Opinion ID: 167986
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: ineffective ness

Text: The magistrate judge recommended rejecting M r. Bolton’s ineffectiveness claim on the ground that in state postconviction proceedings M r. Bolton “had asserted the same theory [related to enhancement of his sentence with the prior -3- convictions] and the OCCA rejected the claim on the merits.” (Rep. and Recommendation at 6, Feb. 28, 2006.) The OCCA had indeed rejected an appellate-counsel-ineffectiveness claim related to the sentence enhancement because the improper-enhancement claim itself was meritless: W e note that Petitioner’s sentence, as assessed in this case, was within the proper range for the offense charged. W e also find no merit in Petitioner’s claim that his conviction was improperly enhanced by his misdemeanor drug conviction. The record presented to this Court does not support such a conclusion. W ith regard to Petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, we agree with the District Court’s conclusion that the underlying claim upon which Petitioner bases his claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel is without merit, therefore counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise the issue. R. Doc. 15 Ex. 4 at 3-4. The OCCA also stated that “Petitioner had two (2) prior felony convictions that were properly considered by the District Court in imposing Petitioner’s sentence.” R. Doc. 15 Ex. 4 at 3. Again, we will not second guess a state court’s interpretation of its own law on habeas review. See Bowser, 20 F.3d at 1065. Given the OCCA’s ruling rejecting on the merits M r. Bolton’s claim that his conviction was improperly enhanced, he was not prejudiced by his state-court attorney’s failure to raise the claim. Accordingly, his ineffectiveness claim must fail. See United States v. Cook, 45 F.3d 388, 393 (10th Cir. 1995) (counsel is not ineffective for failing to raise meritless claims). No reasonable jurist would decide otherw ise. -4- W e DENY a COA and DISM ISS the appeal. ENTERED FOR THE COURT Harris L Hartz