Opinion ID: 659895
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Grounds (3), (5), (6), and (7)

Text: 15 Leaving aside for the moment those claims alleging ineffective assistance of counsel--which require a discussion of Billy-Eko--four of the grounds can be eliminated either because they have already been decided on the merits, or because Douglas failed to raise them on direct appeal. Grounds (3), (6), and (7) were all presented in the first Sec. 2255 motion to Judge McLaughlin, who dismissed the motion on its merits although he did not specifically discuss these three claims. The fact that they were presented to him, and that he dismissed the petition in its entirety, indicates that the claims were considered and rejected. This Court affirmed that disposition. Consequently, those three claims are precluded from consideration. 16 Ground (5), which alleges that the enhanced statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base are unconstitutional, was not raised previously. This includes not only the direct appeal, but also the subsequent Sec. 2255 motions, in which Douglas has not been reluctant to raise whatever claims he could. Douglas must therefore show cause for failing to raise the constitutional issues. He cannot meet this burden. The legal basis for this challenge to his conviction was available at the time of his direct appeal and at the time of his subsequent motions. During this time, he was represented by no fewer than three different attorneys. Douglas's failure to raise the issue at any previous time is without good cause, and therefore that issue is procedurally barred from consideration.