Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-00275/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-00275-1/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 DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Erin Lee Perry,

Petitioner,

v. 

Charles L. Ryan, et al.,

Respondents.

No. CV-19-00275-PHX-JJT (JFM)

ORDER 

At issue is the Report and Recommendation (Doc. 30) (“R&R”) submitted in this 

matter by United States Magistrate Judge James F. Metcalf, recommending the Court 

dismiss with prejudice Ground 3 of the Amended Petition for Habeas Corpus (Doc. 8) and 

deny the remaining Grounds 1, 2 and 4 of the Petition. In the R&R, Judge Metcalf warned 

Petitioner he had 14 days from the date of its service to file any objections thereto, and 

failure to timely file any objections “will be considered a waiver of [Petitioner’s] right to 

de novo consideration of the issues,” per United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 

1121 (9th Cir. 2003), and a waiver if his right to appellate review of any findings of fact 

the Court makes in this Order pursuant to the R&R. (Doc. 30 at 17.)

It has been over three months since entry of the R&R and Petitioner filed no 

objections; he has therefore waived the above rights. Even if the Court reviewed the R&R 

on its merits, however, it would conclude that Judge Metcalf’s recommendations and 

findings are all legally sound and supported by the record. 

Judge Metcalf correctly concluded in his exhaustive R&R that Ground 3 is 

procedurally defaulted without any showing of excuse or cause, and Petitioner did not 

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argue actual innocence in his Petition. It was not raised to the state court at any level and 

is now procedurally barred by state rule. The Court therefore would dismiss with prejudice 

Ground 3 of the Petition.

Grounds 1, 2 and 4, raising issues of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, were 

properly raised before the state courts in Petitioner’s Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, 

so the Court would evaluate those grounds on their merits. But as Judge Metcalf concluded, 

the Arizona court made reasonable factual determinations based on its review of the 

evidence before it, principally defense counsel’s notes of consultation with Petitioner, as 

well as docket entries and proceeding transcripts reflecting her actions and the basis for her 

decisions. Moreover this Court would agree with Judge Metcalf that the last state court to 

review Grounds 1, 2 and 4 did not render any decision on those issues that was contrary to 

or an unreasonable application clearly established federal law, per the standard for effective 

assistance set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). The Court therefore 

will deny the Petition as to grounds 1, 2 and 4.

IT IS ORDERED adopting the Report and Recommendation (Doc. 30) including its 

underlying reasoning.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED dismissing with prejudice Ground 3 of the Petition 

for Habeas Corpus (Doc. 8) and denying the remainder of the Petition.

IT IS FURTHER Ordered denying a Certificate of Appealability, upon a finding 

that: 1) as regards the Court’s dismissal on procedural grounds of Ground 3, jurists of 

reason would not find the procedural ruling debatable; and 2) regarding the Court’s denial 

of the remaining Grounds 1, 2 and 4 on the merits of the constitutional claims, reasonable 

jurists would not find that assessment of those claims debatable or wrong.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of Court to terminate this matter.

Dated this 4th day of May, 2020.

Honorable John J. Tuchi

United States District Judge

Case 2:19-cv-00275-JJT Document 31 Filed 05/04/20 Page 2 of 2