Case Name: Michael Allen SMITH, Petitioner-Appellant, v. G.J. GIURBINO, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-07-28
Citations: 71 F. App'x 684
Docket Number: No. 02-56505; D.C. No. CV-01-00958-DDP
Parties: Michael Allen SMITH, Petitioner—Appellant, v. G.J. GIURBINO, Respondent—Appellee.
Judges: Before LEAVY, HAWKINS, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 71
Pages: 684–684

Head Matter:
Michael Allen SMITH, Petitioner—Appellant, v. G.J. GIURBINO, Respondent—Appellee.
No. 02-56505. D.C. No. CV-01-00958-DDP.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted July 21, 2003.
Decided July 28, 2003.
Before LEAVY, HAWKINS, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Michael Allen Smith, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition challenging his "three strikes" sentence of 25 years to life for drug possession as cruel and unusual punishment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253. We affirm.
Smith contends his sentence under California's "three strikes" law violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. We conclude that the California state courts did not unreasonably apply clearly established law in upholding Smith's sentence. See Ewing v. California, — U.S. —, 123 S.Ct. 1179, 1190, 155 L.Ed.2d 108 (2003) (acknowledging broad discretion possessed by legislatures and holding that three-strikes sentence of 25 years to life for felony grand theft was not grossly disproportionate); Lockyer v. Andrade, — U.S. -, 123 S.Ct. 1166, 1175, 155 L.Ed.2d 144 (2003) (holding that state court's affirmance of two consecutive 25-years-tolife sentences for petty theft was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law). The district court therefore properly denied Smith's petition. See Andrade, 123 S.Ct. at 1174.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. Smith's motion for a broader certificate of appealability is denied.