Source: http://ut.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180413_0000304.DUT.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-03-21 20:08:05
Document Index: 615463224

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2253', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

AMENDED [1] ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION RE: CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
In 2015 and 2016, Petitioners Eric Kamahele, Kepa Maumau, and Sitamipa Toki filed Motions for Relief Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (collectively, Petitions).[2] In 2017, the court denied the § 2255 Motions (“§ 2255 Order”).[3] Because the Petitioners wish to appeal that decision, they have moved for a Certificate of Appealability (COA), which is required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) before proceeding to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.[4]
For the reasons set forth below, the court (1) DENIES Mr. Maumau's and Mr. Toki's request for a COA; (2) DENIES Mr. Kamahele's request for a COA on two of the three asserted bases for relief (referred to below as his Johnson and “actual innocence” claims) but GRANTS his request for a COA on Claims One and Two concerning withdrawal of his guilty plea.
In their § 2255 Petitions, they asserted claims arising out of three distinct areas of law. First, Mr. Kamahele and Mr. Maumau raised ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims (the “IAC claims”). Second, all three Petitioners challenged their convictions based on the newly recognized right announced by the United States Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015) (the Johnson claims). Finally, they asserted legal innocence of the charges in the Second Superseding Indictment[5] (the “actual innocence” claims).
The court, in its § 2255 Order, rejected the IAC claims on their merits, denied the Johnson claims as time-barred, and denied the actual innocence claims on the ground that the Petitioners were not entitled to relief under that narrow doctrine. Now the court denies their Motion for a COA with the exception of Mr. Kamahele's IAC claims, for which the court issues a COA.
A. THE JOHNSON CLAIMS
B. “ACTUAL INNOCENCE” CLAIMS