Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02429/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02429-2/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

CHRISTOPHER DALE SMITH,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 10-CV-2429 LAB (CAB)

ORDER GRANTING

CERTIFICATE OF

APPEALABILITY

vs.

LARRY SMALL,

Respondent.

The Court dismissed Small’s habeas petition with prejudice on November 10, 2011,

but without granting or denying a certificate of appealability. Small filed a notice of appeal

on December 6, 2011 and a motion for a certificate of appealability on December 8, 2011.

A COA is authorized “if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial

of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). “A petitioner satisfies this standard by

demonstrating that jurists of reason could disagree with the district court’s resolution of his

constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude the issues presented are adequate to

deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003).

A petitioner doesn’t have to show that he should prevail on the merits. “He has already

failed in that endeavor.” Lambright v. Stewart, 220 F.3d 1022, 1025 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing

Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4 (1983)). At the same time, the Court shouldn’t

issue a COA as a matter of course. A petitioner “must prove ‘something more than the / /

/ /

Case 3:10-cv-02429-BAS-JLB Document 16 Filed 12/13/11 Page 1 of 2
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absence of frivolity’ or the existence of mere ‘good faith’ on his or her part.” Miller-El, 537

U.S. at 337–38 (citing Barefoot, 463 U.S. at 893).

In light of the above standards, the Court finds that a certificate of appealability is

warranted in this case. Small’s motion is therefore GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 13, 2011

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

Case 3:10-cv-02429-BAS-JLB Document 16 Filed 12/13/11 Page 2 of 2