Opinion ID: 2221665
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: defendant failed to exhaust his state remedies.

Text: Second, it is clear to this Court that the defendant did not exhaust his state remedies, a prerequisite to filing a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Defendant never requested state court review of his claim that this Court's March 3, 2000, order violated his constitutional rights to due process. Therefore, the courts of this state have never been presented with an opportunity to consider and rule on that issue. In Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 275-276, 92 S.Ct. 509, 30 L.Ed.2d 438 (1971), the United States Supreme Court held that a state prisoner seeking federal habeas corpus relief must present to the state courts the same claim that he urges upon the federal courts, in order to exhaust his state remedies. In Picard, the defendant was convicted of murder in state court. During the course of state court proceedings, the defendant never argued that the state had denied his constitutional rights to equal protection. He raised that claim for the first time before the federal courts in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari and reversed the grant of habeas corpus, holding that the defendant had not exhausted his state remedies: We emphasize that the federal claim must be fairly presented to the state courts. If the exhaustion doctrine is to prevent unnecessary conflict between courts equally bound to guard and protect rights secured by the Constitution,... it is not sufficient merely that the federal habeas applicant has been through the state courts. The rule would serve no purpose if it could be satisfied by raising one claim in the state courts and another in the federal courts. Only if the state courts have had the first opportunity to hear the claim sought to be vindicated in a federal habeas proceeding does it make sense to speak of the exhaustion of state remedies. Accordingly, we have required a state prisoner to present the state courts with the same claim he urges upon the federal courts. [Emphasis added.] With regard to the instant case, defendant Puertas did not request a Michigan court to review whether his constitutional right to due process was violated by this Court's March 3, 2000, order denying his request for appeal bond, even though Michigan law provides defendant with the opportunity to file an action for habeas corpus. MCL 600.4301 et seq., M.S.A. § 27A.4301 et seq. Therefore, under the rule of Picard, defendant is not able to raise a due process claim in a federal court action for habeas corpus because he did not exhaust his state remedies. [15] Further, when defendant filed his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, he had not exhausted his state remedies as described by Sixth Circuit precedent, because his substantive appeal remained pending before the Michigan Court of Appeals. Bloss, 421 F.2d 903. In Bloss, the defendant's motion for bond pending appeal of his state conviction had been heard by the Michigan trial court, the Court of Appeals, and this Court. The defendant had clearly acquired a final decision from the courts of this state on his request for an appeal bond. However, his substantive appeal challenging his criminal convictions remained pending in the state courts. Considering these facts, the Sixth Circuit held that the defendant had not exhausted his state remedies, and concluded that habeas corpus proceedings in the district court were inappropriate. [16] In the instant case, defendant's substantive appeal remained pending in the courts of this state at the time he filed his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Therefore, under Bloss, he did not exhaust his state remedies and was not entitled to petition the district court for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. [17] Because defendant did not exhaust his state remedies, as required by federal statute and Sixth Circuit precedent, we believe that the district court inappropriately entertained defendant's petition for a writ of habeas corpus.