Opinion ID: 776953
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: brown's other claims

Text: 81
82 Brown did not make out a prima facie case that the Three Strikes law is unevenly applied in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. Rather, Brown cited only one other case, with facts distinguishable from those in his case. The district court properly found that Brown failed to meet his burden on this claim. See McQueary v. Blodgett, 924 F.2d 829, 834-35 (9th Cir.1991). We therefore affirm the denial of the habeas petition on this issue.
83 Brown argued that he should be resentenced in light of the California Supreme Court's decision in Romero, 13 Cal.4th 497, 53 Cal.Rptr.2d 789, 917 P.2d 628, which held that judges have discretion not to count prior qualifying offenses as strikes. The district court correctly concluded that this state law claim is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See Williams v. Borg, 139 F.3d at 740. We affirm the denial of habeas relief with respect to this claim.
84 Brown contends that it is unconstitutional to count as strikes offenses committed prior to Three Strikes' enactment. The application of a sentencing enhancement due to a prior conviction does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause, United States v. Sorenson, 914 F.2d 173, 174 (9th Cir.1990), as long as the statute was in effect before the triggering offense was committed, United States v. Ahumada-Avalos, 875 F.2d 681, 683-84 (9th Cir.1984). Three Strikes took effect in March of 1994, before Brown committed the principal offense in August of 1995. We therefore affirm the denial of habeas relief for this claim.