e x h a u s t h i s a v a i l a b l e
s t a t e rem e d i e s b e f o r e f i l i n g a h ab e a s p e t i t i o n i n f e d e r a l c o u r t .
C a s t i l l e v . P e o p le s , 4 8 9 U .S . 3 4 6, 34 9 ( 1 9 8 9 ) . A s t a t e p r i s o n e r
s a t i s f i e s t h e e x h a u s t i o n r e q u ir e m e n t b y f a i r l y p r e s e n t i n g h i s
c l a im s t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s t a t e c o u r t s a t a l l a p p e l l a t e s t a g e s
a f f o r d e d u n d e r s t a t e l aw . B a l dw i n v .
(2 0 0 4 ) ; C ase y v . M o or e, 3 86 F . 3 d 8 96 ,
R ee se ,
9 1 5 - 16
54 1 u .s. 27 , 2 9
(9 t h C i r . 2 0 0 4 ) .
R a is in g a c la i m i n a p r o c e d u r a l p o s t u r e i n w h ich i t s m e r i t s w i l l
n o t be c o n s i d e r e d , a b s e n t s p e c i a l and i m p o r ta n t r e a s o n s , d o e s n o t
c o n s t i t u t e a f a i r p r e s e n t a t i o n . C a s t i l l e , 489 U .S . a t 3 5 1; b u t se e
C a s ey , 38 6 F .3 d a t 9 1 8 n .2 3 ( n o t i n g t h a t a c l a i m i s e x h a u s te d i
t h e s t a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t e x p r e s s l y a d d r e s s e s t h e c l a im , w h et h e r o r
n o t i t wa s f a i r l y p r e s e n t e d ) .
W h en a s t a t e p r i s o n e r f a i l s t o e x h a u s t h i s f e d e r a l c la im s i n
s t a t e c o u r t , and t h e s t a t e c o u r t w o uld n o w f i n d t h e c la im s b a r r e d
u n d er a p p l i c a b l e s t a t e r u l e s , t h e f e d e r a l c l a im s a r e p r o c e d u r a l l y
d e f a u l t e d . C a se y , 38 6 F .3 d a t 9 20 ; C ol em a n v . Tho mp s on, 5 01 U . S .
722 , 7 35 n . l ( 1 9 9 1 ) . H ab e as r e v i ew o f p r o c e d u r a l l y d e f a u l t e d
c l a i m s i s b a r r e d u n l e s s t h e p e t i t i o n e r d e m o n s t r a te s c a u se f o r t h e
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p r o c e d u r a l d e f a u l t an d a c t u a l p r e j u d i c e , o r t h a t t h e f a i l u r e t o
c o n s i d e r t h e c la im s w i l l r e s u l t i n a m i s c a r r i a g e o f j u s t i c e . Sm i th
v . B al dw i n, 5 1 0 F .3 d 112 7 , 11 39 (9 t h C i r . 2 0 0 7 ) ; Colem an, 5 01 U .S.
a t 7 50 .
B. A n a l ys i s .
I n p e t i t i o n e r ' s f o u r t h g r ound f o r r e l i e f , p e t i t i o n e r a l l e g e s
t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t v i o l a t e d h i s S i x t h A mend m ent r i g h t t o c o n f r o n t
w i t n e s s e s by a d m i t t in g
h e a r s a ye v id e n c e o f h i s f a t h e r ' s ph o ne c a l l s
t o t h e p o l i c e . 1 R es po nde nt a r g u e s t h a t t h i s g ro u n d i s p r o c e d u r a l l y
d e f a u l t e d beca use p e t i t i o n e r d i d n o t r a i s e t h e i s s u e a t t r i a l . I n
r e s p o n se , p e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t an i n t e r v e n i n g ch an ge i n t h e la w
(C r aw f or d v. W ashi ng ton , 54 1 U.S. 36 ( 2 0 0 4 )) , an d h i s s u p p l e m e n ta l
b r i e f i n g o n d i r e c t a p p e a l c o n s t i t u t e s a f a i r p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e
i s s u e f o r e x h a u s t i o n p u r p o s e s .
A t t r i a l , p e t i t i o n e r s t i p u l a t e d t o t h e a d m i s s io n o f h i s
f a t h e r ' s s t a t e m e n t s t o p o l i c e . Tr. 5 7 1 - 7 2 . A f t e r t r i a l , b u t w hi le
p e t i t i o n e r ' s a p p e a l wa s p e n d i n g b e f o r e t h e O r egon C o u r t o f A p p e als ,
t h e U n it e d S t a t e s S upr em e C o u r t d e c i d e d C r awf o rd (h o ld in g t h a t
a d m is s ion o f t e s t i m o n i a l o u t - o f - c o u r t s t a t e m e n t s i s b a r r e d by t h e
C o n f r o n t a t i o n C laus e u n l e s s t h e w i t n e s s wa s u n a v a i l a b l e a nd t h e
d e f e n d a n t ha d a p r i o r o p p o r t u n i t y t o c r o s s - e x a m i n e ) . I n r e s p o n s e
t o C r awf o r d , p e t i t i o n e r s u c c e s s f u l l y m o ved t h e O rego n C o ur t o f
1 P e t i t i o n e r ' s f a t h e r d i e d i n a c a r a c c i d e n t days a f t e rp e t i t i o n e r ' s a r r e s t .
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A p p e als f o r le av e t o f i l e s u p p l e m en ta l b r i e f i n g a r g u i n g t h a t t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n o f h i s f a t h e r ' s t e l e p h o n e c a l l s t o t h e p o l i c e v i o l a t e d
t h e C o n f r o n t a t i o n C laus e . S e e R e s p . ' s Exh. 1 05. P e t i t i o n e r a g a in
r a i s e d t h e i s s u e i n h i s p e t i t i o n f o r re v iew t o t h e Ore g on S upre m e
C our t . R e s p . ' s Exh. 107.
Be cause p e t i t i o n e r s t i p u l a t e d t o t h e a d m is s i o n o f h i s f a t h e r ' s
s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i a l , t h e C o n f r o n t a t i o n C la u se i s s u e n e c e s s a r i l y w as
r a i s e d on d i r e c t a p p e a l a s p l a i n e r r o r . U nd er Orego n law , [ n ) o
m a t t e r c l a im ed a s e r r o r w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d o n a p p e a l u n l e s s t h e
c la im o f e r r o r wa s p r e s e r v e d i n t h e l o wer c o u r t . . . p r o v id e d t h a t
t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t m a y c o n s i d e r an e r r o r o f law a p p a r e n t on t h e
f a c e o f t h e r e c o r d . Or. R. A pp. P . 5 . 4 5 ( 1 ) . D e te rmi n ing w he t h e r
t o revi e w an u n p r ese rv e d e r r o r i n v o l v e s a t w o - s t e p p r o c e s s . S t a t e
v . G o r n ick , 3 40 Or . 1 60, 1 66, 1 30 P . 3 d 78 0 (2 0 0 6).
F i r s t , t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t m us t d e te rm ine w hethe r t h e e r r o r i s
( 1 ) o ne o f l aw ; (2 ) o b v io us and n o t r e a so n a b l y i n d i s p u t e ; an d
(3) a p p e a r s on t h e f a c e o f t h e re c o r d , i . e . t h e r ev i e w in g c o u r t
n e ed n o t go o u t s i d e t h e r e c o r d t o i d e n t i f y t h e e r r o r o r ch o o se
b etw ee n c om pe tin g i n f e r e n c e s . A i l e s v . P o r t l a n d Meado ws, I n c . , 31 2
O r. 3 76, 382 , 823 P.2 d 95 6 (1 9 9 1) ; G orni c k, 3 40 Or . a t 1 6 6 - 6 7 .
S econ d , t h e s t a t e c o u r t m us t d e c id e w he th e r t o e x e r c i s e i t s
d i s c r e t i o n t o c o n s i d e r t h e c la im , t a k i n g i n t o acc o u n t t h e
co m p et in g i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p a r t i e s ; t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c a se ; t h e
g r a v i t y o f t h e e r r o r ; t h e e n d s o f j u s t i c e i n t h e p a r t i c u l a r c a s e ;
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P e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t a n y p r o c e d u r a l d e f a u l t w as c u r e d
b e c ause t h e Court o f A p p ea ls c o n s i d e r e d h i s C o n f r o n t a t i o n C l au se
c la im on t h e m e r i t s b y g r a n t i n g h i s m o ti o n f o r le a v e t o f i l e
supp l e m e n tal b r i e f i n g . S e e C asey , 386 F.3d a t 9 16 n . 18 ( n o t i n g
t h a t a l a c k o f f a i r p r e s e n t a t i o n i s exc u sed w he re t h e s t a t e c o u r t
e x p r e s s l y a d d r e s s e s t h e c l a i m ) . Th e C ourt o f A p p e a l s ' o n l y a c t i o n ,
h ow ev er, was t o a l l o w p e t i t i o n e r t o su bmit s u p p l e m en t a l b r i e f i n g on
t h i s p o i n t , n o t t o c o n s i d e r t h e m e r i t s . U n d er O r egon l aw, t h e
C o urt o f A p p ea ls c o u ld n o t e x e r c i s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n t o r e view f o r
p l a i n e r r o r w i th o u t e x p r e s s l y a r t i c u l a t i n g i t s rea so n s f o r do i ng
so . A i l e s , 31 2 O r. a t 3 82 . B ecau s e t h e C o urt o f A pp ea ls d i d n o t
e x p r e s s l y a d d re s s th e i s s u e , i t d id n o t c o n s i d e r p e t i t i o n e r ' s
C o n f r o n t a t i o n C l ause c la im on t h e m e r i t s .
F u r t h e r, p e t i t i o n e r h a s m ad e n o sh ow in go f
c aus e and p r e j u d i c e
t o e x cuse h i s d e f a u l t , o r t h a t a m i s c a r r i a g e o f j u s t i c e w i l l r e s u l t
i f h i s d e f a u l t e d c la im i s n o t c o n s i d e r e d . S e e Col em an, 501 U.S. a t
75 0; M urra y v . C a r r i e r , 47 7 U. S . 47 8, 4 85 (1 986) . Th us , h abeas
re v ie w o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s C o n f r o n t a t i o n C l a u se c l a im i s b a r r e d . 2
l l
l l
2 I t i s w orth y o f n o te t h a t , ev e n i f t h e S uprem e C o u r t ' s i n t e r v e n i n g d e c i s i o n i n C raw fo rd w e re c o n s i d e r e d t o b e c a u s e s u f f i c i e n t t o e xcu se p e t i t i o n e r ' s p r o c e d u r a l d e f a u l t , p e t i t i o n e r co u l d n o t d e m o n s t r a te p r e j u d i c e i n l i g h t o f t h e over whelm inge v id e n c e o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s g u i l t a p a r t fr o m p e t i t i o n e r ' s ad m is s ion s t o h i s f a t h e r .
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I I F a i l u r e t o S t a t e a B a s is fo r Ha b eas R e l i e f
A . G ro und O n e.
In g roun d o n e , p e t i t i o n e r c la im s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s
i n t r o d u c t i o n o f c e r t a i n ev id en c e v i o l a t e d h i s Four t h and F o u r t ee n th
A m e n d m e n t r i g h t a g a i n s t un re aso n a b le se a rc h e s an d s e i z u r e s .
Re sp ond en t a r g u e s t h a t h ab eas re v i ew o f t h i s g round i s b a r r e d by
t h e Sup re me C o u r t ' s h o ld in g i n St one v . Pow e ll , 4 28 U .S. 46 5
(19 7 6). I a g r e e .I n Sto ne, t h e Su p reme C ou rt h e l d t h a t a h ab eas p e t i t i o n e r m a y
n o t b e g r a n t e d r e l i e f on th e gr o u nd t h a t ev id e n c e o b t a i n e d i n an
u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l se a r c h o r s e i z u r e was in t ro d u c e d a t t r i a l i f t h e
s t a t e c o u r t s p ro v id e d a f u l l and f a i r o p p o r tu n i t y t o l i t i g a t e t h e
Fo u r th A m e n d m e nt c la im . Ston e , 42 8 U. S. a t 4 94 ; T e rrov o na v .
K inche loe, 912 F .2d 1176 , 11 7 8 ( 9 th C i r . 1 9 90) . The r e le v a n t
i n q u i r y un der S to n e , i s w he the r t h e p e t i t i o n e r h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i ty
t o l i t i g a t e h i s c l a i m , n o t w heth e r h e i n f a c t d i d so o r ev en
w heth e r th e c l a im w as c o r r e c t l y d e c i d ed . O r t i z -S a n d o v a l v . G o m e z ,
8 1 F.3d 891 , 899 (9 t h C i r . 1 996 ).
P e t i t i o n e r a r g u e s t h a t he was d en ied a f u l l a n d f a i r
o p p o r tu n i ty t o l i t i g a t e t h e Fo u r th A mend ment i s s u e b ec ause t h e
s t a t e c o u r t s ma de s e v e r a l e r r o r s o f f a c t an d law i n r u l i n g on h i s
m ot io n t o s u p p r e s s , an d bec a use t h e O reg on C o ur t o f A ppe a ls
a f f i r m e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t w i thou t o p in io n , an d t h e S upr em e C our t
d e n i e d r ev iew . W hile n o m i nal ly fram e d i n term s o f a f u l l an d f a i r
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o p p o r t u n i ty t o l i t i g a t e h i s F our th Am e ndme n t c l a i m s , m os t o f
p e t i t i o n e r ' s arg u m ents go t o t h e u n d e r ly in g m e r i t s o f h i s
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c la i m . A c c o rd ing l y , th e y a r e b a r r e d by S t o n e s o
l o n g a s p e t i t i o n e r h ad a f u l l and f a i r o p p o r t u n i ty t o l i t i g a t e
t he m . 3
P e t i t i o n e r su b m i t te d tw o p r e t r i a l m ot ion s t o e x c lu d e ev id e n c e ,
in c lu d i n g a m otion t o s u p p r e s s t h e k n i fe i n q u e s t io n on Fo u r th
A m endm ent g roun d s , an d acc o mpan ying memo randa i n s u p p o r t . R e s p . ' s
E xh. 1 22. T he s t a t e t r i a l c o u r t h e ld a two - d ay o m ni bu s p r e t r i a l
h e a r in g on t h o se m o t i o ns . T r. P a r t A, 1- 30 8 . A f t e r a l m os t two
m onth s o f c o n s i d e r a t i o n , th e t r i a l c o u r t i s s u e d a f o u r t e e n - p a g e
o p in io n de n ying p e t i t i o n e r ' s m otio ns . Resp . s Exh . 125. On
a p p e a l , p e t i t i o n e r f i l e d t h r e e b r i e f s , two o f which d i r e c t l y
a d d r e s se d t h eF ou r th Am e nd m en t c l a i m s . R e s p . ' s Exh . 1 0 3 - 05 . The
C ou rt o f A p pe a ls h ea r d o r a l arg um ent a nd a f f i r m e d w it h o u t o p i n i o n .
R e s p . ' s E x h. 10 9.
T he fo re g o ing f a c t s d e m o n s t r a te t h a t p e t i t i o n e r r e c e iv e d a
f u l l an d f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o l i t i g a t e h i s F o u r th Am e nd m en t c la im s
a t t h e t r i a l l e v e l . F u r th e r , i n l i g h t o f t h e s u b s t a n t i a l b r i e f i n g
3 S i m i l a r l y , p e t i t i o n e r ' s c o n t e n t io n t h a t t h e S t a t e ' s i n c l u s i o n o f u n p re s e r v ed o r i n f i r m l e g a l argu m ents i n i t s a p p e l l a t e b r i e f d e n ied him a f u l l a n d f a i r o p p o r tu n i t y t o l i t i g a t e h i s F o u r th Am endm e nt c l a i m s i s i n c o r r e c t . T he q u e s t io ni s w h e the r t h e p e t i t i o n e r h ad a f u l l an d f a i r o p p o r tu n i t y t ol i t i g a t e h i s c la im s , O r t i z -S a n d o v a l , 81 F . 3 d a t 8 99 , n o t w he t he r t h e S ta t e p ro p e r ly d e fe nd ed t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s r u l i n g .
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and ar gum en t a llo w e d by t h e Ore go n C o u rt o f A pp eals o n t h e F o u rth
A mend ment i s s u e , I c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e C our. t o f A pp e a ls ' s u mmar y
a f f i r m a n c e , an d t h e O r egon Sup re me C o u r t ' s d e n i a l o f d i s c r e t i o n a r y
re v i ew d o n o t , s t a n d i n g a l o n e , w ar ra n t a f i n d i n g t h a t p e t i t i o n e r
was d e n i e d a f u l l and f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o l i t i g a t e h i s F o u r th
Amen dment c la im s on a p p e a l . See T er ro v o n a , 912 F. 2 d a t 11 78- 7 9
( e x t e n t t o w hich c la im s a r e b r i e f e d b e f o r e , an d c o n s i d e r e d by , t h e
a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s i s r e l e v a n t t o S to n e i n q u i r y ) ; A b e ll v. R a i nes ,
64 0 F. 2d 108 5 , 108 8 (9 th C i r . 19 8 1) ( s am e) .
In su m , a f t e r a n in d e p e n d e n t r e v i ew o f t h e r e c o r d , I f i n d t h a t
p e t i t i o n e r h ad a f u l l and f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o l i t i g a t e h i s F ourth
Am endm ent c la im i n s t a t e c o u r t . T h e r e f o r e , p e t i t i o n e r ' s F o u rth
Am e ndme n t c la i m i s b a r r e d by S to n e .
B . G roun d
Five.
I n gr oun d f i v e , p e t i t i o n e r a l l e g e s t h a t he wa s d e n ied due
p r o c e s s by t h e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n c o u r t ' s r e f u s a l t o a l lo w p e t i t i o n e r
t o i n t r o d u c e e v i d e n c e t o c h a l l e n g e h i s c o n v i c t i o n . P e t i t i o n e r
a l l e g e s t h a t w he n h i s a t t o r n e y show e d up f o r c o u r t w i th o u t [ h i s ]
wo rk p r o d u c t , P e t i t i o n e r r e q u e s t e d l e a v e t o p ro c e e d p r o s e p r o v id e d
he b e g iv e n t i m e t o p r e p a r e . H a be as P e t i t i o n a t 8B .
Hab ea s r e l i e f on G round F iv e i s n o t w a r r a n t e d b e cause a l l e g e d
e r r o r s i n s t a t e p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n p ro c e e d i n g s a r e n o t c o g n i z a b l e i n
f e d e r a l h ab e as p r o c e e d in g s . O r t i z v . S t e w a r t , 149 F .3 d 9 23, 9 39
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(9 th C i r. 199 8 ); F ra n zen v . B rink m an, 87 7 F .2d 2 6, 26 (9 t h C i r .
1 989 ) p e r cu r iam) .
I I I Th e M er i t s .
A f e d e r a l c o u r t m ay n o t g r a n t h a b eas c o rpu s r e l i e f u n l e s s t h e
s t a t e a d j u d i c a t i o n r e s u l t e d i n a d e c i s i o n t h a t was c o n t r a r y t o , o r
i n v o lv ed an u n r e a s o n a b le a p p l i c a t i o n o f , c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d
F e d er a l la w , a s d e t e r m in e d b y t h e Sup reme Cour t o f t h e U ni te d
S t a t e s ; ' ' o r wa s b a s e d o n a n u n r e a s o n a b l e de t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e
f a c t s i n l i g h t o f t h e e v iden c e p r e s e n t e d . 28 U . S. C. 22 54 (d ) ( 1 ) ,
( 2 ) ; H a r r in g to n v . R i c h t e r , u.s . 1 31 s . c t . 77 0, 785 -86
(2 0 1 1 ) . F a c t u a l f i n d i n g s o f t h e s t a t e c o u r t s a r e pre s um ed t o b e
c o r r e c t , an d t h i s p re su m p tion m u st b e r e b u t t e d by c l e a r and
c o n v in c i n g e v id e n c e . 28 U . S.C. 22 5 4(e) ( 1 ) .
A . G r ound wo
F if t h A m end m e n t .
1 . B ack gro un d.
A f t e r h i s l a t e - n i g h t a r r e s t i n S a cr am e n to , C a l i f o r n i a ,
p e t i t i o n e r was i n t e r r o g a t e d by D e t e c t i v e s Jo e P e r k i n s an d Jo e K an e y
fro m t h e Rose burg P o l i c e D epar t m ent a n d D ou gla s Cou nt y S h e r i f f ' s
O f f i c e b e g in n in g s h o r t l y a f t e r 3 :30 i n t h e m o rn in g . Resp . ' s Exh.
126 a t 1 . Th e i n t e r r o g a t io n w as v i d e o ta p e d , t r a n s c r i b e d , an d l a t e r
v iew e d b y t h e t r i a l judg e . I d . a t 42; R e s p . ' s E xh . 1 25 a t 1 & 8 .
P e t i t i o n e r w as a d v i se d o f h i s M iran d a r i g h t s b y D e t e c t i v e K a ney:
Ka n ey: I t s my d u ty t o i n f o rm y ou, you have t h er i g h t t o r e main s i l e n t . A n y t h ing yo u s a y ca na nd w i l l be us e d a g a i n s t you i n a c o u r t o f
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law . Y ou h a ve t h e r i g h t t o ha v e a n a t t o r n e y p r e s e n t d u r in g an y q u e s t i o n in g , i f yo u w is h one . I f yo u ca nn o t a f f o r d t o h i r e on e , on e w i l l be a p p o in te d t o r e p r e s e n t y ou a t no c o s tt o y o u r s e l f . N ow y ou h av e t h e r i g h t t oi n t e r r u p t th e c o n v e rs a t io n a ny ti m e and in v ok e y our r i g h t s , o ka y, an d j u s t b ec au s e yo u a g r e e d t o t a l k t o us ab o u t so m e t h i n g s , d o e s n ' t m ea ny o u h av e t o t a l k t o u s a b o u t e v e r y th in g .O ka y , d o y ou u n d e rs t a n d a l l y our r i g h t s ?
S t e f f l e r : ( I n d i c a t e s a f f i r m a t i v e )
K a ne y : O kay . K e ep in g th o se r i g h t s i n m i nd , y ou s t i l l
w i l l i n g t o t a l k t o us ?
S t e f f l e r : ( I n d i c a t e s a f f i r m a t i v e )
Ka n ey: Ok a y.
P erk in s : I k in d o f t h o u g h t so , I m e an y ou w a i t e d f o r u s .
K aney : O ka y. D o y ou h a ve any q u e s t i o n s o f us ?
S t e f f l e r : I c o m m itt e d a h or r e n d o u s cr im e ,e x p e c t in g a w h o le l o t o f f a v o r s .
I 'm n o t
Id . a t 1 -2 . O ve r t h e c o u r s e o f t h e n e x t ho ur and a h a l f ,
p e t i t i o n e r c o n f e s s e d t o m u rd e rin g S h e i l a T h e e l e r , a nd d e t a i l e d t h e
e v e n t s b e f o r e a n d a f t e r t h e m u rde r . T h e d e t e c t i v e s re sp on d ed t o
p e t i t i o n e r ' s c o n f e ss i o n w i th t h e fo l l o w in g q u e s t i o n s :
Ka n ey : W as you r s t a te m e n t v o l u n t a r i l y ?
S t e f f l e r : Y ea h .
ma d e f r e e ly a nd
P e rk in s : Y o u k n ew y ou d i d n ' t h ave t o t a l k t o u s i f y o ud i d n ' t w an t t o , r i g h t ?
S t e f f l e r : ( I n d i c a t e s a f f i r m a t i v e )
13 - OPIN IO N N D O RDE R
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K an e y: A nd i s i t t h e t r u t h , t o t h e b e s t o f yo u rk no wle dg e?
S t e f f l e r : Y e ah.
P er k in s : O kay. me an Jo e r ea d you your r i g h t s wh en we f i r s t w al ke d i n , and you und e r s to od th o s e r i g h t ?
S t e f f l e r : I n d ic a t e s a f f i r m a t i v e
I d . a t 2 3 (em ph as is a d d e d ) .
A d d i t i on a l ly, s h o r t l y b e fo re a b rea k i n t h e i n t e r v i e w a t
a ppro x im a te ly 4 : 2 0 a . m . , t h e fo l lo w i n g e xcha n ge to o k p l a c e :
P er k in s : Ok ay. Yo u k n o w , I as ked you . . . . I a sked yo uh ow you f e l t abou t t h e w a y Joe a nd I t r e a t e dyo u , ok ay , fr om t a l k i n g t o t h e d e t e c t i v e sh e re , s oun ds l i k e y ou 've bee n t r e a t e d f a i r l y w e l l by th em t o o , i s t h a t t r u e ? I m e an, yo ukn ow , f o r l a c k o f a b e t t e r ter m , n obod y hasb e a t y ou wi t h a ru b be r hose , nob o dy h as , y ouk n o w , ok ay , no C hi ne se w ate r t o r t u r e o ran y th in g l i k e t h a t . W e re yo u t r e a t e d p r e t t y
mu ch r e s p e c t f u l l y ev en by t h e o f f i c e r s a t t h ebu s s t a t i o n , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e c i rcum s tance s?
S t e f f l e r : Y ea h.
P e r k in s : O ka y. A nd t h e sa m e w i th t h e o f f i c e r s here ?
S t e f f l e r : ( I n d i c a t e s a f f i r m a t i v e )
P erk in s : O ka y. C an we t a l k t o y ou aga in ?
S t e f f l e r : G u ess d o n t h a v e a c h o i c e
P erk i n s : O h , ye ah, y ou h a d t h e c h o i ce i n t h e b e g i n n i n g , yo u kno w .
Id . a t 29 (em p hasi s ad ded ) . F i n a l l y , a s th e i n t e r r o g a t i o n w as
c o nc lu d in g j u s t b e fo re 5:0 0 a . m . , D e te c t iv e P e rk in s ag a i n a s k e d
w h ethe r p e t i t i o n e r w as a c t i n g v o l u n t a r i l y :
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P e rk in s : F or t h e pu rp o se o f t h e t a p e a g a i n , w hi le t h et a p e wa s o f f t h i s l a s t t im e , a ny bod y t h r e a t e n you ?
S t e f f l e r : N o.
P erk i n s : A nybo dy p r o m i s e y ou a n y t h i n g , you s t i l lu n d ers t a n d y ou d o n ' t h av e t o t a l k t o u s , b u tt h a t y o u ' r e t a l k in g t o u s beca u se y ou w ant t o .
S t e f f l e r : Y eah .
I d . a t 4 2 .
P r i o r t o t r i a l , p e t i t i o n e r a rg u ed t h a t h i s s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e
i n t e r v i e w w e re o b t a i n e d i n v i o l a t i o n o f M i randa beca u se h e d i d n o t
s u f f i c i e n t l y u n d e r s t a n d h i s r i g h t s t o e f f e c t u a t e a k n owin g and
i n t e l l i g e n t w a iv e r . R e s p . ' s E xh. 1 22 a t 2 1- 24 . A f t e r h ea r i n g t h e
t e s t im o n y a nd r e v ie w in g a l l o f t h e e v id e n ce ( in c l u d i n g th e
v i d e o t a p e s o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s i n t e r r o g a t i o n ( S t a t e ' s E x h i b i t s 4 and
6 ) ) , t h e t r i a l c o u r t d e n i e d p e t i t i o n e r ' s m o ti on t o su p p r e s s , as
f o l l o w s :
S t a t e ' s E x h i b i t s 4 a nd 6 s how t h e d efen d an t asq u i e t , a l e r t , a nd r e sp o n s i v e t o t h e d e t e c t i v e s an d t h e i rq u e s t i o n s . e app e a r ed t o u n de r s t and h i s r i g h t s , a ndd e m o n s t r a ted a c o o p e r a t i v e w i l l i n g n e s s t o t a l k t o t h ed e te c t iv e s . T h e d e fe n d a n t a p p e a re d rem o rse fu l and e m b ar ra s s e d w hen h e lo ok e d do wn wa rd o r a> vay f rom t h ed e t e c t i v e s . Th e d e f e n d a n t d i d n o t d e m o n s t ra t e any m e n t a lc o n f u s i o n , n o n - r e s p o n s iv e n e ss , d ro w s in e s s , o r e x h a u s t i o n
wh e n he spok e .
T he c o u r t f i n d s t h a t n e i th e r t h e S a cra m e nt o p o l i c e o f f i c e r s n o r t h e O re gon d e t e c t i v e s i n t e n t i o n a l l y d e p riv ed th e d e f e n d a n t o f a ny s l e e p , foo d , w a t er o r o t h e r p e r s o n a l n e c e s s i t i e s i n o r d e r t o g a in a p s y c h o l o g i c a l a d v a n tage .
T hro u g h o u t t h e i n t e r v ie w s , t h e d e f e n d a n t h e [ s i c ]
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a ppe a r ed t o u n de r s t and t h e p r o c e ed in g s , a nd r em ain ed a l e r t a nd r e s p o n s i v e .
W hen t h e d e t e c t iv e s a d v is e d d e fe n d a n t o f h i sM i rand a r i g h t s a nd a sk e d d e f e n d a n t i f h e u n d er s to o d h i sr i g h t s a nd wa s w i l l i n g t o sp ea k , d e fe n d a n t nod d ed h i sh ea d i n an a f f i r m a t i v e m a n ner. D e f en d a n t w as aw ake ,l u c i d , and f r e e l y o f f e r e d s t a t e m e n t s th ro u g h o u t t h ei n t e r v i e w . F u r t h e r , a u t h o r i t i e s were n o t r e q u i r e d t o r erea d d e fe n d a n t h i s Mi ra nda r i g h t s fo l lo w in g e v e ry b re a ki n t h e i n t e r r o g a t io n . U nd er t h e s t a n d a r d s s e t f o r t h i nVu a nd C u lomb e , t h e c o u r t f i n d s t h a t a pr e p ond e r an c e o ft h e e v id e n ce s u g g e s ts t h a t d e f e n d a n t ' s w a iver s and s t a t e m e n t s d u r ing t h e i n t e r r o g a t i o n we r e m ad ev o l u n t a r i l y, i n t e l l i g e n t l y , and u n d e r s t a n d i n g l y .
R e s p . ' s E x h. 12 5 a t 8 -9 12 .
2 . A n a l y s i s .
P e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t h i s c o n v i c t i o n wa s o b t a i n e d i n
v i o l a t i o n o f h i s r i g h t a g a i n s t s e l f - i n c r i m i n a t i o n be c au se t h e t r i a l
jud g e (1 ) u n r e a s o n a b ly r e l i e d
up on p e t i t i o n e r ' s he a dnod (n o n-
v e r b a l ) and c o m p le te l y ig n o re d h i s s t a t e m e n t G u ess I d o n ' t h a ve a
c h o i c e ; and (2) e r r o n e o u s l y r e l i e d up on S t a t e v . Vu , 30 7 Or . 4 19,
770 P . 2d 57 7 ( 1 98 9) a n d C ul o mb e v . C o n n ec t i c u t , 36 7 U .S. 56 8
(1961 ) , r a t h e r t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d s e t f o r th i n M i ra nda , a nd t h e r e b y
i n c o r r e c t l y f o cu se d on t h e v o 1 u n t a r i n e s s o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s
c o n f e s s i o n , r a t h e r t h a n w he t h e r h e u n d e r s to o d h i s r i g h t s an d
i n t e l l i g e n t l y and knowi ngly r e l i n q u i s h e d th e m .
In M irand a v . A r izo na , 3 84 U .S . 4 3 6, 4 4 4 (1 96 6 ), t h e Su pre me
C o ur t h e l d t h a t , p r i o r t o q u e s t i o n i n g , a s u s p e c t be a p p r i s e d o f h i s
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t t o re m ain s i l e n t an d t o c o n s u l t an a t t o r n e y .
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A n y w a iver o f M i rand a r i g h t s m ust be ma d e v o l u n t a r i l y , kn ow ing ly
and i n t e l l i g e n t l y . Mo ra n v . B urb i n e , 4 75 U. S. 41 2, 42 1 (19 86). T o
b e v o l u n t a ry, t h e w aiv er mu st have been th e p r o d uc t o f a f r e e a nd
d e l i b e r a t e ch o ic e r a t h e r t h a n i n t im id a t io n , c o e r c i o n , o r
d e c e p t i o n . Id . T o b e kn o w ing a nd i n t e l l i g e n t , th e w a iver mu st
h av e b e en m a d e w i th a f u l l a w are nes s o f b o t h t h e n a t u r e o f t h e
r i g h t b e i n g a ban do ne d and t h e c ons eq uen ce s o f t h e d e c i s i o n t o
aba nd on i t A M iran da w a i ver i s o n l y e f f e c t i v e i f th e
t o t a l i t y o f t h e c i rcu m sta n c e s s u r rou n d ing t h e i n t e r r o g a t i o n r e v e a l
b o th an u n coe rc ed ch o ice a nd t h e r e q u i s i t e l e v e l o f
c om p r ehen s ion . Id .
In th e i n s t a n t p r o c e e d i n g , p e t i t i o n e r h a s f a i l e d t o r e b u t ,
w i th c l e a r and c o n v i n c ing ev i d ence , t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s f a c t u a l
f i n d i n g st h a t p e t i t i o n e r w as a l e r t , re s p o n s iv e , ap p e ared t o
u n d ers t a n d h i s r i g h t s , d e m o n s tr a ted a c o o p e ra t i v e w i l l i n g n e s s t o
t a l k t o t h e d e t e c t i v e s , a nd a f f i r m a t i v e l y no d ded when asked i f h e
w a s w i l l i n g t o wa ive h i s r i g h t s . A cc o rd in g ly , th o s e f a c tu a l
f in d i n g s a r e e n t i t l e d t o a presu mpt i on o f c o r r e c tn e s s . 2 8 U .S.C .
2 2 54 e ) (1 ) .
P e t i t i o n e r a r g u e s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s f in d in g t h a t he
u n ders to o d h i s Mir an da r i g h t s w as u nre as on a b le b ecau se he ma d e
c l e a r h e d id n o t u n d e rs t an d th o se r i g h t s w he n he re spon d ed t o a
r e q ue s t by d e t e c t i v e s t o t a l k a g a in w i th G u ess I d o n ' t ha v e a
c h o ic e . See R esp. ' s Exh . 1 26 a t 2 9. T his a r g u me n t i s u n a v a i l in g .
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Th e r e c o rd r e f l e c t s t h a t p e t i t i o n e r ' s r i g h t s w ere t h o r o u g h l y a n d
a c c u r a t e l y e x p la i n e d t o h i m. Re s p. ' s Ex h . 12 6 a t 1 - 2 .
P e t i t i o n e r ' s s t a t e m e n t t h a t h e d i d n o t h ave a c h o ic e ca m e a f t e r h e
tw ic e i n d i c a t e d t h a t he u n d er s to o d h i s M ira nda r i g h t s , a n d b e f o r e
he w o uld a g a i n co n f irm h i s u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f h i s r i g h t s a t t h e en d
o f t h e i n t e r v i e w . R e sp . ' s E xh . 12 6 a t 1 -2 , 2 3 , 4 2. P e t i t i o n e r
tw i c e s t a t e d t h a t h e ha d n o t b ee n c o e rc e d o r t h r e a t e n e d . I d . a t 2 9
42 . I n su m , t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s c o n c l u s io n t h a t p e t i t i o n e r
v o l u n t a r i l y , i n t e l l i g e n t l y, and u n d e r s ta n d i n g l y w a ived h i s M iran da
r i g h t s w a s p r o p e r l y b a sed u p on t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
A cc o rd ing l y , p e t i t i o n e r ha s f a i l e d t o d em o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e s t a t e
c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n i s b a sed u p on a n u n r e as o n a b l e d e t e r m in a t i o n o f t h e
f a c t s i n l i g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce p r e s e n t e d .
2 25 4 ( d ) (2 ) ; Mo r an, 47 5 U. S . a t 4 21 .
S e e 2 8 u. s. c .
F u r t h e r , p e t i t i o n e r h as mad e n o sho w in g t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s
d e n i a l o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s m o t ion t o su p p r e s s i s c o n t r a r y t o , o r an
u n re a so n a b le a p p l i c a t i o n o f c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d f e d e r a l law . 28
U .S.C . 22 54( d ) ( 1 ) . T he t r i a l c o u r t a p p l i e d b o t h f e d e r a l a nd
s t a t e law , i n c l u d i n g M ir an d a, i n a n a ly z in g p e t i t i o n e r ' s F i f t h
A me n dm e nt a r g um e nt s . R e sp . ' sEx h . 1 25 a t 9 -1 2 . N o th in g i n t h e
s t a t e c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n , in c l u d i n g i t s c i t a t i o n t o V u a n d C u lo m be
s u p p o r t s a c o n c lu s io n t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n i s c o n t r a r y
t o , o r a n u n re a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f M i ra nd a. I nd ee d , C ul om b e wa s
r e l e v a n t t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s c a s e , e ven i n l i g h t o f M ir an d a, b eca u se
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Cu l om b e d i r e c t l y a d d re ss e d t h e v o l u n t a r i n e s s o f a c o n f e s s i o n ( a t
i s s u e i n p e t i t i o n e r ' s c a s e ) . C u lo m be, 3 6 7 U . S. a t 568 -6 3 5 . Th e
s t a t e c o u r t ' s c i t a t i o n t o V u w a s a p p r o p r i a t e b e c a u se t h e c o u r t w as
t a s k e d w i th a p p ly i n g b o th s t a t e an d f e d e r a l l aw . F or a l l o f t h e s e
r e a s o n s , h ab e as c o rp u s r e l i e f i s n o t w a rr a n t e d a s t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s
g ro u n d f o r r e l i e f t w o .
B . Gr o un d Th r ee S t a t e Co urt J u r i s d i c t i o n ) .
In gr ou n d t h r e e , p e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t t h e te rm s o f t h e 18 54
Co w C r e ek T r e a t y d e p r i v e d t h e s t a t e c o u r t o f j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r h i s
m urd e r c h a r g e s an d r e q u i r e d t h a t he be t r i e d u n d e r f e d e r a l l a w .
T h e r e l e v a n t p o r t i o n o f t h e Cow C re ek T r e a t y p ro v id e s a s fo l l o w s :
T h a t t h e f r i e n d s h i p w h i ch i s now e s t a b l i s h e d b et w ee n t h eU n i te d S t a t e s a n d t h e Cow C re ek ba n d o f I n d i a n s , s h a l l n o t b e i n t e r r u p t e d by t h e m is co n d u c t o f i n d i v i d u a l s , i ti s h e r eb y a g re e d t h a t f o r i n j u r i e s d one , n o p r i v a t e
rev e n g e o r r e t a l i a t i o n s ha l l t a k e p l a c e ; b u t i n s t e a d
t h e r e o f c o m p la in t s h a l l b e ma d e by t h e p a r t y i n j u r e d t o t h e I n d i a n a g e n t ; a n d i t s h a l l be t h e d u ty o f t h e c h i e f s o f s a i d b a nd o f I n d i a n s , up on c o m p la in t b e i n g m ad e a s a f o r e s a i d , t o d e l i v e r u p t h e p e rs o n a g a i n s t who m t h e c o m p l a in t i s ma d e, t o t h e en d t h a t he m ay be p u n is h e d ,a g r e e a b l y t o t h e la w s o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s ; and i n l i k em an n er i f a ny v i o l a t i o n , r o b b e ry , o r m ur d e r s h a l l beco m m it ted o n a ny I n d i a n b e l o n g in g t o s a i d ba nd, t h ep e r so n s o o f f e n d i n g s h a l l be t r i e d , an d i f fo u n d g u i l t y ,s h a l l b e p u n is h e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e law s o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
1 0 S t a t . 1 0 27 (18 5 3) .
B e fore t r i a l , p e t i t i o n e r m ov ed t o d is m is s t h e m u rd e r c h a rg e s
f o r l a c k o f j u r i s d i c t i o n o n t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e C ow C ree k T r e a t y
r e q u i r e d t h a t h e b e t r i e d u n d er f e d e r a l l aw , r a t h e r t h a n s t a t e l a w .
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R e s p . ' s Ex h . 1 30. T he p a r t i e s s t i p u l a t e d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r wa s a
m e mb e r o f th e C ow C re ek B and o f t h e U m pq u a T r ib e o f In d ia n s , t h a t
t h e v i c t i m w as n o t a m em b er o f an y t r i b e , a nd t h a t t h e a l l e g e d
c ri m e o c c u rre d o u t s i d e o f In d ia n C o un tr y . T r . 5 1 0 -1 1 . T h e t r i a l
c o u r t d en i e d p e t i t i o n e r ' s m o tio n , f i n d i n g t h a t t h e s t a t e h ad
j u r i s d i c t i o n b e cau se p e t i t i o n e r ' s c r im e w a s co m m it ted o u t s i d e
In d ia n C o u n try a g a i n s t a n o n - In d ia n v i c t i m .
ER- 25 .
R e s p . ' s Exh . 1 03 a t
A b sen t e x p r e s s f e d e r a l law t o t h e c o n t r a r y , I n d i a n s g o in g
be y on d r e s e r v a t i o n b o u n d a r i e s h av e g e n e r a l l y b ee n h e l d s u b j e c t t o
n o n -d is c r im i n a t o r y s t a t e la w o th e rw ise a p p l i c a b l e t o a l l c i t i z e n s
o f t h e S t a t e . M es c a l e ro A p ac he T rib e v . J o n e s , 4 11 U .S. 14 5 , 1 48 -
49 (19 7 3) ; se e a l s o Ne v ada v . H ic ks , 53 3 U. S . 353 , 36 2 ( 2001 ) ( I t
i s a l s o w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d i n o u r p re c e de n t t h a t S t a t e s h a ve c r i m i n a l
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r r e s e r v a t i o n I n d ia n s f o r c r im e s c om m it t e d .
o f f t h e r e s e r v a t i o n . ) ; O rga n iz e d V i l l a g e o f K ak e v . E ga n, 3 69 U . S .
60, 75 (1 9 62) ( I t h as n ev er be e n d ou b te d t h a t S t a t e s m a y p u n i sh
c r i m e s c om m it te d b y I n d i a n s , e v en r e s e r v a t i o n I n d i a n s , o u t s i d e o f
I n d ia n c o u n t r y . ) .
P e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t t h e Co w
Cr e ek T r e a ty i s s u f f i c i e nt l y
e x p r e s s f e d e r a l la w c o n t r a r y t o t h e r u l e o f s t a t e j u r i s d i c t i o n o ver
c r im e s co m m it te d o u t s i d e In d ia n C o u n try t h a t t h e S t a t e ' s e x e r c i s e
o f j u r i s d i c t i o n w a s i n a p p r o p r i a t e u nd e r M e sca l e ro A p ac h e T r i b e .
P e t i t i o n e r m a i n ta i n s t h a t t h e s t a t e t r i a l c o u r t u n r e a so n ab ly
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d e t e rm i n e d t h e f a c t s r e g a r d i n g t h e C ow C ree k T r e a t y b y i g n o r i n g t h e
t r e a t y ' s p l a i n m e a nin g a nd f a i l i n g t o r e c o g n iz e i t s un i qu e
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . S ee 28 U . S. C .
p e t i t i o n e r a s s e r t s t h a t t h e s t a t e
22 54 ( d ) ( 2) 0 A d d i t i o n a l l y ,
c o u r t u n r e as o n a b ly a p p l i e d
c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d Sup r em e C o u r t p r e c e d e n t by f a i l i n g t o i n t e r p r e t
t h e t r e a t y t o d i v e s t t h e s t a t e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n t o p r o s e c u t e h im .
S e e 28 U .S . C . 2 25 4( d ) ( 1 ) .
I n a r g u in g t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t u n r e a so n ab ly d e t e r m in e d t h e
f a c t s su r ro u n d i n g t h e Co w C r eek T r e a t y , p e t i t i o n e r m a i n t a i n s t h a t
t h e p l a i n l an g u ag e o f t h e t r e a t y p r o v i d e s t h a t he wa s t o be t r i e d
u n d e r f e d e r a l law , an d , t h u s , t h e s t a t e c o u r t l a c k e d j u r i s d i c t i o n .
In s u p p o r t o f t h i s a rg u m e n t, p e t i t i o n e r c i t e s g e n e r a l r u l e s o f
t r e a t y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h a t t r e a t y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n b e g in s
w ith t h e p l a i n
me an i ng o f t h e t e x t ; a t r e a t y sh o u l d b e i n t e r p r e t e d
a s t h e I n d i a n wo u ld h av e u n d e r s to o d i t a nd a m b i g u i t i e s sh o u ld be
r e s o l v e d i n f a v o r o f t h e t r i b e . S ee , e . g . , M e d e l l i n v . T ex as , 5 5 2
U.S . 4 91 , 5 06 (2 0 0 8 ) ; C hoc taw N a t ion v . Okl ahom a, 397 U . S. 6 20 , 63 1
( 1 9 7 0 ) ; J o ne s v . M ee ha n, 1 75 U.S . 1 , 1 1 ( 1 89 9 ) .
P e t i t i o n e r ' s r e l i a n c e u p o n 22 5 4( d) (2) i s m i s p la c e d . S e c t i o n
2 2 54 ( d ) ( 2) p e r m i t s a f e d e r a l h a b e as c o u r t t o g r a nt
r e li e f i f t h e
s t a t e c o u r t d e t e r m i n a t i o n r e s u l t e d i n a d e c i s i o n t h a t w as b a s e d o n
an u n r e a s o n a b le d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e f a c t s . T he i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
an d a p p l i c a t i o n o f a n I n d ia n t r e a t y i s a q u e s t i o n o f l aw , n o t f a c t .
U ni te d S t a t e s v . S t a t e o f W ash ing t on , 15 7 F .3d 630 , 6 42 (9 th C i r.
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1 99 8 ) . T he s t a t e c o u r t ' s c o n c l u s i o n s a s t o l e g a l i s s u e s a nd t h e i r
a p p l i c a t i o n a r e re v ie w ed u n d e r 225 4(d ) (1 ) . Lam ber t v . B lo d g e t t ,
39 3 F . 3d 94 3, 97 8 ( 9 th C i r . 200 4). T h us , ha be as r e l i e f i s
w a rr a n te d o n l y i f t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n w a s c o n t r a ry t o , o r a n
u n re a so n a b le a p p l i c a t i o n o f , c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d f e d e r a l la w, un d e r
28 u . s .c . 2 25 4 (d ) (1 ) .
C i t i n g a m i x o f s t a t e an d f e d e r a l law , t h e t r i a l c o u r t h e ld
t h a t i t r e t a i n e d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r c r i m es co m m i tted b y I n d ia n s
o u t s i d e o f In d i a n C ou n try . P e t i t i o n e r h a s f a i l e d t o c a r r y h i s
b u rd en o f s how ing t h a t t h i s d e c i s i o n w a s c o n t r a r y t o , o r a n
u n re a so n ab le a p p l i c a t i o n o f , c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d f e d e r a l l aw .
R at h e r , t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e t r e a t y i s
r e a s o n a b le i n l i g h t o f t h e t r e a t y ' s h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t a nd
su b seq uen t C o n g re s s io n a la c t i o n .
P e t i t i o n e r h a s c i t e d n o c a s e i n t e r p r e t i n g th e l an g ua g e o f t h e
C o w C re e k T r e a ty , o r a ny s i m i l a r t r e a t y , t o d e p r iv e a s t a t e o f
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r cr i m e s co rnrn i t t e d b y a n I n d i a n o u t s i d e I n d i a n
C ou n try . T h is f a i l u r e i s e s p e c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t i n l i g h t o f t h e
w e ll e s t a b l i s h e d r u l e t h a t S t a t e s g e n e r a l l y h ave c r i m i n a l
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r c r im es corn rni t t e d o f f t h e r e s e r va t i o n . See
M e sc a le ro A pac h e T r ib e , 41 1 U .S . a t 1 4 8- 4 9 ; H ic ks , 533 U .S . a t 3 62 ;
O r g a n i ze d V il la g e o f Ka k e, 3 69 U.S . a t 75 .
A r e v ie w o f t h e la n gu a ge o f t h e Co w C reek T r e a t y in h i s t o r i c a l
c o n t e x t d e m o n s t r a te s t h a t t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e
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t r e a t y wa s r e a s o n a b l e . The ow C reek Tr e a t y was e n t e r e d i n t o i n
1854 f iv e y e a rs b e f o r e Oregon ' s a d m i s s ion i n t o t h e U nion. Th us,
a s u n d e r s tood a t t h e t i m e o f r a t i f i c a t i o n , t h e t r e a t y ' s r e f e r e n c e
t o t h e U nite d S t a t e s ' j u r i s d i c t i o n m a y n o t have b een e x c l u s i v e o f
an a s - y e t e x i s t e n t s t a t e ' s , b u t r a t h e r m erely a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e
o n ly r e l e v a n t so v e r e i g n a t t h e t im e .
A d d i t i o n a l l y , I r e j e c t p e t i t i o n e r ' s a s s e r t i o n t h a t Pu b l i c La w
280 i s i n a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f t h i s i s s u e . On t h e
c o n t r a r y , P u b l i c Law 280 s u g g e s t s Co ngre ss under s tood Orego n t o
hav e j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r cr im e s c ommit ted o u t s i d e In d i a n C ou n try.
Pu b l i c Law 28 0 ( 18 U.S.C . 1162(a }} , p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e S t a t e w i l l
h ave j u r i s d i c t i o n o ver a l l c r i m e s com m it ted by o r a g a i n s t In d i a n s
i n a r e a s o f In d i a n C o u n t ry t o t h e sa m e e x t e n t t h a t s u ch S t a t e o r
T e r r i t o r y h as j u r i s d i c t i o n over o f f e n s e s co m mit ted e lse w h e r e w i t h i n
t h e S t a t e .
W hile p e t i t i o n e r i s c o r r e c t t h a t Pu b l i c La w 280 o n ly e x p r e s s l y
p r o v i d e s t h a t Ore gon h as j u r i s d i c t i o n over c r i m e s w i t h i n In d i a n
C ou nt ry t h e l angua ge assumes t h a t t h e a f f e c t e d s t a t e s had
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r c r i m i n a l o f f e n s e s commit t ed o u t s i d e I n d i a n
C ountry . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,i t
i s c l e a r C o n g r ess w as aware o f
c i rcu m s t a n c e s r e l a t i n g t o i n d i v i d u a l s t a t e s , t r i b e s , and
r e s e r v a t i o n s a t t h e t im e o f passage o f P u b l i c La w 280, be c ause t h e
law a p p l i e s o n ly t o Ore gon and f i v e o t h e r s t a t e s , a nd i n c l u d e d
e x c e p t i o n s f o r i n d i v i d u a l r e s e r v a t i o n s . Id . In su m, t h e pa s s a g e
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o f P u b l i c L aw 2 80 s u p p o rt s t h e c o n c lu s i o n t h a t t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s
c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e t r e a t y wa s n o t u n r e a s o n a b le , a nd t h a t i t s
e x e r c i s e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h i s c a s e w a s n o t an u n re a so n ab l e
a p p l i c a t i o n o f c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d F e d e ra l law . F or a l l o f th e se
re a s o n s , h a be a s r e l i e f i s n o t w a r ra n t e d u n d e r 28 U .S .C .
22 54 d) 1 ) .
C . G r ou n d i x I n e f f e c t i v e A s s is t a n c e o C o u n s e l ) .
I n g rou nd s i x , p e t i t i o n e r a s s er t s t h a t t r i a l a n d a p p e l l a t e
c o u n s e l w ere c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y d e f i c i e n t b y f a i l i n g t o { 1)
e f f e c t i v e l y l i t i g a t e p e t i t i o n e r ' s m o tion t o s u p p re s s ; { 2) p r o p e r l y
o b j e c t a nd m o v e f o r a m i s t r i a l due t o p r o s e c u to r i a l m i s con duc t; (3 )
p r o p e r ly l i t i g a t e p e t i t i o n e r ' s m o t ion f o r ju dgm ent o f a c q u i t t a l ;
4 ) p r o p e r l y o b j e c t t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s se n te n c e o f l i f e w i t h o u t
p a r o l e ; a n d ( 5) a l lo w p e t i t i o n e r t o t e s t i f y i n h i s o wn d e fe n se .
R e spo nde nt m ov es t h e c o u r t t o d e ny h ab ea s r e l i e f o n th e b a s i s t h a t
t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s r e j e c t i o n o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s i n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e
c la im s i s e n t i t l e d t o d e f e re n c e . F or t h e re a so n s s e t f o r th be l ow ,
I c onc lu d e t h a t t h e s t a t e c o u r t ' s r e j e c t i o n o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s
i n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e c la im s w a s n e i t h e r c o n t r a r y t o , nor an
u n re a so n ab l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d f e d e r a l l a w.
In S t r i c k l a n d v . W a shi n g to n , th e Su p re m e C our t e s t a b l i s h e d a
tw o -p a r t t e s t t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th er a d e f e n d a n t h a s r e c e i v e d
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y d e f i c i e n t c o u n se l. 4 66 u.s . 6 68 , 68 7 ( 1 9 8 4 ) .
U nd e r t h i s t e s t , p e t i t i o n e r m us t n o t o n ly p ro v e t h a t c o u n s e l w as
2 4 - OP IN ION N D O RD E R
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d e f i c i e n t , b u t a l s o t h a t t h e d e f i c i e n t performance p r e j u d i c e d
p e t i t io n e r s d e f e n se . Wil l i ams , 529 U.S. a t 390; S t r i c k l a n d , 466
U.S. a t 687.
To prove d e f i c i e n c y o f performance , p e t i t i o n e r ' m u s t show
t h a t c o u n s e l s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n f e l l below an o b j e c t i v e s t a n d a r d o f
r e a s o n a b l e n e s s . Wil l i ams , 529 u.s. a t 390-91 (quo t ing
S t r i c k l a n d , 466 U.S. a t 6 8 8 ) . To e s t a b l i s h p r e j u d i c e [ p e t i t i o n e r ]
' mu s t show t h a t t h e r e i s a r e a so n a b l e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t , b u t f o r
c o u n s e l s u n p r o f e s s i o n a l e r r o r s , t h e r e s u l t o f t h e proceed ing would
have b een d i f f e r e n t . I d . a t 391 (quo t ing S t r i c k l a n d , 466 U.S. a t
694) . A r e a so n a b l e p r o b a b i l i t y i s a p r o b a b i l i t y s u f f i c i e n t t o
undermine c o n f id e n c e i n t h e ou tcome . Id . In e v a l u a t i n g p r o o f o f
p r e j u d i c e , t h i s c o u r t must c o n s i d e r t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e
b e f o r e t h e j u r y. S t r i c k l a n d , 4 66 U.S. a t 696. [A] v e r d i c t o r
c o n c l u s i o n o n ly weakly s u p p o r t e d by t h e r e c o r d i s more l i k e l y t o
have b een a f f e c t e d by e r r o r s t h a n one w i th overwhelming r e c o rd
s u p p o r t . Id .
I n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f a p p e l l a t e counse l c l a im s a r e a l s o
reviewed unde r t h e S t r i c k l a n d s t a n d a r d . Smith v. Robbins , 528 U.S.
259, 285 2000) ( c i t i n g Smi th v . Murray, 4 77 U.S. 527, 535-36
(1986) ) . Competent a p p e l l a t e c o u n s e l n eed n o t r a i s e e v e r y
c o l o r a b l e argument on a p p e a l ; r a t h e r , counse l i s e x p e c t e d t o use
h i s o r h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l judgment i n d e t e r m in in g which arg u men t s t o
p r e s e n t t o t h e c o u r t . Smith , 477 U.S. a t 535-36 .
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1 . I n e f f e c t i v e L i t i g a t i o n o f S u pp r es s i on I s s u e .
a . Tr ia l C ou n se l.
P e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t t r i a l c o u n s e l was i n e f f e c t i v e i n
f a i l i n g t o f i l e a m o tio n f o r a n e w t r i a l i n re sp o n se t o th e t r i a l
c o u r t ' s e r ro n e o u s f in d i n g t h a t d e f e n d a n t c o n se n t e d t o a s e a r c h o f
a bag t h a t c o n ta in e d t h e m ur d e r w ea p on , a nd i n a p p ly i n g t h e
i n e v i t a b l e d is c o v e r y d o c t r i n e . I d i s a g r e e .
D u rin g t h e s u p p re ss io n h e a r in g , t r i a l c o u n s e l arg u ed b o th t h a t
t h e b ag m u st h a ve be e n s e a rc h e d b e f o r e c o n se n t was g iv e n , an d t h a t
t h e i n e v i t a b l e d i sc o v e ry d o c t r i n e d i d n o t a p p ly . T r . 2 9 1 -9 2 , 2 96 -
9 7; se e a l s o R e s p . ' s Ex h . 1 22 a t 3 -8 . T h e p a r t i e s e l i c i t e d
te s t im o n y re g a r d i n g t h e s eq u en c e o f e v e n t s t h a t l e d t o th e s e a rc h
o f t h e b ag a nd t h e o f f i c e r s ' k no w le d ge o f th e k n i f e ' s p re s e n c e ,
in c l u d i n g te s t im o n y f ro m t h e o f f i c e r s in v o lv e d t h a t th e b a g w as
o n l y s e a r c h e d f t e r c o n se n t w as g iv e n . T h e t r i a l c o u r t c r e d i t e d
t h e t e s t im o n y o f t h e o f f i c e r s , an d f o un d t h a t t h e o f f i c e r s s e a rc h e d
t h e ba g c o n ta in in g t h e k n i f e a f t e r p e t i t i o n e r g a ve c o n s e n t .
R e s p . ' s Ex h . 1 25 a t 6 .
T r i a l c o u n s e l ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f p e t i t i o n e r , th e n , d i d n o t
f a l l belo w a n o b j e c t i v e s t a n d a rd o f r e a s o n a b le n e s s , n or d i d
p e t i t i o n e r s u f f e r p r e j u d i c e by c o u n s e l ' s f a i l u r e t o ma ke a
r e p e t i t i v e m otio n f o r a n ew t r i a l b as e d on a rg u m e nts th e t r i a l
c o u r t ha d a l r e a d y a d d re s se d d u r in g t h e su p p re ss io n h e a r in g .
l l
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b . A p p e l l a te C o u n s e l.
P e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t a p p e l l a t e c o u n se l was i n e f f e c t i v e i n
f a i l i n g t o o b j e c t t o t h e S t a t e ' s r e l i a n c e up on ar gu m e n t s r a i s e d f o r
t h e f i r s t t im e on a p p ea l . P e t i t i o n e r ' s f i r s t argu m ent - t h a t
a p p e l l a t e co u n se l u n r e a s o n a b l y f a i l e d t o o b j e c t t o t h e S t a t e ' s
r e l i a n c e up on a s e a r c h i n c i d e n t t o a r r e s t t h e o r y n o t r e l i e d upo n by
t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s u n a v a i l i n g . C o n tra ry t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s
a s s e r t i o n , t h e S t a t e ' s se a r c h i n c i d e n t t o a r r e s t argum ent w as
p r e s e r v e d a t t r i a l . 4 T r. 2 8 4 -8 5 . Mor e over , t o t h e e x t e n t t h e
C o urt o f A p p e als r e l i e d u po n a se a r c h i n c i d e n t t o a r r e s t t h e o r y ,
a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s m ay ex am ine l e g a l ar g u m e nts no t r e l i e d on by a
t r i a l c o u r t t o d e t e r m in e i f t h o se arg u m e n t s p ro v id e a b a s i s f o r
a f f i r m a n c e . S t a t e v . R o g ers , 330 O r. 2 82, 2 95 , 4 P .3 d 12 61
( 2000 ) . He nce, t h e r e was no b a s i s f o r a p p e l l a t e c o u n s e l t o o b j e c t
t o t h e S t a t e ' s s e a r c h i n c i d e n t t o a r r e s t ar g u m e nt , a nd c o u n s e l ' s
f a i l u r e t o r a i s e t h e o b j e c t i o n w as n o t o b j e c t iv e ly u n reas o n ab le .
P e t i t i o n e r ' s se co n d ar gum e nt t h a t a p p e l l a t e c o u n s e l
u n re a so n a b ly f a i l e d t o r e b u t t h e S t a t e ' s h a r m le s s e r r o r a rgu m e nt by
r e l y i n g upon Ho n da M o tor C o . . L td v . O be r g, 5 1 2 U . S. 4 1 5 (19 94) -
a l s o m is s e s t h e m ark . Obe rg i s i r r e l e v a n t i n t h i s c a s e , a s i t
4 To t h e e x t e n t p e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t a p p e l l a t e c o u n se lf a i l e d t o a d d r e s s t h e m e r i t s o f t h e S t a t e ' s s ea rc h i n c i d e n t t oa r r e s t a rg u m e n t, h e i s i n c o r r e c t . A p p e l l a t e co u n s e l sp e n t ac o n s i d e r a b l e p o r t i o n o f h e r a l l o t t e d t im e a t o r a l a rgum e nta rg u i n g t h a t t h e s e a rc h o f t h e bag c o u l d n o t be j u s t i f i e d o n as e a r c h i n c i d e n t t o a r r e s t t h e o r y . P e t . ' s Exh. 14 a t 2 :0 0 - 6 : 0 0 .
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U ni ted S t a t e s v . N ecoechea , 986 F .2 d 12 73, 1 281 (9 th C i r. 1993)
( c i t i n g S t r i c k l a n d , 466 U .S. a t 6 89 ) . M oreover , even i f t r i a l
c ounse l ha d r a i s e d an o b j e c t i o n , p e t i t i o n e r h a s f a i l e d t o
d e m o ns t r a te t h a t i t would have been s u c c e s s f u l g iven t h e f a c t t h a t
Orego n law a l low s p a r t i e s t o a t t a c k t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s e s .
See Ouim b y v . H i l l , 213 O r. App . 124, 13 1, 1 59 P.3d 1264 (200 7)
( c i t i n g Or. E v id en ce C ode 6 0 7 ) ; S t a t e v . Ha nson, 1 0 Or.App . 363,
36 5, 499 P .2 d 82 5 (197 2). A c c o r d ing ly, c o u n s e l ' s f a i l u r e t o o b j e c t
was a r e a so n a b le s t r a t e g i c c h o i c e t h a t d i d no t f a l l bel ow a n
o b j e c t i v e s t a n d a r d o f r e a so n a b l e n e s s , an d p e t i t i o n e r s u f f e r e d no
p r e j u d i c e .
Second, p e t i t i o n e r c l a im s t h a t t r i a l counse l w as i n e f f e c t i v e
i n f a i l i n g t o o b j e c t t o t h e p r o s e c u t o r ' s t h e o r y t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t
co mm itt ed t h e m urder b ec ause t h e v i c t i m re b u f f e d h i s s e x u a l
advanc es . 5 This t h e o ry was ba sed on p e t i t i o n e r ' s s t a t e m e n t i n h i s
i n i t i a l i n t e r r o g a t i o n t h a t he we n t t o t h e s ce n e o f t h e murder w ith
t h e v i c t i m e x p e c t i n g t o g e t a l i t t l e . R e s p . ' s Ex h. 126 a t 40.
The p r o s e c u t o r i n t r o d u c e d a re c o r d i n g o f t h e i n t e r r o g a t i o n where
p l a i n t i f f made th e .above s t a t e m e nt , e l i c i t e d t e s t im o n y fr o m e x p e r t s
a bou t wh e t her p e t i t i o n e r ' s p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r of i l e wa s c o n s i s t e n t
5 P e t i t i o n e r a l s o makes r e f e r e n c e t o an i n s t a n c e a t t r i a l i nw hich one o f t h e S t a t e ' s wi t n e s se s r e f e r r e d t o t h e ev e n ts l e a d i n gup t o t h e mu rd er a s a s e x u a l a s s a u l t . P e t i t i o n e r ' s t r i a lc o u n s e l i m m edia te ly o b j e c t e d an d t h e j u d g e s u s t a i n e d and s t r u c kt h e r e f e r e n c e . Tr. 9 1 9 -20 . C l e a r l y, t h a t i s no t an i n s t a n c e o fi n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f co u n se l .
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c o u n s e l ' s pe rform ance i n t h i s r e s p e c t wa s n o t c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y
d e f i c i e n t . Tr. 1 0 26-32 .
F our th , p e t i t i o n e r argu es t h a t t r i a l c o u n se l was i nad e q u a t e
f o r f a i l i n g t o move f o r a m i s t r i a l a f t e r t h e p r o s e c u t o r sought t o
r e b u t p e t i t i o n e r ' s extre m e emot ion a l d i s t r e s s d e f e n se by o f f e r i n g
ev idenc e t h a t , a t t h e t ime o f t h e mu rd er , p e t i t i o n e r w as s t i l l i n
t h e p ro c ess o f ap p ly i n g t o t h e Na t i o n a l Guard . P e t i t i o n e r ar gu ed
t h a t h i s r e p e a t e d r e j e c t i o n s fro m t h e m i l i t a r y c o n t r i b u t e d t o h i s
f r a g i l e menta l s t a t e a t t h e t im e o f t h e murde r . To r e b u t
p e t i t i o n e r ' s c l a i m , t h e S t a t e pu t on e v idence , o v er an o b j e c t i o n by
d e f e n se c o u n se l , t h a t p e t i t i o n e r was s t i l l i n t h e p r o c e s s o f
ap p ly i n g f o r admiss ion t o t h e N at iona l G uar d, and a rgued d u r i n g
c l o s i n g t h a t p e t i t i o n e r ' s dream o f m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e w as s t i l l
a l i v e . Tr. 1 2 2 5 - 4 6 .
The p r o s e c u t i o n ' s argum e nt was ma d e t o sh ow t h a t t h e b a r r i e r s
t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s a ccep ta n c e i n t o t h e m i l i t a r y were n o t so g r e a t a s
t o c o n t r i b u t e t o extr e m e emot io n al d i s t u r b a n c e . Be ca use t h i s
argu m en t was r e l e v a n t t o p e t i t i o n e r ' s c l a i m o f ex t r eme emot iona l
d i s t u r b a n c e , t r i a l c o u n se l wa s no t o b j e c t i v e l y unreas o n a b le i n
f a i l i n g t om o v e
f o ra
m i s t r i a l on t h i s a c count .A d d i t i o n a l l y,
t h e r e c an be n o p r e j u d i c e on t h i s c l a i m , a s t h e j u r y c o n v i c t e d
p e t i t i o n e r o f Aggra vate d Murder a c h a r g e t o w h ich extre m e
e m o t io n a l d i s t u r b a n c e i s n o t a defense . See S t a t e v . Mo or e, 32 4
Or . 396, 411-13 , 92 7 P . 2 d 10 73 (1996) .
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F i f t h , p e t i t i o n e r a rg u e s t h a t t r i a l c o u n s e l w as i n e f f e c t i v e i n
f a i l i n g t o o b j e c t t o f l s e te s t im o n y b y t h e S t a t e ' s e x p e r t
p s y c h o l o g i s t , D r . F r an k C o l i s t r o , t h a t p e t i t i o n e r w a s l a i d o f f fro m
a j o b f o r c h a r g i n g th e p u rc h a s e o f p e r s o n a l t o o l s t o h i s e m p l o y e r 's
a c c o u n t . In e x p l a i n i n g h i s c o n c lu s io n t h a t p e t i t i o n e r h ad a
te n d e n cy t o b lam e h i s own f a i l i n g s o n o t h e r s , D r. C o l i s t r o
t e s t i f i e d : S o i f y ou c a tc h h i m s t e a l i n g o r b uy i ng t o o l s a t w o rk
a nd h e ' s d i s c i p l in e d f o r t h a t , h e ' s m a d a t y ou b e c a us e y o u p u t h im
i n a ba d s p o t . n T r. 1 28 0 . T r i a l c o u n s e l wa s n o t i n e f f e c t i v e i n
f a i l i n g t o o b j e c t t o t h i s t e s t i m o n y b ec a us e i t w a s t h e S t a t e ' s
e x p e r t c o n c lu s i o n s d r aw n f rom p e t i t i o n e r ' s own s t a t e m e n t s . Th ere
was n o b a s i s f o r o b j e c t i o n . Th u s, p e t i t i o n e r ' s c o u n s e l d id n o t
f a l l bel o w an o b j e c t i v e s t a n d a r d o f r e a s o n a b le n e s s i n f a i l i n g t o
o b j e c t . 6
3 . F a i lu r e t o P rop er l y L i t i g a t e th e M o tio n f o r J ud gm e nt o fA c q u i t ta l .
P e t i t i o n e r c o n t en d s t h a t b o t h t r i a l an d a p p e l l a t e c o u n s e l
f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y l i t i g a t e h i s m o tio n f o r j u dg m en t o f a c q u i t t a l .
H ow e ver , p e t i t i o n e r h a s f a i l e d t o p o i n t t o an y a c t i o n t r i a l c o u n s e l
f a i l e d t o t a k e o n t h i s i s s u e . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , t r i a l c o u n s e l mad e
6 I d e c l i n e t o a d d r e s s p e t i t i o n e r ' s p r o s e c u t o r i a l m i s co n du c tc u m u la t i v e e f f e c t n c la i m (s e e P e t . ' s T ra v e r se a t 7 3 -7 4 ) , b eca u se
i t w as n o t r a i s e d i n p e t i t i o n e r ' s h a bea s co rp u s p e t i t i o n . Se e Ca cop erdo v . D e m os th e nes , 37 F .3 d 5 04 , 5 0 7 ( 9 th C ir . 1 9 94 )( t r a v e r s e i s n o t p ro p e r p l e a d i n g t o r a i s e a d d i t i o n a l g ro u n d s f o r r e l i e f ) .
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e x t e n s i v e a rg u men t s a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e S t a t e ' s c ase t h a t (1)
t h e S t a t e had f a i l e d t o c a r r y i t s bu r den o f p r o d u c t i o n a s t o
A ggra vated Mu r der becaus e i t had no t p r o v ided ev id e nce o f t h e
u n d e r l y i n g A s s a u l t IV; and (2) d i d no t d em ons t r a t e t h a t t h e
p e t i t i o n e r m urdered t h e v ic t im with t h e s p e c i f i c i n t e n t o f c o v e r ing
up t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e p e r p e t r a t o r o f t h e A s s a u l t IV . Tr. 95 3 -6 6 ,
969-7 1 . A f t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , t h e t r i a l j udg e d en ied p e t i t i o n e r ' s
m otion . T r. 97 1. P e t i t i o n e r has f a i l e d t o i d e n t i f y any way i n
whi ch t r i a l c o u n s e l ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w as i n e f f e c t i v e . F u r t h e r, I
d e c l i n e t o a d d r e s s p e t i t i o n e r ' s argument t h a t he i s e n t i t l e d t o
ha beas r e l i e f be c au s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t im p r o pe r ly d e n ied h i s motio n
f o r ju d gment o f a c q u i t t a l , beca use n o s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e ev iden ce
c l a i m was a l l e g e d i n h i s p e t i t i o n . See Cacoo erdo , 3 7 F.3 d a t 507
( t r a v e r s e i s n o t p r o p e r p l e a d i n g t o r a i s e a d d i t i o n a l groun d s f o r
r e l i e f ) .
F i n a l l y , p e t i t i o n e r ' s argumen t t h a t a p p e l l a t e co u nse l w as
i n a d e q u a te f o r f a i l i n g t o c h a l l e n g e t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e ev idence
o n a p p e a l f a i l s . T he S t a t e p r e s e n t e d ev iden ce t h a t p e t i t i o n e r
a d m i t te d a s s a u l t i n g t h e v i c t i m b e f o r e k i l l i n g h e r. Tr. 7 5 5 -5 9 ;
R e s p . ' s Exh. 12 6 a t 5, 7, 8 . W hen d i s c u s s i n g t h e mo t iv e f o r
k i l l i n g t h e v ic t im , p e t i t i o n e r s t a t e d t o p o l i c e :
S t e f f l e r S h e ' s b loo dy, s h e ' s p r e t t y f ucked up, and Ij u s t tho u g h t a h , t h e r e ' s no way .
Ka ney Okay. N o way what ?
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P e t i t i o n e r c l a im s t h a t be c au se t h e r e was no e x p l i c i t w a iv e r o f t h e
r i g h t t o t e s t i f y , he d i d n o t w aive such r i g h t .
I n i t s d e c i s i o n deny i ng p o s t - c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f , t h e t r i a l
c o u r t f o und t h a t p e t i t i o n e r k nowin gly chose n o t t o t e s t i f y .
R e s p . ' s E x h. 13 3 a t 2 ; se e a l s o A f f i d a v i t o f T r i a l C o u n sel , R e s p . ' s
E x h. 1 16 a t 8 . P e t i t i o n e r h as f a i l e d t o r e b u t t h i s f in d i n g w ith
c l e a r and c o n v in c ing e v id e n c e . A c c o rd in g ly, i t i s e n t i t l e d t o a
p re su m pt io n o f c o r r e c t n e s s . 2 8 U.S.C . 2 254 (e ) (1 ) . I n l i g h t o f
t h i s f a c t u a l f i n d i n g , p e t i t i o n e r cann o t d e m o n stra te t h a t t r i a l
c o u n se l w as d e f i c i e n t i n f a i l i n g t o al lo w p e t i t i o n e r t o t e s t i f y .
In s um , p e t i t i o n e r ha s f a i l e d t o d e m o n s t r a te t h a t t h e s t a t e
c o u r t ' s r e j e c t i o n o f h i s c la im s o f i n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f
c o u n se l w a s e i t h e r c o n t r a r y t o , o r an u n r e a so n a b le a p p l i c a t i o n o f
c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d f e d e r a l law . A c c o r d ing ly , hab eas r e l i e f i s n o t
w a r ra n t e d a s t o t h e e n t i r e t y o f g ro u n d f o r r e l i e f s ix .
I l l
I l l
I l l
I l l
I l lI l l
I l l
I l l
I l l
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ON LUSION
For t h e f o r e g o in g r e a s o n s , p e t i t io n e r s p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f
h ab eas corpus (#2) i s DENIED. Because p e t i t i o n e r h as n o t made a
s u b s t a n t i a l showing o f t h e d e n i a l o f a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t , a
c e r t i f i c a t e o f a p p e a l a b i l i t y i s DENIED. See 28 U.S.C. 2253(c) ( 2 ) .
IT IS SO ORDERED.
D TED t h i s o f J a n u a r y, 2013 .
Malcolm F. MarshUni ted S t a t e s D i s t r i c t Judge