Case ID: f-appx_650/html/0608-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Carlos F. Lucero, Circuit Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jeffrey S. COLLIER, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Ray ROBERTS; Attorney General for the State of Kansas, Respondents-Appellees.
    No. 16-3020
    United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
    FILED May 25, 2016
    
      Jeffrey S. Collier, Pro Se.
    Kristafer R. Ailslieger, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Kansas, Topeka, KS, for Respondents-Appellees.
    Before LUCERO, MATHESON, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.
   ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY

Carlos F. Lucero, Circuit Judge

Jeffrey Collier petitions this court for a Certificate of Appealability (“COA”) to challenge the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition. Because Collier’s petition is time-barred, we deny a COA and dismiss the appeal,

I

In 1994, Collier was convicted of premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated robbery. In 2000, he filed a petition for post-conviction relief in' Kansas state court alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. The petition was denied on all grounds. In 2013, Collier filed another petition for post-conviction relief, which was also denied. On December 28, 2015, Collier filed a § 2254 habeas petition in federal district court. A magistrate judge recommended that the petition be dismissed on the grounds that it was time-barred under the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act’s (“AEDPA”) one-year statute of limitations. See § 2244(d). The district court adopted the recommendation, dismissed the petition, and denied a COA,

II

When a district court denies a COA on a procedural ground, we grant relief only if “jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000). AEDPA establishes a one-year limitations period for filing federal habeas corpus petitions. § 2244(d). However, equitable tolling is available if a petitioner: (1) is actually innocent; (2) shows that extraordinary circumstances prevented the petitioner from timely filing the petition; or (3) actively pursued legal remedies within the time limit, but filed a defective pleading. Gibson v. Klinger, 232 F.3d 799, 808 (10th Cir. 2000).

Collier does not dispute that § 2244 applies to his petition, rendering it untimely. See § 2244(d). And Collier makes no argument that would justify equitable tolling. He does not argue that new evidence suggests he was actually innocent, see Miller v. Marr, 141 F.3d 976, 978 (10th Cir.1998), nor does he allege that extraordinary circumstances prevented timely filing or that he actively pursued his judicial remedies but filed a defective pleading during the statutory period, see Gibson, 232 F.3d at 808. Even with the liberal construction afforded to Collier’s pro se pleadings, it is not the job of the court to assume the role of advocate for a pro se litigant and to create arguments on his behalf. Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991).

Ill

Because Collier makes no showing from which to conclude that the district court erred in its procedural ruling, we DENY a COA and DISMISS the appeal. 
      
       This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R, App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.