FOR PUBLI CATI ON U N IT E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A LS F O R TH E N I N TH C I R C U I T
D AM O N C O O KE , P e ti ti o ne r - A p p e l l a nt,
v. J O S E S O LIS , W a rd e n, C a l i f o rni a T ra i ni ng F aci l i ty - C en tr al ; BO AR D O F PR I SO N TE R M S; A. KA N E, R espon den t s - Appel l ees. N o. 06- 15444 D . C . N o. C V - 04- 04439- M JJ OP I NI ON

A p p e a lf ro m the U ni te d S ta te s D i s tr i c t C o urt fo rth e N o rth e rnD is tr ic to f C a lifo rn ia M a rti n J . J e nk i ns , D i s tri c t J ud ge , P re s i d i ng Ar g u ed an d Subm i t t ed Apr i l16, 2007 S a nF r a n c is c o , C a lifo rn ia Subm i ssi onV acat ed Au g u st7, 2007 R esubm i t t ed M ay 28, 2010 Bef or e: R EI N HAR D T, W AR D L AW an d M . SM I TH, C i r cu i tJu dg es.

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the e vi d e nc e . ’ ” (q uo ti ng 2 8 U . S . C . 2 2 5 4 (d )(1 )-(2 )). W e no te tha t the 2 I n19 91 , D am onC oo ke w as co n v i ct ed of att empt ed f

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f en se . C o o k e s o ught a w ri t o f

ha b e a s c o rp us i n s ta te c o urt, a s s e rti ng tha t the Bo ar d’ s d ec i si onv i ol at ed h i s r i g h tt o d u e p r oc es s. F i n di n g th atth e B oa r d’ s de ci si onw as supp ort ed by“ so m e e v i de n ce ” o f u n su i t ab i l i ty , th e s t at e c ourt s d en i ed the p e ti ti o n. C o o k e the n s o ught a w ri t o f ha b e a s c o rp us i n f

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f i rm i n g C o o k e ’ s c o n v i c t i o n . P eo pl e v . C oo ke , 16 C al . App. 4th 1361, 1364- 67, 1375 ( 1993) . Th e opi n i onst at es th atth e m i ssi n g i t emw as a $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 n e c k l a c e . I

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a p a rtme nt i n Lo s A nge l e s . A f te r R ya n re turne d to hi s o w n ho me i n B e rk e l e y, C o o k e no ti c e d tha t a ne c k l a c e w a s mi s s i ng f ro m the a p a rtme nt. 3 T h a tn ig h t , C o o k e tr a v e le d fr o mL o s A n g e le s t o B e rk e le yw ithh is c o u s in L e A n d r e a n d h is fr ie n d s A le x a n d e rB u s ha n d S t e v e H u y n h . W h e nC o o k e a n d h is
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r e s p o n s ib ility , a n d a na r g u m e n te n s u e d . L e A n d r e p u lle d o u ta . 3 8 c a lib e rp is t o l,
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e l lto the gro und a nd p re te nd e d to b e d e a d , a nd C oo ke , L eA n dr e, Bu sh , an d H u y n hf l ed th e s ce n e.R y ansu f f er ed a f r actu r ed ch eekbon e an d part i alh ear i n g l oss i non e earas a 4 re s ul t o f the s ho o ti ng. 4 Th e sh oot i n g w as n otf

at al . Af t erth e f ou rm enh ad f

l ed, R y ang otup, 4 l ocked h i s door , an d cal l ed 911. Th e pol i ce st opped C ooke an d h i s compan i on s a f ew bl oc ks aw ay . C oo ke w as subs eq u en t l yarr es t ed an d c h ar g ed w i thatt empt ed f i rs t- d e gr e e murd e r. O nO ct ob er2, 19 91 , C oo ke w as co n v i ct ed of att empt ed f

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oru se of a f i r ea rm . O nD ec embe r18 , 19 91 , h e w as s e nte nc e d to s e ve n ye a rs to l i f e i n p ri s o n w i th the p o s s ib i l i ty o f p a ro l e f o r the
a tt e mp te d murd e r c o nv i c ti o n, p lus f o ura d d i ti o na lye a rs f

o r the f i re a rm e n h a n c e m e n t . B. O n N o ve mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 0 2 , the C a l i f o rni a B o a rd o f

P ri s o n T e rms he l d a he a ri ng to e va lua te C o o k e ’ s s ui ta b i l i tyf o r p a ro l e . D ur i ng th e he a ri ng , the B o a rd he a rd
e vi d e nc e re ga rd i ng C o o k e ’ s l i f e hi s to ry, hi s c o mmi tme nt o f f e ns e , hi s b e ha vi o r a nd
a c h i e v e m e n t s w h i l e i n c a r c e r a t e d , h i s m e n t a lh e a l th , a n d h i s p o s t - r e l e a s e p l a n s . W i th r es pe ctt o C oo ke ’s ba ck g r oun d, th e B oa r d l ea rn ed th atC oo ke h ad
n ev erbeenarr est ed pr i ort o th e com m i t m en tof f en se. He di d n otdr i n k oru se d ru g s , a n d h e h a d n e v e rb e e nin v o lv e d ing a n g a c t iv ity . H e h a s c lo s e a n d s t a b le5

re l a ti o ns hip s w i th hi s mo the r, w ho i s a f i na nc i a lc o ns ul ta nt, a nd hi s s te p f a the r, w ho i s a r e t i r e d L o s A n g e l e s C o u n ty P r o b a t i o nO f f i c e r . C o o k e a tte nd e d E lD o ra d o H i gh S c ho o li n P l a c e nti a , C a l i f o rni a a nd g r ad u at ed w i th a 3 . 5 G PA . He th enenr ol l ed i nanR O TC pr og r am , th r ou g hw h i ch h e a t t e n d e d th e N e w M e x ic o M ilit a ryI n s t itu t e . T h e r e a ft e rh e p u r s u e d a d e g r e e in fin a n c e a tth e U n iv e r s ity o f N e w M e x ic o . D u r in g h is fin a l y e a ro f c o lle g e , h is
m oth erh ad bypa ss sur g ery , an d h e l ef tsc h oo li nor de rt o c ar e f orh er . He l at er passed th e N at i on alAssoci at i onof Secu r i t i es D eal er s ex aman d beg anw ork as a f i n a n c i a lc o n s u l t a n t . D u r in g h is t im e inp r is o n , C o o k e h a s b e e nb o thw e ll- b e h a v e d a n d e x tr e m e ly i nd us tri o us . H e s uc c e s s f ul l y c o mp l e te d nume ro us vo lunta ry s e l f -he lp a nd
e d u c a t io n a l p r o g r a m s , in c lu d in g a th irt e e n - w e e k I M P A C T p r o g r a m( “ a s e lf- h e lp gro up d e s i gne d to p ro vi d e a n o p p o rtuni ty f o r e d uc a ti o n a nd a w a re ne s s a s to the pr of ou n d n eg at i v e i mpactof cr i m e oni t s v i ct i m s”) an d nu m er ou s an g eran d str ess ma na ge me nt c l a s s e s . B e c a us e o nl y l i mi te d s e l f -he lp a nd the ra p e uti c p ro gra mmi ng w a s o f f e re d i n the p ri s o ns i n w hi c h he w a s i nc a rc e ra te d , he to o k i t up o n hi ms e l f to
r e a d a n d w r it e r e p o rt s a b o u tv a r io u s s e lf- h e lp b o o k s . H e a ls o p a rt ic ip a t e d in
va ri o us C hri s ti a n a nd B ud d hi s t gro up s , a nd b e c a me a n o rd a i ne d mi ni s te r. A t the t im e o f th e h e a r in g , h e w a s inth e p r o c e s s o f a c q u ir in g c o lle g e c r e d it s v ia6

c o rre s p o nd e nc e f

ro m C o a s tl i ne C o mmuni ty C o l l e ge , w i th the ho p e tha t the U n iv e r s ityo f N e w M e x ic o w o u ld a c c e p tth e c r e d it s t o w a r d c o mp le t io no f h is b a c h e l o r ’ s d e g r e e i nf

i n a n c e . C oo ke h as h el d nu m er ou s j ob s w h i l e i npr i so n , i n clu di n g t ea ch er ’s ai de , edu cat i oncl erk, an d per son n elcl erk. Hi s superv i sor s h av e r av ed abou th i s j ob p e r f o rm a n c e , e x t o l l i n g h i s “ e x c e p t i o n a l [ ] d i l i g e n [ c e ] ,” “ p o s i t i v e w o rk i n g a t t i tu d e ,”

“ uni ve rs i ty l e ve lw ri ti ng a b i l i ty, ” “ a s to und i ng a b i l i ty und e r d ure s s , ” “ e xc e l l e nt p e o p l e s k i l l s , ” a nd “ e xc e p ti o na lw o rk ” p ro d uc t. T he y ha ve a l s o no te d tha t he

“ c o n tr ib u t e s a b o v e a n d b e y o n d e x p e c t a t i o n s ,” i s a “ p o s i t i v e i n f lu e n c e o no th e r s ,”

“ al w ay s r em ai n s i ncon tr olof h i m sel f , ” an d “ sh ow s a g r eatdealof r espectt ow ar ds h i s peer s, an d st af

f al i ke. ” A t each eru n derw h omC ooke w orked as anai de f or a l mo s t tw o ye a rs s ta te d tha t H i s c o n tr ib u t i o nt o w a r d s t h e o v e r a l ls u c c e s s o f m ya c a d e m i c c l a s s . . . w a s b o th mo n u m e n t a l a nd uns e l f i s h. . . . [H e ] w a s a n a s s e t to my pr og r ambecau se of h i s abi l i ty t o r et ai n a posi t i v e at t i tu de i n th e f ace of adv er si ty . Th i s at tr ibu t e w as an d con t i nu es t o be a r ar e an d sel dom att ai n ed co m m od i ty i nth e w orki n g en v i r on m en t o f my ch os en pr of es si on . H i s so ci alsk i l l s a n d p at i en ce w h enw orki n g w i thbo thf r ee s t a f f a n d i n m a t e s w a s i mp e c c a b l e . V ar i ou s c orr ec t i on s o f

f i ci al s h av e n ot ed th atC oo ke h as co n si st en t l y“ g o[ n e] ab ov e a n d b ey on d t o h elp h i s f el l ow i n m at es . ” F orse v er aly ea r s C oo ke h as h elpe d to f a c i l i ta te the p ri s o n’ s l i te ra c y a nd s tre s s ma na ge me nt c o urs e s . T he c o rre c ti o ns7

o f f i c e r w ho s up e rvi s e d hi m i n thi s ro l e no te d tha t C o o k e ’ s e f f o rts re s ul te d i n a

“ d ra s ti c i nc re a s e i n o the r i nma te s ’ w i l l i ngne s s to w o rk a nd b e c o me p ro d uc ti ve i n di v i du al s. ” C ooke al so part i cipat ed i nth e m aki n g of anedu cat i on alv i deo f

or juve ni l e o f

f e nd e rs re ga rd i ng the c o ns e q ue nc e s o f c ri mi na la c ti vi ty. T he
co rr ec t i on s o f

f i ce rw h o s upe rv i se d th i s e f f ortst at ed th atC oo ke ’s “ kn ow l ed g e, i n si g h t , an d p r of

es si on alde m ea n orr ef

l ec t s th e e pi t om e o f

th e p r og r am . ” Furthe rmo re , “ us i ng hi s s k i l l s i n the a re a o f c o mp ute rs , [C o o k e ] w a s a b l e to e s ta b l i s h a s e l f

-he lp c urri c ulum tha t p ro vi d e d i nma te s the o p p o rtuni ty to re c e i ve ba si c c ompu t ertr ai n i n g , an d u l t i m at ely , r ec ei v e th ei rG en er alEd u ca t i onD ipl om as ( G ED ’s) . ” C ooke h as al so h elped t o or g an i ze anan nu alf est i v alf orth e ch i l dr enof th e i n m at es atSo l ed ad St at e P r i so n , “ h as be enanad v i so ri nv ar i ou s a n g er m an ag em en tg r oups , . . . w orks cl os elyw i thm i n i stryg r oups . . [ an d] h as be en u t i l i ze d t o q u el lco n f

l i ct s th ath av e a r i se nbe tw ee nst af f an d i n m at es . ” In a d d i ti o n to c o mme nd i ng hi s w o rk p e rf o rma nc e , vo lunte e r e f

f o rts , a nd imp e c c a b le c o n d u c t , nu m e r o u s c o rr e c t io n s o ffic e r s p la c e d n o t a t io n s inC o o k e ’ s file
ex pr essi n g th ei rbel i ef

th atth e Boar d sh ou l d f i n d h i msu i t abl e f

orpar ol e. F or ex ampl e, corr ect i on s of f i cer s m ade th e f

ol l ow i n g st at em en t s:

“ I c a n ho ne s tl y s a y tha t Inma te C o o k e i s o ne o f t h e b e s t m e nto rs a nd po si t i v e I n m at e A dv i so r s I h av e e v erexpe r i en ce d i nm yf i f t ee n ( 15 ) y ea r t e nu r e w ith th e C a lifo rn ia D e p a rt m e n to f C o rr e c t io n s . I h ig h ly8

r ecom m en d In m at e C ooke f oran ypar ol e con si der at i onh e m ay be el i g ibl e f or. . . . ”

“ A n y c o n s id e r a t io ny o um a yg iv e w ith r e g a r d s t o in m a t e C o o k e ’ s p a r o le co n si de r at i on s c om es w i th th e e n do r se m en tof th e un de r si g n ed . ”

“ I th a s c o m e t o m y a tt e n t io n th a t I n m a t e C o o k e is s c h e d u le d fo ra p a r o le b o a r d h e a r in g fo rc o n s id e r a t io no f a p a r o le d a t e . I c o mp le t e ly r e c o m m e n d C o o k e b e g iv e nth e o p p o rtu n ity t o r e e n t e rs o c ie tya s a fu lly pr od u ct i v e c i t i ze n . ”

“ I f u l l y r ecom m en d th at I n m at e C ooke be g i v enstr on g con si der at i onf or par ol e. I ex pectan d an t i cipat e th at he w i l lcon t i nu e h i s h elpf u ldeeds an d b ec om e a po si t i v e a ss ett o th e c om mu n i ty . ”

“ A n y c o n s id e r a t io n g iv e nr e g a r d in g I n m a t e C o o k e ’ s r e le a s e . . . w o u ld be a g r ea tse rv i ce t o s oc i ety . ”

“ I si n ce r ely be l i ev e th a ti f g i v enth e o pp ortu n i tyh e w ou l d b e a p ro d uc ti ve c i ti z e n. I f

ul l y re c o mme nd h is c o n s i d e ra ti o n f o r p a ro l e a nd r el ea se . ” In a d d i ti o n, a C o rre c ti o na lLi e ute na nt s ta te d , “ d uri ng my f i ve ye a r w o rk i ng r el at i on sh ip w i th h i m. . . C oo ke h as ex empl i f i ed th e e pi t om e o f

a r eh ab i l i t at ed i n m at e. ” C o o k e s ta te d a t the he a ri ng tha t i f he w e re re l e a s e d , he p l a nne d to l i ve w i th h i s w i f e i nth e h om e th eyow ni nO n t ar i o, C al i f orn i a. Se v er alempl oy er s h ad of f er ed t o h i r e h i muponh i s r el ease. Th e of f er s i n clu ded a “ g u ar an t eed j ob p l a c e me nt” w i th the C l a i r Fo und a ti o n, a p a rt-ti me p o s i ti o n a s a c o mp ute r a s s i s ta nt f ora g en er alco n tr ac t or , an d a f u l l
- t i m e t el em arke t i n g po si t i onw i thPru de n t i alSpeci f i cal ly , th e r eportst at ed th atC ooke i s Pol y n esi an , w h eni nf acth e i s of 5 m i x ed Af r i ca nAm er i ca nan d P oly n es i ande sc en t ; i de n t i f i ed C oo ke ’s f

am i l y ’s re l i gi o us a f

f i l i a ti o n a s M o rmo n, w he n i n f a c t the y a re “ no nd e no mi na ti o na l ” ; a nd st at ed th atC oo ke ’s pa r en t s d i v or ce d w h enh e w as tw el v e y ea r s o l d, w h eni nf ac t th e y d i vo rc e d w he n h e w a s f i ve . In a d d i ti o n, a l th o ug h a l a te r s e c ti o n o f th e re p o rt c o nta i ne d a c c ura te i nf

o rma ti o n a b o ut C o o k e ’ s ma ri ta ls ta tus , the f i rs t p a ge o f

the r e p o rtd e s c r ib e d h i ma s “ s i n g l e m a rr i e d .” 9 R e a l ty. T he B o a rd a l s o re vi e w e d l e tte rs f ro m s e ve ra lo f

C o o k e ’ s re l a ti ve s w ho st at ed th atth ey w ou l d assi sth i mbothf i n an ci al l yan d em ot i on al l yuponh i s r el ease f r ompr i son . I nt ot al , tw en ty - n i n e of C ooke’s f

am i l ym ember s an d cl ose f r i en ds
w r ot e l ett er s t o th e B oa r d r eq u es t i n g th ath e b e g r an t ed pa r ol e. Th e B oa r d r ec ei v ed
n o l ett eroroth erst at em en tof op po si t i ont o p ar ol e f

r omth e d i str i ctatt orn ey ’s
o f f i c e o ra n y l a w e n f

o r c e m e n ta g e n c y . Th e Boar d al so r ev i ew ed tw o psy ch ol og i calev alu at i on s pr epar ed by pr i son p s y c h o l o g i s t s , b o th o f

w h i c h s t a t e d th a tC o o k e s u f f e r s n o m e n t a lh e a l thp r o b l e m s . Th e f i r stev alu at i on , da t ed O ct ob er9, 19 96 , de sc r ibe d C oo ke as a “ se l f
- m ot i v at ed p e rs o n” w ho “ c a n b e c o unte d o n to ma i nta i n o r i mp ro ve the ga i ns ma d e w hi l e he ha s b e e n i nc a rc e ra te d . ” T he s e c o nd e va lua ti o n, d a te d Fe b rua ry 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 , a nd sp ec i f i ca l l y pr ep ar ed f

orC oo ke ’s N ov embe r20 02 h ea r i n g , de sc r ibe d C oo ke as “ an e xe mp l a ry i nma te ” a nd s ta te d tha t C o o k e w o ul d “ no t p re s e nt a p ro b l e m to s o c i e ty” i f re l e a s e d . T he e va lua ti o n c o nta i ne d s o me i na c c ura te i nf o rma ti o n w i th re s p e c t to C o o k e ’ s e thni c i ty a nd f

a mi l y b a c k gro und . B e c a us e the re w e re “ s o ma ny 5W he n a s k e d a b o ut thi s d i s c ip l i na ry i nf ra c ti o n, C o o k e e xp l a i ne d to the 6 Bo ar d th at“ th er e’ s a th i n g w i th pr i so n er s th atan oth erpr i so n ersh ou l dn ’tt ou ch a no the r ma n’ s f

o o d . A nd s o w ha t ha p p e ne d w a s my s up e rvi s o r s a i d , the re i s f o ur ho t d o gs o n thi s tra y. T a k e tw o o f f . A nd I jus t to l d hi m I re a l l y – I s a i d , ho ne s tl y, I ca n ’tdo th at . I ca n ’tt ak e f oo d o f f an oth erm an ’s tr ay . ” 10 i n co n si st en tan d e rr on eo u s s t at em en t s” i nth e s ec on d r ep ort , th e B oa r d d et erm i n ed tha t i t “ l a c k [e d ] c re d ib i l i ty, ” a nd thus s a i d tha t i t w o ul d o rd e r a no the r re p o rt. Th e B oa r d a l so r ev i ew ed C oo ke ’s di sc ipl i n aryr ec or d. C oo ke h ad r ec ei v ed
on l y tw o w r i t t endi scipl i n ary i n f r act i on s; th ey w er e i ssu ed w i th i nf i v e m on th s of
e a c h o th e ra n d b o th w e r e i s s u e d d u r i n g th e f i r s ty e a ra n d a h a l f

o f h i s i n c a r c e r a t i o n . In S e p te mb e r o f

1 9 9 2 , he w a s i s s ue d a d i s c ip l i na ry c i ta ti o n f o r no t f o l l o w i ng or de r s w h ena c orr ec t i on s o f f i ce rt ol d h i mt o r em ov e f oo d f r oman oth erpr i so n er ’s tra y. In Fe b rua ry o f

1 9 9 3 , he w a s i s s ue d a s e c o nd c i ta ti o n f o r re f us i ng to c l e a n up 6
an oth eri n m at e’s f

eces w h enasked t o do so bya corr ect i on s of f i cer . C ooke
a c c e p t e d r e s p o n s ib i l i ty f o rb o th v i o l a t i o n s . T h e B o a r d a ls o d is c u s s e d a th ir d d is c ip lin a ryin fr a c t io nth a ta p p e a r e d in C oo ke ’s f

i l e, f orpo ss es si onan d tr af

f i ck i n g of m ar i j u an a. C oo ke ’s att orn ey i n f orm ed th e B oa r d th atbe ca u se pr i so nof f i ci al s h ad f

oun d th atth e c h ar g e w as u n f oun de d, i th ad be endi sm i ss ed , an d th er ef or e i tsh ou l d n oth av e b ee ni nC oo ke ’s f i l e. Th e Boar d sai d th ati tw ou l d l ook i n t o th e i ssu e f u rth er , bu tn on eth el ess c o ns i d e re d thi s a l l e ge d i nf ra c ti o n i n d e e mi ng C o o k e uns ui ta b l e f o r p a ro l e . T he11

re c o rd re f

l e c ts tha t the c ha rge w a s , i n f a c t, d i s mi s s e d a nd thus s ho ul d no t ha ve beencon si der ed by th e Boar d. F i n al l y , th e B oa r d r ev i ew ed C oo ke ’s 20 02 L i f e P r i so n erEv alu at i on , w h i ch ha d b e e n p re p a re d b y C o o k e ’ s c o rre c ti o ns c o uns e l o r a nd w a s b a s e d o n the i nf o rm a ti o n b e f

o re th e B o a rd a s w e l la s hi s o w n e xp e ri e nc e s up e rv i s i ng C o o k e . In the re p o rt, the c o uns e l o r c o nc lud e d tha t [ c] on si der i n g th e com m i t m en tof f en s e, pr i orr ecor d an d pr i son adj u st m ent, th e w r i t erbel i ev es th e pr i son erw ou l d pr obabl ypose a l ow d e g r e e o f th r e a tt o th e p ub lic a t t h i s t im e , if r e le a s e d fr o mp r is o n . T h is be l i ef i s ba se d o nI n m at e C oo ke n oth av i n g anypr i orr ec or d o f cr i m i n al con du ct. . . an d th e c i rc ums t an ces of th e i n st an tof

f en se. He does n ot a p p e a rt o b e c r im in a l l y m in d e d a n d h a s a g o o d in s ig h tin t o h im s e lf . I n m a te C o o k e ha s b e e n a b l e to ma i nt a i n h i ms e l f re l a ti ve l y d i s c ip l i na ry f r ee du r i n g th e 11 y ear s of i n car cer at i on . I n m at e C o oke h as sh ow n ma rk e d p ro gre s s to w a rd ma i nta i ni ng a n o ve ra l lp o s i ti ve p ro gra m a nd att i tu de . Af t err ev i ew i n g th e f

or eg oi n g ev i den ce, th e Boar d det erm i n ed th atC ooke
w a s u n s u it a b le fo rp a r o le b e c a u s e h e “ w o u ld p o s e a nu n r e a s o n a b le r is k t o s o c ie tyif
re l e a s e d f

ro m p ri s o n. ” T he B o a rd b a s e d thi s d e te rmi na ti o n o n the f o l l o w i ng f i n di n g s: F i r st l y , th e c om m i t m en tof f en se w as ca rr i ed ou t i nanes pe ci al l ycru el an d c al l ou s m ann er . I tw as ca rr i ed ou ti na p r em ed i t at ed m ann er . I tw as c a rri e d o ut i n a ma nne r w hi c h d e mo ns tra t e s a n e xc e p ti o na l l y c a l l o us di sr eg ar d f

orh u m ansu f

f er i n g . . . . . I n st i tu t i on al l y , [ th e i n m at e] h as n ot ye t f ul l y p a rti c ip a te d i n b e ne f i c i a l s e l f -he lp a nd /o r the ra p y p ro gra mmi ng. He h as n oty etdev el oped a m arket abl e ski l l th at can be pu tt o u se upon12

r e l e a s e . H e ’ s h a d tw o [ d i s c ip l i n a ryv i o l a t i o n s ] . . . O n e . . . f o r. . . po ss es si on , tr af

f i ck i n g m ar i

j u an a. . . . [ A] n oth er . . . f ordi so be y i n g ru l es a nd re gul a ti o ns . T he p s yc h re p o rt d a te d 2 /1 4 /2 0 0 0 i s . . . f a vo ra b l e . B ut i t l ac ks cr ed ibi l i ty w i th m y se l f an d w i th th e Pa n el . . . . [T ]h e p r i so n er do es n ee d s el f

- h elp a n d/ orth er ap ypr og r am m i n g i nor de rt o f ac e, d i s c us s , und e rs ta nd , a nd c o p e w i ths tr e s s in a no nd e s truc ti ve ma nn e r. A nd to f a c e , d i s c us s , a nd und e rs ta nd the c a us a ti ve f a c to rs tha t l e d to the l i f e c ri me . U nti lp ro gre s s i s ma d e , he c o nti nue s to b e unp re d i c ta b l e a nd a th r e a tt o o th e r s . . . . . H e n e e d s t o c o mp l e t e a v o c a t i o n . A f te r the B o a rd o ra l l y s ta te d the s e f i nd i ngs , C o o k e a s k e d f

o r a d vi c e a b o ut
w ha t he c o ul d d o “ i n o rd e r to b e f o und s ui ta b l e . ” T he B o a rd e xp l a i ne d tha t he
n ee de d t o c ompl et e a v oc at i onbe ca u se “ i tn oton l ysh ow s th aty ou. . . ca ng r ow as a p er so n [ , i tal so ] . . . sh ow s th aty ouca nse tg oa l s a n d c ompl et e g oa l s a n d g et so m eth i n g do n e. ” C. O nD e c e mb e r1 9 , 2 0 0 3 , C o o k e file d a p e t it io nfo ra w r ito f h a b e a s c o rp u s in A l a me d a C o unty S up e ri o r C o urt. T hre e d a ys l a te r, o n D e c e mb e r 2 2 , 2 0 0 3 , the
co u rtde n i ed th e p et i t i on . I ni t s e n t i r ety , th e o r de rde n y i n g th e p et i t i onr ea ds as fo llo w s : Th e C ou rth av i n g r ev i ew ed th e def en dan t ’s Ex Part e Pet i t i on f or W r i tof Habeas C orpu s, f

i l ed onD ecember19, 2 0 03, or der s sai d m ot i onbe DE NI E D. T he P e ti ti o n f

a i l s to s ta te a p ri ma f

a c i e c a s e f

o r re l i e f s o ug ht . T he re c o rd s ub m it t e d b y P e t it io n e rd o e s n o ts up p o rtth e P e t it io n e r ’ s c la im s th a th is C on st i tu t i on alan d st atu t ory r i g h t s w er e v i ol at ed by th e [ Boar d of Pr i son13

T e rms ]. T he re c o rd i nd i c a te s tha t the re w a s s o me e vi d e nc e , i nc lud i ng bu tce rt ai n l y n ot l i m i t ed t o th e l i f e o f f en se , t o s upp ortth e b oa r d’ s d en i al o f P e t i t i o n e r ’ s p a r o l e . C o o k e f i l e d a ha b e a s p e ti ti o n w i th the C a l i f o rni a C o urt o f

A p p e a l , a nd
s ub s e q ue nt l y a p e ti ti o n f o r r e vi e w w i thth e C a l i f o rn i a S up re me C o urt. B o thw e re s u m m a r i l y d e n i e d . O nO c t o b e r1 8 , 2 0 0 4 , C o o k e f i l e d a h a b e a s c o rp u s p e t i t i o ni nf e d e r a lc o u rt . T h e d i s tr i c tc o u rtd e n i e d th e p e t i t i o na n d e n t e r e d j u d g m e n to nO c t o b e r6 , 2 0 0 5 . O n O c t o b e r1 4 , 2 0 0 5 , C o o k e t i m e l y f i l e d a n o t i c e o f

a p p e a l . II .

“ W e r ev i ew de n ov o a di str i ctco u rt ’s de ci si ont o d enya p et i t i onf orh ab ea s co rpu s. ” B a ile

y v . Hill , 5 9 9 F.3 d 9 7 6 , 9 7 8 (9 thC i r. 2 0 1 0 ). Th e St at e con t en ds th atw e l ack j u r i sdi ct i onov erth i s appealbecau se C ooke h a s n o to b t a i n e d a c e rt i f i c a t e o f a p p e a l a b i l i ty , a s r e q u i r e d u n d e r2 8 U .S .C . § 22 53 ( c) . C oo ke or i g i n al l y ap pl i ed f ora c ert i f

i ca t e o f ap pe al ab i l i tyi nth e d i str i ct c o urt, b ut w i thd re w hi s a p p l i c a ti o n i n l i ght o f o ur d e c i s i o n i n Ro sa s v . Ni el se n , 428 F . 3d 12 29 , 12 32 ( 9th C i r . 20 05 ) , w h i chh el d th ata f ed er alh ab ea s p et i t i on er ch al l en g i n g th e den i alof par ol e w as n otr equ i r ed t o obt ai na cert i f i cat e of
a p p e a l a b i l i ty. In H

a y wa r d v . M a rs h a ll , 6 0 3 F.3 d 5 4 6 (9 thC i r. 2 0 1 0 ) ( e n b a nc ), h ow ev er , w e ov erru l ed Rosas a n d h e ld th a ta fe d e r a l h a b e a s p e t it io n e rmu s to b t a inBe ca u se w e r es olv e th i s i ss u e i nC oo ke ’s f av or , w e n ee d n otr ea chth e o th er 7 is s u e s th a th e r a is e s o na p p e a l. 14 a c e rt i f i c a t e o f a p p e a l a b i l i ty t o i n v o k e a p p e l l a t e j u r i s d i c t i o no v e rth i s typ e o f c l a i m .

“ W e m ayi ss u e s u cha c ert i f i ca t e s u a s

p o n te , ” i d. at554, an d w e do so h er e. L i ke the p e ti ti o ne r i n H

ayw ard , C o o k e “ ha d f

o l l o w e d o ur p ri o r d e c i s i o ns w he n he p ro c e e d e d w i tho ut a c e rti f i c a te , a nd he ha s ‘ ma d e a s ub s ta nti a ls ho w i ng o f the de n i alof a c on st i tu t i on alr i g h t . ’” I d. a t5 5 4
- 5 5 ( q u o t i n g 2 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 5 3 ( c ) ( 2 ) ) . W e the re f

o re c e rti f y f o r a p p e a lthe i s s ue w he the r C o o k e w a s d e ni e d p a ro l e i n the
a b s e n c e o f “ s o m e e v id e n c e ” o f c u rr e n td a n g e r o u s n e s s , a n d th u s inv io la t io no f h is f eder alr i g h tt o du e pr ocess. 7 B e c a us e C o o k e f

i l e d hi s ha b e a s p e ti ti o n a f te r the e f f e c ti ve d a te o f

the An t i t err or i sman d Ef

f ect i v e D eathPen al tyActof 1996 ( AED PA) , w e m ay n ot g r an tr el i ef

u n l ess th e st at e cou rt ’s adj u di cat i onof h i s cl ai m“ r esu l t ed i na deci si on th a tw a s e ith e r( 1 ) c o n tr a ry t o , o rin v o lv e d a nu n r e a s o n a b le a p p lic a t io no f, c le a r ly est abl i sh ed F eder all aw , as det erm i n ed by th e Supr em e C ou rtof th e U n i t ed St at es, or( 2) ba se d o nanu n r ea so n ab l e d et erm i n at i onof th e f ac t s i nl i g h tof

th e e v i de n ce pr es en t ed i nth e S t at e c ourtpr oc ee di n g . ” D oody v. Schri ro , 5 9 6 F. 3 d 6 2 0 , 6 3 4 (9 th C i r. 2 0 1 0 ) ( e n b a nc ) ( c i ta ti o n o mi tt e d ).15

Th e S t at e c on t en ds th atth e c on str ai n t s i mpo se d b yAE D PA pr ec lu de f ed er al h abeas r el i ef

onC ooke’s cl ai m . Th i s ar g u m en ti s f or ecl osed by ou rr ecen tdeci si on i n H a y wa r d v . M a rs h a ll . S e e a ls o Pe a rs o n v . M u n tz , — F . 3 d —, 2 0 1 0 WL 2 1 0 8 9 6 4 (9 th C i r. M a y 2 4 , 2 0 1 0 ). In H ayw ard , w e h el d th atdu e pr ocess c ha l l e ng e s to C a l i f

o rn i a c o urts ’ a p p l i c a ti o n o f th e “ s o me e vi d e nc e ” re q ui re me nta re c o g n i z a b l e o nf

e d e r a lh a b e a s r e v i e w u n d e rA E D P A . H ayw ard , 603 F . 3d at561- 6 4 . U nd e r the s ta nd a rd a nno unc e d i n H ayw ard f orC al i f orn i a p ar ol e c as es , f

ed er al h abeas cou rt s mu staccor d du e def er en ce t o th e st at e cou rtdeci si onan d th u s mu st det erm i n e “ w h eth erth e C al i f orn i a j u di ci aldeci si onappr ov i n g th e g ov ern or ’s [ or the B o a rd ’ s ] d e c i s i o n re je c ti ng p a ro l e w a s a n ‘ unre a s o na b l e a p p l i c a ti o n’ o f the C a lifo rn ia ‘ s o m e e v id e n c e ’ r e q u ir e m e n t , o rw a s ‘ b a s e d o na nu n r e a s o n a b le de t erm i n at i onof

th e f ac t s i nl i g h tof

th e e v i de n ce . ’” I

d
. a t5 6 3 ( q u o t i n g 2 8 U. S . C. § 2 2 5 4 (d )(1 )-(2 )). It i s to tha t q ue s ti o n w e no w turn. II I. As w e h av e n ot ed , th e l as tr ea so n ed st at e c ourtde ci si onad dr es si n g C oo ke ’s cl ai mst at ed th atth e r ecor d con t ai n ed “ som e ev i den ce, i n clu di n g bu tcert ai n l yn ot l i m i t ed t o th e l i f

e o f f en se , t o s upp ortth e b oa r d’ s d en i alof [ C oo ke ’s ] pa r ol e. ” T o d e te rmi ne w he the r thi s d e c i s i o n “ w a s a n ‘ unre a s o na b l e a p p l i c a ti o n’ o f the C a lifo rn ia ‘ s o m e e v id e n c e ’ r e q u ir e m e n t , o rw a s ‘ b a s e d o na nu n r e a s o n a b le16

de t erm i n at i onof

th e f ac t s i nl i g h tof

th e e v i de n ce , ’” i d
. ( q u o t i n g 2 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 5 4 ( d ) ( 1 )
- ( 2 ) ) , w e mu s te x a m in e th e n a tu r e a n d s c o p e o f th e fe d e r a llye n fo r c e a b le l ib e rty i nte re s t c re a te d b y C a l i f o rni a ’ s “ s o me e vi d e nc e ” re q ui re me nt.

A. S ta te p a ro l e s ys te ms “ ma y c re a te l ib e rty i nt e re s ts i n p a ro l e re l e a s e th a t a re en t i t l ed t o p r ot ec t i onu n de rth e D u e P r oc es s C l au se . ” Bd
. of P ar do ns v. Al l en , 482 U . S . 3 6 9 , 3 7 1 (1 9 8 7 ) (c i ti ng G reenhol t z v. I nm at es of

N eb. P enal

& C orr. C om pl ex , 442 U . S. 1, 12 ( 1979) ) . C al i f orn i a’s “ som e ev i den ce” r equ i r em en ti s a c o mp o ne nto f

th e l ib e rty i nt e re s t c re a te d b y the p a ro l e s ys te m o f th a t s ta te . In G r e e n h o ltz , the S up re me C o urt l a me nte d tha t the a b s e nc e o f l i ti ga ti o n o f

the i s s ue i nst at e cou rth ad “ den i ed [ i t ] th e ben ef i tof th e N ebr aska cou rt s’ i n t erpr et at i onof the s c o p e o f

the i nte re s t, i f

a ny, the [N e b ra s k a p a ro l e ] s ta tute w a s i nte nd e d to af f or d t o i n m at es. ” 442 U . S. at12. Her e, i ndet erm i n i n g w h eth erth e deci si onof th e Al am eda C ou n ty Super i orC ou rtw as anu n r eason abl e appl i cat i onof C a l i f o rni a ’ s “ s o me e vi d e nc e ” re q ui re me nt, w e ha ve the b e ne f i t o f e xte ns i ve g u i dan ce f

r omth e C al i f

orn i a Supr em e C ou rtas t o th e scope of th e l ibertyi n t er est ati ss u e. Th e C al i f

orn i a S upr em e C ourth as expl ai n ed th atth e “ so m e e v i de n ce ”
r eq u i r em en ti s m an da t ed byth e s t at e r eg u l at ory , st atu t ory , an d c on st i tu t i on al17

p r o v i s i o n s th a tg o v e rnp a r o l e d e c i s i o n s i nC a l i f o rn i a . In r e R o s e n kr a n tz , 59 P. 3d 1 7 4 , 2 0 1
- 0 3 ( C a l. 2 0 0 2 ) . T h e r e q u ir e m e n timp o s e s s ub s t a n t iv e r a th e rth a np u r e ly p r o c e d u r a l c o n s tr a in t s o ns t a t e o ffic ia ls ’ d is c r e t io nt o g r a n to rd e n yp a r o le : “ a re vi e w i ng c o urt . . . i s no t b o und to a f f i rm a p a ro l e d e c i s i o n me re l y b e c a us e the Bo ar d o rth e G ov ern orh as ad h er ed t o a l lpr oc ed u r alsa f eg u ar ds . ” I

n r e L aw re nc e , 1 9 0 P . 3 d 5 3 5 , 5 5 2 (C a l . 2 0 0 8 ). R a the r, the c o urt mus t e ns ure tha t the d e c i s i o n to de n y pa r ol e i s “ supp ort ed byso m e ev i de nc e , n otm er elybya hu n chori n tu i t i on . ” I d. at554. U nd e r C a l i f

o rni a l a w , “ the p a ra mo unt c o ns i d e ra ti o n f o r b o th the B o a rd a nd th e G o v e rn o r ” mu s tb e “ w h e th e rth e in m a t e c u rr e n t lyp o s e s a th r e a tt o p ub lic
sa f ety an d th u s m ayn otbe r el ea se d o npa r ol e, ” i d. at55 2, an d “ th e f ac t s r el i ed up o n b y the B o a rd o r the G o ve rno r [mus t] s up p o rt the ul ti ma te d e c i s i o n tha t the i n m at e r em ai n s a th r ea tt o p ubl i c s af ety . ” I d. a t 5 5 4 . A c c o rd i ngl y, f o r a re vi e w i ng co u rt“ th e r el ev an ti n qu i ry i s w h eth erso m e e v i de n ce supp ort s th e decisi on o f the Bo ar d o rth e G ov ern orth atth e i n m at e c on st i tu t es a c u rr en tth r ea tt o p ubl i c s af ety . ” I d. a t 5 5 3 ; see al

so H ayw ard , 603 F . 3d at562 ( n ot i n g th at“ ‘som e ev i den ce’ of f u tu r e d an g er ou sn es s i s i n de ed a s t at e si ne qua non fo rd e n ia l o f p a r o le in C a l i f o rni a ” (c i ti ng La w re nc e , 1 9 0 P . 3 d a t 5 4 9 ; In r e Sh a p u tis , 190 P. 3d 573, 582 (C a l . 2 0 0 8 )) .In H ayw ard , w e u sed “ cu rr en tdan g er ou sn ess” an d “ f u tu r e dan g er ou sn ess” 8 i nte rc ha nge a b l y w he n re f e rri ng to the f

i nd i ng f o r w hi c h the re mus t b e “ s o me ev i den ce. ” Th er e i s n o m ean i n g f u ldi st i n ct i onbetw eenth e tw o t erm s. 18 T he C a l i f

o rni a S up re me C o urt ha s e xp re s s l y re je c te d the a rgume nt “ tha t the
a ggra va te d c i rc ums ta nc e s o f a c o mmi tme nt o f

f e ns e i nhe re ntl y e s ta b l i s h c urre nt da n g er ou sn es s. ” La w re nc e , 190 P. 3d at554. Al th ou g hth e Boar d orth e G ov ern or ma y c o ns i d e r the c i rc ums ta nc e s o f the c o mmi tme nt o f

f e ns e w he n ma k i ng a de ci si ont o g r an torde n y pa r ol e, the a ggra va te d na ture o f the c ri me d o e s no t i n a nd o f i ts e l f p ro vi d e s o me e v id e n c e o f c u r r e n t dan g er ou sn ess t o th e publ i c u n l ess th e r ecor d al so est abl i sh es th atsom eth i n g i nth e pr i son er ’s pr e- orpost - i ncar cer at i on h i st ory , orh i s o rh ercurr en tde me a no r a n d m en t alst at e, i n di ca t es th at th e i mpl i cat i on s r eg ar di n g th e pr i son er ’s dan g er ou sn ess th atder i v e f r om hi s o r he r c o mmi s s i o n o f the c o mmi tme nt o f

f e ns e re ma i n p ro b a ti ve to the s ta tuto ry d e te rmi na ti o n o f a c o nti nui ng thre a t to p ub l i c s a f e ty. I d. a t 5 5 5 (c i te d i n H

ayw ard , 603 F . 3d at562) . I nsu m , a r ev i ew i n g cou rtmu st co n si de r“ w h eth erth e i de n t i f i ed f ac t s a r e pr ob at i ve t o th e c e n tr a l i s s u e o f current d a nge ro us ne s s w he n c o ns i d e re d i n l i ght o f the f ul lre c o rd b e f

o re the B o a rd o r the G ov ern or . ” I

d. a t 5 6 0 . T hus , the re mus t b e mo re tha n the c ri me o r i ts c i rc ums ta nc e s a l o ne to jus ti f y the B o a rd ’ s o r the G o ve rno r’ s f i nd i ng o f c urre nt dan g er ou sn ess. 8 B.19

B e a r in g inm in d th e fo r e g o in g c o n s id e r a t io n s a s t o th e s c o p e o f th e fe d e r a lly
e nf o rc e a b l e l ib e rty i nte re s t c re a te d b y C a l i f o rni a ’ s “ s o me e vi d e nc e ” re q ui re me nt,
w e tu rnn ow t o th e st at e cou rtdeci si onuph ol di n g C ooke’s den i alof par ol e. As w e ha ve no te d , the s ta te c o urt f o und tha t the B o a rd ’ s d e c i s i o n w a s s up p o rte d b y s o me e vi d e nc e “ i nc lud i ng b ut c e rta i nl y no t l i mi te d to the l i f e o f f e ns e . ” B e c a us e the s ta te co u rt ’s de ci si ondo es n otr ev ea lw h i chof th e B oa r d’ s f

i n di n g s i tbe l i ev es supp ort ed th e d e n i a lo f

p a r o l e , o th e rth a n“ th e l i f e o f f e n s e ,” a n d w h i c h , i f

a n y , d i d n o t , w e w i l lex am i n e e ac h of

th e B oa r d’ s o th erst at ed r ea so n s f orde n y i n g pa r ol e. O n e o f th e b a s e s up o nw h ic hth e B o a r d d e e m e d C o o k e u n s u it a b le fo rp a r o le
w as th e f i n di n g th atth e F ebru ary 14, 2000 psy ch ol og i calev alu at i onpr epar ed f or the he a ri ng w a s unre l i a b l e . T he re c o rd s up p o rts the B o a rd ’ s f i nd i ng tha t the
ev alu at i onco n t ai n ed nu m er ou s e rr or s a n d i n co n si st en ci es , an d th e B oa r d w as cl ear l y j u st i f

i ed i ndi sr eg ar di n g i ti ni t s en t i r ety . A pr oper l ydi sr eg ar ded pi ece of f a vo ra b l e e vi d e nc e , ho w e ve r, c a nno t p o s s ib l y c o ns ti tute e vi d e nc e o f c urre nt d a n g e r o u s n e s s ; th a tp r o p o s it io nis illo g ic a l o nit s fa c e . E v id e n c e th a tis e x c lu d e d is
no t p ro b a ti ve o f

a nythi ng. Th e B oa r d a l so r el i ed onth e d i sc ipl i n aryi n f r ac t i on s c on t ai n ed i nC oo ke ’s f i l e : o ne f o r tra f f i c k i ng ma ri

jua na , a nd tw o f

o r d i s o b e yi ng p ri s o n rul e s a nd
r eg u l at i on s. As n ot ed supra , th e m ar i j u an a tr af

f i ck i n g ch ar g e h ad be endi sm i ss ed20

a s uns ub s ta nti a te d , a nd thus s ho ul d no t ha ve b e e n c o ns i d e re d b y the B o a rd . T he oth ertw o o f

f en se s o cc u rr ed w i th i nth e f i r sty ea ran d a h al f

of C oo ke ’s i mpr i so n m en t ; on e w as ba se d o nC oo ke ’s r ef u sa lt o c l ea nup a n oth er ’s m an ’s f e c e s , a nd the o the r o n hi s re f us a lto ta k e f

o o d o f f a no the r ma n’ s tra y. T he s e tw o m i n oran d n on - v i ol en toccu rr en ces, w h i ch occu rr ed i n1992 an d 1993, can n ot
r e a s o n a b lyb e v ie w e d a s e v id e n c e th a tC o o k e p o s e d a nu n r e a s o n a b le r is k t o p ub lic
s a f e ty i n2 0 0 2 , e s p e c i a l l y a s h e h a d b e e nd i s c ip l i n e - f r e e f o rn e a r l ya d e c a d e . A c c o rd i ngl y, C o o k e ’ s d i s c ip l i na ry re c o rd d o e s no t p ro vi d e e vi d e nc e o f c urre nt dan g er ou sn ess. N e x t , th e B o a r d fo u n d th a tC o o k e “ h a s n o ty e tfu llyp a rt ic ip a t e d in be n ef i ci alse l f
- h elp a n d/ orth er ap ypr og r am m i n g , ” a n d th ath e n ee de d m or e o f su ch pr og r am m i n g t o “ co pe w i th str es s i na n on de stru ct i v e m ann er ” a n d t o “ f ac e, d i s c us s , [a nd ] und e rs ta nd the c a us a ti ve f a c to rs tha t l e d to the l i f

e c ri me . ” T he B o a r d , h o w e v e r , f

a i l e d t o i d e n t i f

ya n ye v i d e n c e th a ts up p o rt s s u c ha c o n c lu s i o n . C o o k e h a s r e c e iv e d nu m e r o u s a c c o la d e s fo rh is e x t e n s iv e p a rt ic ip a t io nins e lf- h e lp g r oups an d pr og r am m i n g ; i n deed, h e h as desi g n ed su ch pr og r am m i n g an d i s n ow l ea di n g su chg r oups . N oth i n g i nth e r ec or d s o mu chas h i n t s a tth e p os sibi l i tyth at C ooke m i g h tn eed f

u rth erpr og r am m i n g i nor dert o becom e n on - dan g er ou s, or e ve n tha t he s uf

f e re d f ro m s tre s s o f

a ny k i nd w hi l e i n p ri s o n. A c c o rd i ngl y, the21

Boar d’s bar e assert i onth atC ooke n eeds addi t i on alpr og r am m i n g can n ot re a s o na b l y b e vi e w e d a s p ro vi d i ng e vi d e nc e tha t s up p o rts a f i nd i ng o f c urre nt dan g er ou sn ess. S i mi l a rl y, the B o a rd f

o und tha t C o o k e ne e d e d to o b ta i n c e rti f i c a ti o n i n a tr ad e t o m ak e h i m se l f

m arke t ab l e a f

t erh i s r el ea se an d t o d em on str at e th ath e “ ca n g r ow as a p er so n. . . ca nse tg oa l s, . . . co mpl et e g oa l s a n d g etso m eth i n g do n e. ” T hi s f i nd i ng, a ga i n, i s w ho l l y w i tho ut e vi d e nti a ry s up p o rt. T he re c o rd b e f o re the B o a rd d e mo ns tra te s tha t C o o k e ha s a s tro ng e d uc a ti o na lb a c k gro und – he gra d ua te d f

ro m hi gh s c ho o lw i th a hi gh gra d e p o i nt a ve ra ge , a tte nd e d the U n iv e r s ityo f N e w M e x ic o , a n d w a s c lo s e t o c o mp le t in g a b a c h e lo r ’ s d e g r e e in f i na nc e – a nd p o s s e s s e s ma ny ma rk e ta b l e s k i l l s . N o thi ng i n the re c o rd s ugge s ts tha t C o o k e w o ul d ha ve a ny d i f f i c ul ty o b ta i ni ng e mp l o yme nt up o n re l e a s e ; to the
con tr ary , th e Boar d r ecog n i zed th ath e h ad sev er alst an di n g j ob of f er s i na r an g e of f i e l d s , f ro m c o uns e l i ng to i nf

o rma ti o n te c hno l o gy to re a le s ta te . M o re o ve r, the
r ecor d w as f

u l lof pr ai se f orC ooke’s abi l i tyt o g r ow as a per son , t o setg oal s f or h i m sel f , an d t o compl et e t asks. I n deed, th e r ecor d w as r epl et e w i thg l ow i n g pr ai se f r omC oo ke ’s supe rv i so r s r eg ar di n g h i s e x ce pt i on aldi l i g en ce , po si t i v e a t t i tu de , an d str on g w ork eth i c. N o ev i den ce su g g est s th atC ooke’s cert i f i cat i oni na tr ade
w o u ld h a v e a n y b e n e fit , le ta lo n e th a ts u c hc e rt ific a t io nis n e c e s s a ryt o r e n d e rh im22

n on - dan g er ou s. Accor di n g l y , th e Boar d’s w h ol l yu n support ed s u a s p o n te f i nd i ng w i th r eg ar d t o C ooke’s f ai lu r e t o obt ai ncert i f

i cat i oni na tr ade does n otpr ov i de
ev i den ce of

cu rr en tdan g er ou sn ess. T h e r e m a in in g fin d in g s th e B o a r d d e e m e d s up p o rt iv e o f a d e n ia l o f p a r o le al lr el at e t o th e ci r cu m st an ces of C ooke’s com m i t m en tof f en se. W e n eed n ot d e c i d e w he th e r the s e f

i nd i ng s a re th e ms e l ve s s up p o rt e d b y the re c o rd , ho w e ve r, b e c a us e the y c a nno t, s ta nd i ng a l o ne , c o ns ti tute the re q ui s i te e vi d e nc e o f c urre nt d a n g e r o u s n e s s . A s th e C a li fo rn ia S up r e m e C o u rth a s h e ld , th e c ir c u m s t a n c e s o f a
c o m m it m e n to ffe n s e c a n n o tc o n s t itu t e e v id e n t ia rys up p o rtfo rth e d e n ia l o f p a r o le

“ u n l ess th e r ecor d al so est abl i sh es th atsom eth i n g i nth e pr i son er ’s pr e- or po st - i n ca r ce r at i onh i st ory , orh i s o rh ercurr en tde m ea n oran d m en t alst at e, i nd i c a te s tha t the i mp l i c a ti o ns re ga rd i ng the p ri s o ne r’ s d a nge ro us ne s s tha t d e ri ve f ro m hi s o r he r c o mmi s s i o n o f the c o mmi tme nt o f

f e ns e re ma i n p ro b a ti ve to the st atu t ory de t erm i n at i onof a c on t i nu i n g th r ea tt o p ubl i c s af ety . ” La w re nc e , 190 P . 3 d a t 5 5 5 . C o o k e ha d no p re -i nc a rc e ra ti o n hi s to ry s ugge s ti ng d a nge ro us ne s s ; no hi s to ry d uri ng hi s ti me i n p ri s o n tha t w o ul d s up p o rt s uc h a f i nd i ng; no te s ti mo ny, r e p o rt , o ro th e re v id e n c e r e g a r d in g a h o s t il e d e m e a n o r ; a n d n o in d ic a t io no f a d i s turb e d me nta ls ta te o r a me nta ls ta te tha t w o ul d o the rw i s e s ugge s t c urre nt d a nge ro us ne s s . A c c o rd i ngl y, a s s umi ng the va l i d i ty o f the B o a rd ’ s f

i nd i ngs a s toAs w e h av e e x pl ai n ed , w e n ee d n otan d d o n otde ci de w h eth erth e B oa r d’ s 9 f i n di n g s w i th r eg ar d t o th e c i r cum st an ce s o f th e c om m i t m en tof

f en se ar e s upp ort ed byth e r ec or d. W e s i mply as sum e, f orpurpo se s o f

th i s o pi n i on , th atth eyar e. 23 th e c i r cum st an ce s o f

th e c om m i t m en tof

f en se , th er e i s n o o th erev i de n ce th at
w o ul d , a s re q ui re d b y La w re nc e , re a s o na b l y s up p o rt the f i nd i ng o f “ s o me ev i den ce” of

cu rr en tdan g er ou sn ess. In s um, e a c h o f

the B o a rd ’ s f

i nd i ngs (o the r tha n tho s e re ga rd i ng the
c i rc ums ta nc e s o f

the c o mmi tme nt o f

f e ns e ) l a c k e d a ny e vi d e nti a ry b a s i s . N o thi ng 9 inth e r e c o r d s up p o rt s th e s t a t e c o u rt ’ s fin d in g th a tth e r e w a s “ s o m e e v id e n c e ” in ad di t i ont o th e c i r cum st an ce s o f th e c om m i t m en tof

f en se t o s upp ortth e B oa r d’ s den i alof Pet i t i on er ’s par ol e. Th e Par ol e Boar d’s f i n di n g s w er e i n di v i du al l yan d in to to u n r ea so n ab l e b ec au se th eyw er e w i th ou tev i de n t i arysupp ort . W h enh ab ea s c o urts re vi e w the “ s o me e vi d e nc e ” re q ui re me nt i n C a l i f o rni a p a ro l e c a s e s , b o th the
subs i di aryf

i n di n g s a n d th e u l t i m at e f i n di n g of so m e e v i de n ce co n st i tu t e f ac tu al f i nd i ng s . H e re , the re w a s no e vi d e nc e th a t r e a s o na b l y s up p o rt s e i th e r the ne c e s s a ry s ub s id ia ry fin d in g s o rth e u lt im a t e “ s o m e e v id e n c e ” fin d in g . A c c o r d in g ly , w e h o ld tha t the s ta te c o urt d e c i s i o n w a s “ ‘ b a s e d o n a n unre a s o na b l e d e te rmi na ti o n o f the f ac t s i nl i g h tof

th e e v i de n ce . ’” H

ayw ard , 6 0 3 F .3 d a t5 6 3 ( q u o t i n g 2 8 U .S .C . § 2254( d) ( 2) ) . C ooke i s en t i t l ed t o a w r i tof h abeas corpu s. I V.24

Fo r the f o re go i ng re a s o ns , w e re ve rs e the d i s tri c t c o urt a nd re ma nd w i th i ns truc ti o ns to gra nt the w ri t. RE VE RS E D a n d RE M A ND E D.25 C o uns e lLi s ti ng M i c ha e lS a tri s (a rgue d ), La w O f f i c e o f M i c ha e lS a tri s , B o l i na s , C a l i f o rni a ; A my F. M o rto n, M o rto n & R us s o , V a l l e jo , C a l i f o rni a , f o r P e ti ti o ne r-A p p e l l a nt. J e s s ic a N ic o le B lo n ie n( a r g u e d ) , O ffic e o f th e C a lifo rn ia A t t o rn e yG e n e r a l, Sa cr am en t o, C al i f

orn i a; El i za be thS. Ki m , O f f i ce of th e C al i f orn i a A t t orn ey G en er al , O akl an d, C al i f orn i a, f orR espon den t s- Appel l ees.