Opinion ID: 534064
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: cause for state procedural default

Text: 3 A state prisoner may not obtain federal habeas corpus relief after a state court procedural default absent a showing of cause and actual prejudice. Reed v. Ross, 468 U.S. 1, 11 (1984) (citing Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 129 (1982)). The prisoner establishes cause by showing that some objective factor external to the defense impeded his efforts to comply with the state's procedural rules. Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488 (1986). 4 Kaspersky's argument that his post-conviction counsel failed to tell him that any claims not raised in his motion for rehearing would be waived is based on the premise that his appellate counsel was ineffective. That argument cannot constitute cause here because Kaspersky did not present a claim of ineffectiveness of appellate counsel to the Arizona state courts. See Tacho v. Martinez, 862 F.2d 1376, 1381 (9th Cir.1988) (in order to establish cause in federal court, an independent claim of ineffectiveness must first be presented to the state courts). 5 Nor does the state's action in segregating Kaspersky's jailhouse lawyer constitute cause. See Hughes v. Idaho State Bd. of Corrections, 800 F.2d 905, 908-09 (9th Cir.1986) (release of inmate who helped petitioner prepare post-conviction petition does not constitute cause). Additionally, the state's failure to return to Kaspersky his files, which contained copies of previous pleadings which his counsel filed on his behalf, does not constitute cause. Kaspersky's inability to obtain his prior pleadings would not have impeded his counsel who presumably retained copies of those pleadings. 6 Kaspersky did not argue to the district court that the state failed to equip the Arizona State Penitentiary with a constitutionally adequate law library and inmate legal assistance program. Nor did he argue that Arizona's rules governing post-conviction relief are too complex. We, therefore, do not consider these arguments for cause. See, e.g., Willard v. California, 812 F.2d 461, 465 (9th Cir.1987). 7 The trial court's alleged error in accepting Kaspersky's pro se petition for rehearing when he was represented by counsel, and the state's alleged failure to file a response to Kaspersky's first petition for post-conviction relief, do not constitute cause. Kaspersky cannot demonstrate that these actions impeded his efforts to preserve his claims.