Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-02659/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-02659-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Richard Kirkland
Respondent
Steven Lee Varnum
Petitioner

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN LEE VARNUM,

Petitioner, 2:04-cv-2659-GEB-CHS-P

vs.

RICHARD KIRKLAND, et al.,

Respondents. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a timely notice of appeal of

this court’s January 21, 2009 order denying his application for writ of habeas corpus. Before

petitioner can appeal this decision, a certificate of appealability must issue. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c);

Fed. R. App. P. 22(b).

A certificate of appealability may issue under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 “if the applicant

has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). 

The certificate of appealability must “indicate which specific issue or issues satisfy” the

requirement. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(3).

A certificate of appealability should be granted for any issue that petitioner can

demonstrate is “‘debatable among jurists of reason,’” could be resolved differently by a different

Case 2:04-cv-02659-GEB-CKD Document 29 Filed 02/17/09 Page 1 of 2
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 Except for the requirement that appealable issues be specifically identified, the standard 1

for issuance of a certificate of appealability is the same as the standard that applied to issuance of

a certificate of probable cause. Jennings, at 1010.

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court, or is “‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.’” Jennings v. Woodford,

290 F.3d 1006, 1010 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 (1983)).1

Petitioner has made a substantial showing in his petition that his confession was

unconstitutionally admitted into evidence at his trial.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a certificate of appealability shall

issue in the present action.

Dated: February 17, 2009

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:04-cv-02659-GEB-CKD Document 29 Filed 02/17/09 Page 2 of 2