Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00558/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00558-0/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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1 06cv558

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RUBEN BERNAL,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 06cv558 BTM (NLS)

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT &

RECOMMENDATION AND ISSUING

IN PART A CERTIFICATE OF

APPEALABILITY

vs.

JEANNE WOODFORD, et al.,

Resondents.

Ruben Bernal was convicted by a jury of first degree murder, attempted premeditated

murder, and related offenses. He appealed his conviction raising six different claims of error.

In an unpublished decision, the California Court of Appeal rejected five of Petitioner’s claims.

The appellate court found in favor of Petitioner on his claim that the trial court improperly

required him to wear a leg shackle during trial, but determined that the error was harmless

and affirmed the conviction and sentence. Petitioner filed a petition for review with the

California Supreme Court raising three of his claims, including the impropriety of the required

leg shackle. The California Supreme Court denied review.

Following the denial of his state petitions, Petitioner filed this federal Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus raising two of these same claims: (1) violation of his due process and

confrontation rights based on the trial court’s unjustified decision that he wear a legal shackle

during his trial, and (2) violation of his due process rights based on the trial court’s abuse of

discretion in admitting firearms evidence unrelated to the crimes charged. The magistrate

Case 3:06-cv-00558-BTM-NLS Document 10 Filed 11/27/06 Page 1 of 2
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judge filed a Report and Recommendation recommending that the petition be denied. Bernal

did not file any objections. The Court has considered the Report and Recommendation and

the relevant record and concludes that the Report and Recommendation correctly applied

the law to the facts of this case. The Court agrees that Petitioner has failed to show that the

state court’s determinations were objectively unreasonable. Therefore, the Report and

Recommendation is ADOPTED and the Petition is DENIED.

The Court issues a certificate of appealability on the issue of whether Petitioner’s

shackling should result in the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. The Court declines to

issue a certificate of appealability on the remaining claim regarding introduction of the

allegedly unrelated gun evidence.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 27, 2006

Hon. Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00558-BTM-NLS Document 10 Filed 11/27/06 Page 2 of 2