Source: http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/1999/11/98-2298.htm
Timestamp: 2020-02-25 04:41:32
Document Index: 298280896

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 3182', '§ 3182']

98-2298 -- Aycox v. Lytle -- 11/16/1999
| Keyword | Case | Docket | Date: Filed / Added | (28633 bytes) (28825 bytes)
KENNETH DEAN AYCOX,
RONALD L. LYTLE, Warden, Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility; ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
(D.C. No. CIV-97-667M/JHG)
Petitioner-appellant Kenneth Dean Aycox appeals from the district court's order dismissing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which he brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. We previously granted Aycox a certificate of appealability, and we now affirm the district court's order of dismissal.(1)
We consider first our standard of review.(2) This case was filed in district court after the effective date of the 1996 AEDPA amendments to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Section 2254(d), as amended, provides that a writ of habeas corpus
We have stated that the deferential post-AEDPA standard does not apply where the state court did not decide a claim on its merits. See, e.g., Moore v. Gibson, ___ F.3d ___, Nos. 98-6004, 98-6010, 1999 WL 765893, at *7 (10th Cir. Sept. 28, 1999); Wallace v. Ward, ___F.3d___, No. 98-7116, 1999 WL 705152, at *3 (10th Cir. Sept. 10, 1999); Hooks v. Ward, 184 F.3d 1206, 1223 (10th Cir. 1999). In Moore, we assumed that the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals had reached a decision "on the merits" of a prosecutorial misconduct claim, even though that court failed to mention the federal basis for the claim and failed to cite any state or federal law in support of its conclusion that the misconduct did not warrant reversal or modification. See Moore, 1999 WL 765893, at *16. Other circuits have clearly held that a summary decision without even the cursory reasoning found in Moore also can constitute an "adjudication on the merits" for purposes of § 2254(d), provided that the decision was reached on substantive rather than procedural grounds. See Cardwell v. Greene, 152 F.3d 331, 339 & n.4 (4th Cir. 1998) (holding state court decision "finding no merit" in certain claims was adjudicated on the merits), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 587 (1998); cf. Mercadel v. Cain, 179 F.3d 271, 274-75 (5th Cir. 1999) (construing one-word denial of postconviction relief claim as procedural rather than "on the merits" for purposes of § 2254(d) because the state court record showed that petitioner had committed a fatal procedural error).
Other circuits which have considered the issue look to the state court's result and defer to it even where analysis is lacking. See Schaff v. Snyder, 190 F.3d 513, 1999 WL 637061, at *5 (7th Cir. 1999) (No. 97-3759) ("If the [state court] determination was reasonable, that is, at least minimally consistent with the facts and circumstances of the case, we shall uphold the state court ruling, even if it is not well reasoned or fully reasoned.") (citation omitted); Delgado v. Lewis, 181 F.3d 1087, 1091 n.3 (9th Cir. 1999) ("Conducting an independent review of the record and applicable federal law when the state has not articulated its reasoning . . . provides the method for ascertaining whether the state court's resolution of the case was 'contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law' under AEDPA.") (quoting § 2254(d)); but see Cardwell, 152 F.3d at 339 ("[B]ecause the state court decision fails to articulate any rationale for its adverse determination of [petitioner]'s claim, we cannot review that court's 'application of clearly established Federal law,' but must independently ascertain whether the record reveals a violation of [his] Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel.").
Thus, we must uphold the state court's summary decision unless our independent review of the record and pertinent federal law persuades us that its result contravenes or unreasonably applies clearly established federal law, or is based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented. This "independent review" should be distinguished from a full de novo review of the petitioner's claims. See Delgado, 181 F.3d at 1091 n.3. Our review is in fact deferential because we cannot grant relief unless the state court's result is legally or factually unreasonable.(3)
"[T]he constitutional dimension of extradition exists only when demand is made by one jurisdiction for the surrender of a person in another jurisdiction." Ortega v. City of Kansas City, 875 F.2d 1497, 1499 (10th Cir. 1989). Aycox fails to show that New Mexico made any executive demand on California authorities to surrender him for service of the New Mexico sentence.(4) Thus, the constitutional rights connected to extradition proceedings did not attach.
Aycox further argues that he had a constitutional right to timely extradition. He cites Moore v. Arizona, 414 U.S. 25 (1973), Smith v. Hooey, 393 U.S. 374 (1969) and State v. Harvey, 510 P.2d 1085 (N.M. Ct. App. 1973), for this proposition. These authorities do not support his claim. They concern situations where a state charge has been lodged but not adjudicated against a person in custody in another state. Under such circumstances, the requesting state's failure to request timely extradition implicates the inmate's Sixth Amendment right to a
speedy trial.(5) Aycox had already been convicted of the New Mexico charges prior to the time he began serving his California sentence. There is no speedy trial consideration in his case, and Aycox fails to establish any other form of constitutional violation.
Finally, Aycox argues that 18 U.S.C. § 3182 requires that his New Mexico sentence be discharged. That statute states that if no agent for the requesting state appears in the detaining state to pick up the fugitive within thirty days, "the prisoner may be discharged." Obviously, the statute refers to discharge from detention in the detaining state, not discharge from an existing sentence in the requesting state. Aycox's argument lacks merit.(6)
2. Respondents argue that this appeal is moot. We are not persuaded. Aycox was released from incarceration on his New Mexico prison sentence on February 28, 1999, and was placed on a two-year period of parole, to be served concurrently with a two-year period of probation. While it is true that granting Aycox credit would likely not affect his period of probation, cf. Aragon v. Shanks, 144 F.3d 690, 691 (10th Cir. 1998) (holding appeal moot where habeas petitioner on probation sought good time credits), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 518 (1998), it would affect his period of parole, see id. For this reason, Aycox retains a personal stake in the outcome such that this case presents a case or controversy which is justiciable in this court.
3. Of course, it is far preferable if the state court explains its reasoning because then we are not forced to guess as to the reasoning behind a determination. A state court's explanation of its reasoning would avoid the risk that we might misconstrue the basis for the determination, and consequently diminish the risk that we might conclude the action unreasonable at law or under the facts at hand. However, when presented with a summary disposition, as we are here, we will do our best under the standard of review mandated by AEDPA.
4. Aycox argues that such a demand was made as to the escape charge. He fails to show, however, that New Mexico was obligated to retain custody of him or to seek extradition on other charges after the escape charge was dismissed.
5. These concerns are more specifically addressed in Article III(a) of the Interstate Agreement on Detainers, 18 U.S.C. App. 2, which requires that a prisoner be transported and tried on a pending charge in another state which is party to the IAD within 180 days after the prisoner makes a request for timely disposition of the charges.
6. Aycox further argues, citing Hill v. Roberts, 359 So.2d 911 (Fla. Ct. App. 1978), that California could not hold him for extradition indefinitely, given the thirty-day time limit in § 3182. This argument is misplaced. California incarcerated Aycox for crimes committed in that state, not merely to hold him for extradition.
URL: http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/1999/11/98-2298.htm.