Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_97-cv-01249/USCOURTS-azd-2_97-cv-01249-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Rudi Alfred Apelt, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Charles L. Ryan, et al.,

Respondents. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV-97-1249-PHX-ROS

ORDER

In 1997, Petitioner initiated this habeas proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The next

year he filed an amended habeas petition raising twenty-three claims challenging his state

court conviction and capital sentence. (Doc. 39.) In 2000, the Court determined the

procedural status of Petitioner’s claims, concluding that some were procedurally barred and

some entitled to merits review. (Doc. 71.) In 2002, following the Supreme Court’s decision

in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002), this Court stayed Petitioner’s sentencing-related

claims pending successive state post-conviction proceedings based on Petitioner’s alleged

mental retardation and ineligibility for the death penalty. (Docs. 147, 149, 151.) While state

proceedings were ongoing, the Court ruled on Petitioner’s conviction-related claims,

concluding that he was not entitled to habeas relief. (Doc. 190.) 

Subsequently, the state court determined that Petitioner was mentally retarded, vacated

his death sentence, and resentenced him to life imprisonment, thus rendering moot

Petitioner’s pending sentencing-related habeas claims. Petitioner appealed his resentencing,

Case 2:97-cv-01249-ROS Document 218 Filed 09/13/11 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 -

but it was affirmed. State v. Apelt, No. 2 CA-CR-2009-0256, 2010 WL 3528887 at *1 (Ariz.

App. Div. 2, Sept. 10, 2010). 

On May 23, 2011, this Court ordered Petitioner to show cause why the stay of his

sentencing claims should not be lifted, the claims dismissed as moot, and judgment entered.

(Doc. 214.) In response, Petitioner conceded that there was no reason why the Court should

not lift the stay, dismiss the sentencing claims as moot, and enter judgment. (Doc. 216.)

However, Petitioner did request additional time to submit a motion for a certificate of

appealability, which he has now submitted. (Doc. 217.)

Rule 22(b) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that an applicant

cannot take an appeal unless a certificate of appealability has been issued by an appropriate

judicial officer. Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides that the

district judge must either issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final

order adverse to the applicant. If a certificate is issued, the court must state the specific issue

or issues that satisfy 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), a COA

may issue only when the petitioner “has made a substantial showing of the denial of a

constitutional right.” This showing can be established by demonstrating that “reasonable

jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been

resolved in a different manner” or that the issues were “adequate to deserve encouragement

to proceed further.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (citing Barefoot v. Estelle,

463 U.S. 880, 893 & n.4 (1983)).

The Court has considered Petitioner’s motion for certificate of appealability and

determines that reasonable jurists could debate its resolution of Claim 4. For the reasons set

forth in the Court’s orders of April 11, 2000, and August 8, 2007 (Docs. 71 & 190), the Court

declines to issue a COA on any other issues. 

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED lifting the stay of Petitioner’s sentencing claims (Doc.

147), dismissing Petitioner’s sentencing-related claims as moot, and denying with prejudice

Case 2:97-cv-01249-ROS Document 218 Filed 09/13/11 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 -

Petitioner’s amended petition for habeas corpus relief (Doc. 39). The Clerk of Court shall

enter judgment accordingly.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting Petitioner’s Motion for Certificate of

Appealability (Doc. 217) on the following issue:

Whether Claim 4, alleging that Petitioner’s right to effective assistance of counsel

under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments was violated by trial counsel failing

to investigate the opinions his expert witness, Dr. Vincent DeMaio, before calling

him to testify, fails on the merits.

DATED this 13th day of September, 2011.

Case 2:97-cv-01249-ROS Document 218 Filed 09/13/11 Page 3 of 3