Case Name: Richard Walter JOHNSON, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kenneth Lee SALAZAR, Attorney General of the State of Colorado; Joanie M. Shoemaker; William Boteors, Respondents-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-01-10
Citations: 54 F. App'x 311
Docket Number: No. 02-1377
Parties: Richard Walter JOHNSON, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kenneth Lee SALAZAR, Attorney General of the State of Colorado; Joanie M. Shoemaker; William Boteors, Respondents-Appellees.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 54
Pages: 311–312

Head Matter:
Richard Walter JOHNSON, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kenneth Lee SALAZAR, Attorney General of the State of Colorado; Joanie M. Shoemaker; William Boteors, Respondents-Appellees.
No. 02-1377.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
Jan. 10, 2003.
Richard Walter Johnson, Denver, CO, for Petitioner-Appellant.
Before EBEL, LUCERO and HARTZ, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
EBEL, Circuit Judge.
Petitioner Richard Walter Johnson brings this appeal pro se under § 2254, challenging his state sentence. His arguments are difficult to discern, but revolve around three claims. His first claim is that he was forced to proceed pro se involuntarily at trial. His second claim is that he was denied discovery. His third claim is unintelligible. He provides no details in the allegations and presents no evidence to support his assertions.
The magistrate judge and district court ordered Johnson to submit an amended § 2254 petition on court-approved forms, to state his claims clearly, to provide dates for each part of his direct appeal, and to provide dates for any post-conviction motions. Johnson submitted an amended petition on the new court-approved form, but failed to provide any of the requested information or to state his claims clearly. Within days, he twice more submitted incomprehensible amended habeas corpus applications. Ultimately, however, Johnson was unable to comply with the court's directive within the time permitted. The district court dismissed his petition without prejudice.
Johnson's instant appeal to the Tenth Circuit was filed beyond the 30-day window permitted under Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(1)(A), but we find that we do have jurisdiction to hear his appeal under the mailbox rule. The 30-day window for appeal of Johnson's case closed on Monday, August 12, 2002. His notice of appeal was filed on August 15, 2002. Nonetheless, Johnson delivered his notice of appeal to prison officials on August 11, 2002 (see certificate of service), and so we deem his appeal to be timely. See generally Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 275-76,108 S.Ct. 2379, 101 L.Ed.2d 245 (1988) (holding that a prisoner's document could be regarded as filed on the date it was delivered to prison officials for mailing).
Petitions for habeas corpus must present identifiable claims and allege specific facts to support the asserted claims. Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75 n. 7, 97 S.Ct. 1621, 52 L.Ed.2d 136 (1977); see also Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. Upon review, we affirm that none of Johnson's amended petitions meets this standard.
Therefore, for substantially the reasons stated by the magistrate judge and the district court, we DENY the issuance of a COA and DISMISS the appeal. Mr. Johnson's motion to proceed in forma pauperis is denied.
After examining appellant's brief and the appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.