Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02943/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02943-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD JAMES WELK,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 12cv2943-LAB (WVG)

ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE

vs. OF APPEALABILITY

MATTHEW CATE,

Defendant.

On January 22, 2014, the Court denied Petitioner Richard Welk’s petition for writ of

habeas corpus. Welk’s sole claim was that the evidence presented at his murder trial was

insufficient to show the killing was premeditated and deliberate.

As discussed in the order denying the petition, the evidence was sufficient to meet

the lenient standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). Applying the

required “additional layer of deference,” see Juan H. v. Allen, 408 F.3d 1262, 1275 (9 Cir. th

2005), Welk’s claim is even less tenable. As a last-ditch effort, Welk also attempted to argue

a self-defense claim, which he had never presented to the state supreme court, and which

therefore was unexhausted. Even if it were exhausted, the sufficiency standard was far from

being met here. 

No evidentiary hearing was required, because the Court’s review was limited to the

record before the state courts, see Cullen v . Pinholster, 131 S.Ct. 1388, 1399 (2011), and

that record refuted Welk’s claims. See Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 474 (2007).

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The standard for issuance of a certificate of appealability, see Miller–El v. Cockrell,

537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003), is not met here. The certificate of appealability is therefore

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 11, 2014

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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