Source: http://mn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150608_0000709.DMN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-08 14:03:32
Document Index: 130307477

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 636', '§ 2244', '§ 2244', '§ 2254', '§ 2253', '§ 2253']

| Sterling v. Smith
Sterling v. Smith
ADAM L. STERLING, Petitioner,v.MICHELLE SMITH, Respondent.
This matter is before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge on petitioner Adam L. Sterling’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. See Docket No. 1. The petition has been referred to this Court for a report and recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 72.1. This Court has conducted a preliminary review of Sterling’s habeas petition under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. Based on that review, this Court recommends dismissal of Sterling’s petition.
Sterling is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a conviction of first-degree premeditated murder. See State v. Sterling, 834 N.W.2d 162 (Minn. 2013). The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed Sterling’s conviction and sentence on July 24, 2013. Id. Sterling has once before requested federal habeas relief in this District, which was summarily dismissed without prejudice for failure to exhaust state remedies with respect to each of the claims raised in that previous petition. See Sterling v. Smith, No. 14-CV-4063 (ADM/LIB), 2014 WL 5496867 (D. Minn. Oct. 30, 2014).
Sterling’s current federal habeas petition now before the Court is difficult to decipher. It appears that Sterling is now attempting to challenge whether the evidence introduced at his trial was sufficient to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Petition at 7 [Docket No. 1].
An in-depth analysis of this claim is unnecessary, however, as Sterling’s current habeas petition is clearly time-barred. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1):
The final three of those provisions are inapplicable to this case, as (1) there was never any impediment to Sterling filing a habeas petition previously (he has in fact already once done so); (2) Sterling is not asserting that he is entitled to relief pursuant to a constitutional right only recently recognized by the Supreme Court; and (3) Sterling’s claim is not predicated on any new factual discovery.
Under § 2244(d)(1)(A), Sterling was thus required to file his current habeas petition within one year of “the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review . . . .” The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed Sterling’s conviction and sentence on July 24, 2013, and the judgment in Sterling’s case became final 90 days thereafter, on October 22, 2013. See Dixon v. Wachtendorf, 758 F.3d 992, 993 (8th Cir. 2014). The limitations period for Sterling to file a federal habeas petition began running on that date, and it ended exactly one year later, on October 22, 2014. Sterling did not file his most recent federal habeas petition until May 2015. This was plainly too late.[1]
Because it is clear on the face of Sterling’s current habeas petition and the relevant state-court records that Sterling’s petition is barred by the statute of limitations, this Court recommends that the petition be denied.
Only one matter merits further comment: A § 2254 habeas corpus petitioner cannot appeal an adverse ruling on his petition unless he is granted a certificate of appealability (“COA”). See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1); Fed. R. App. P. 22(b)(1). A COA cannot be granted unless the petitioner “has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To make such a showing, “[t]he petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). In this case, it is highly unlikely that any other court, including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, would treat Sterling’s current habeas corpus petition differently than it is being treated herein. Sterling has not identified, and this Court cannot discern, anything novel, noteworthy, or worrisome about this case that warrants appellate review. It is therefore recommended that Sterling should not be granted a COA in this matter.
RECOMMENDATION Based on the foregoing, and on all of the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED THAT:
1. Petitioner Adam L. Sterling’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus [Docket No. 1] be DENIED.
3. Sterling’s application to proceed in forma pauperis [Docket No. 2] be DENIED.
4. Sterling’s motion for relief on basis of reasonable doubt [Docket No. 3] be DENIED AS MOOT.
5. No certificate of appealability be granted.
Under Local Rule 72.2(b)(1), “a party may file and serve specific written objections to a magistrate judge’s proposed finding and recommendations within 14 days after being served a copy” of the Report and Recommendation. A party may respond to those objections within 14 days after being served a copy of the objections. LR 72.2(b)(2). All objections and responses must comply with the word or line limits set for in LR 72.2(c).