Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00206/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00206-7/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

W.C. SPIVEY,

Petitioner,

v.

M. McDONALD, Warden, and 

CONNIE GIPSON, Warden,

Respondents.

Case No. 1:12-cv-00206-LJO-SKO HC

ORDER DECLINING TO ISSUE

CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY

(Doc. 45)

On February 13, 2012, Petitioner filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2254. On March 24, 2015, the Magistrate Judge filed findings and recommendations in 

which she recommended that the Court deny the petition for writ of habeas corpus and decline to 

issue a certificate of appealability. Petitioner filed objections on April 17, 2015. On May 26, 2015, 

the District Court adopted the findings and recommendations, ordered entry of judgment for 

Respondent, and declined to issue a certificate of appealability. Thereafter, Petitioner filed an appeal 

in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On June 18, 2015, he moved the District Court 

for a certificate of appealability.

A petitioner seeking a writ of habeas corpus has no absolute entitlement to appeal a district 

court's denial of his petition, but may only appeal in certain circumstances. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 

537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003). In a proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, an applicant may not appeal 

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a District Court judgment unless the District Judge or a Circuit Judge issues a certificate of 

appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). F.R.App.P. 22(b). Section 2253(c) provides:

(c) (1) Unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability, an 

appeal may not be taken to the court of appeals from—

 (A) the final order in a habeas corpus proceeding in which the 

 detention complained of arises out of process issued by a State court; or

 (B) the final order in a proceeding under section 2255.

 (2) A certificate of appealability may issue under paragraph (1) only if the 

 applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional 

 right.

 (3) The certificate of appealability under paragraph (1) shall indicate 

 which specific issues or issues satisfy the showing required by paragraph 

 (2).

 If a court denies a habeas petition, the court may only issue a certificate of 

appealability "if 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, 537 U.S. at 327; Slack v. 

McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). Although the petitioner is not required to prove 

the merits of his case, he must demonstrate "something more than the absence of 

frivolity or the existence of mere good faith on his . . . part." Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 

338.

In the present case, the Court finds that reasonable jurists would not find the Court's 

determination that Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas corpus relief debatable, wrong, or 

deserving of encouragement to proceed further. Petitioner has not made the required substantial 

showing of the denial of a constitutional right. Accordingly, the Court declines to issue a certificate 

of appealability.

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CONCLUSION AND ORDER

The Court hereby DECLINES to issue a certificate of appealability.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 1, 2016 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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