Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00377/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00377-3/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

GENNEL EDWARD MILES, JR., 

Petitioner, 

v. 

W.J. SULLIVAN, 

Respondent. 

No. 2:19-CV-0377-KJM-DMC-P 

ORDER 

 Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of 

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter was referred to a United States 

Magistrate Judge as provided by Eastern District of California local rules. 

 On November 5, 2019, the Magistrate Judge filed findings and recommendations, 

which were served on the parties and which contained notice that the parties may file objections 

within the time specified therein. Timely objections to the findings and recommendations have 

been filed. 

 In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C) and Local Rule 304, 

this court has conducted a de novo review of this case. Having reviewed the file, the court finds 

the findings and recommendations to be supported by the record and by the proper analysis. 

 Petitioner’s objections appear to focus on an equitable tolling argument regarding 

his reason for filing his second state habeas corpus petition past its deadline. He argues he failed 

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to properly file his second state petition because he was denied Priority Legal User (PLU) status 

erroneously. He alleges he had a completed habeas petition ready to go before the state deadline 

but needed to make photocopies to file it. Delay in accessing the law library caused him to fail to 

meet the deadline. 

 Petitioner’s evidence undercuts this argument. He attaches an application for PLU 

status dated March 23, 2018, 8 days past his filing deadline of March 14, 2018, which states he 

has a completed application but no ability to photocopy. It appears he failed to attempt to 

photocopy his petition before the deadline. 

 In any event, tolling that period of time does not save his petition from the 

limitations period. Even if he benefits from the alleged equitable tolling, his third petition suffers 

from the same delays, and he is well past the one-year limitations period of AEDPA. The 

findings and recommendations do not address the third petition, resting on the untimeliness of the 

second petition, but the same issues apply. 

 Pursuant to Rule 11(a) of the Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the 

court has considered whether to issue a certificate of appealability. Before petitioner can appeal 

this decision, a certificate of appealability must issue. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); Fed. R. App. P. 

22(b). Where the petition is denied on the merits, a certificate of appealability may issue under 

28 U.S.C. § 2253 “only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a 

constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). The court must either issue a certificate of 

appealability indicating which issues satisfy the required showing or must state the reasons why 

such a certificate should not issue. See Fed. R. App. P. 22(b). Where the petition is dismissed on 

procedural grounds, a certificate of appealability “should issue if the prisoner can show: (1) ‘that 

jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural 

ruling’; and (2) ‘that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid 

claim of the denial of a constitutional right.’” Morris v. Woodford, 229 F.3d 775, 780 (9th Cir. 

2000) (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 120 S. Ct. 1595, 1604 (2000)). For the reasons 

set forth in the Magistrate Judge’s findings and recommendations, the court finds that issuance of 

a certificate of appealability is not warranted in this case. 

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 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. The findings and recommendations filed November 5, 2019, are adopted in 

full; 

 2. Respondent’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 10) is granted; 

 3. Petitioner’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus is dismissed as time-barred; 

 4. The court declines to issue a certificate of appealability; and 

 5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment and close this file. 

DATED: March 5, 2020. 

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