Case ID: f-appx_61/html/0321-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Loc Phat LE, Petitioner—Appellant, v. R.A. CASTRO, Warden, Respondent—Appellee.
    No. 01-55698.
    D.C. No. CV-00-00191-DOC.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    April 7, 2003
    
    April 18, 2003.
    Before RYMER, KLEINFELD and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2). Accordingly, Le’s October 22, 2001 request for extension of time to request oral argument is denied. Le’s October 22, 2001 motion for appointment of counsel is also denied.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Loe Phat Le, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition challenging his “three strikes” sentence for drug possession as cruel and unusual punishment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253. We affirm.

Le contends his sentence under California’s “three strikes” law violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. We conclude that the California state courts did not unreasonably apply clearly established law in upholding Le’s sentence. See Ewing v. California, — U.S. -, 123 S.Ct. 1179, 1190, 155 L.Ed.2d 108 (2003) (acknowledging broad discretion possessed by legislatures and holding that three-strikes sentence of 25 years to life for felony grand theft was not grossly disproportionate); Lockyer v. Andrade, — U.S. -, 123 S.Ct. 1166, 1175, 155 L.Ed.2d 144 (2003) (holding that state court’s affirmance of two consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences for petty theft was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law). The district court therefore properly denied Le’s petition. See Andrade, 123 S.Ct. at 1174.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.