Opinion ID: 564808
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the fundamental miscarriage of justice exception to

Text: McCLESKEY 29 Overarching Jones's arguments that he has not abused the writ is the contention that the ends of justice will be served only if this court reaches the merits of his newly formulated contentions. Thus, he adverts to the fundamental miscarriage of justice test in McCleskey, which would permit consideration of his claims if they would likely result in a finding of actual innocence. See Cuevas, 932 F.2d at 1082-83. The circumstances of this case do not suggest that Jones's sentence will work a fundamental injustice. Jones no longer denies that he raped and murdered Tumekica Jackson. His use of mental illness as a defense or mitigating factor was raised years after trial and, on the record before us, suffers from internal inconsistencies. 30 For these reasons, Jones's second federal habeas petition constitutes an abuse of the writ. He has failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a federal right. We do not reach the merits of his claims. 31 The petitioner's Motion for Appeal In Forma Pauperis is GRANTED; the Request for Certificate of Probable Cause is DENIED; the Motion for Stay of Execution is DENIED.