Opinion ID: 162583
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Does Equitable Tolling Apply?

Text: The district court also considered the application of equitable tolling. Mr. Hollis might benefit from equitable tolling because he, mistakenly, believed that his one year under the statute of limitations did not begin to run until October 27, 2000, the date on which he fulfilled his obligation to exhaust his state court remedies. We have held that § 2244(d)(1) is indeed subject to equitable tolling, though “only in rare and exceptional circumstances.” Gibson v. Klinger, 232 F.3d 799, 808 (10th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted); accord Miller v. Marr, 141 F.3d 976, 978 (10th Cir. 1998). As the district court noted, equitable tolling might be appropriate when circumstances beyond a prisoner’s control make it impossible for the prisoner to file the habeas petition. A necessary prerequisite to any application of equitable tolling, however, is a finding that “[the] petitioner [has] diligently pursue[d] his federal habeas claims.” Gibson, 232 F.3d at 808; accord Marsh v. Soares, 223 F.3d 1217, 1220 (10th Cir. 2000) (“[T]his equitable remedy is only available when an inmate [1] diligently pursues his claims and [2] demonstrates that failure to timely file was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond his control.”). The district court declined to apply equitable tolling because Mr. Hollis failed to “allege any extraordinary circumstances that would justify equitable -6- tolling in this action.” Rec. doc. 7, at 4 (order and judgment of dismissal, filed Dec. 4, 2001). Mr. Hollis on appeal presses the same allegations of error, this time expressly contending that his claims are not time-barred pursuant to § 2244(d)(1). Because we conclude that the district court correctly applied the § 2244(d)(1) time bar, and that Mr. Hollis has failed to raise any substantial question regarding the district court’s application of that time bar, we find equitable tolling inappropriate and accordingly deny Mr. Hollis’ request for a COA.