Opinion ID: 594411
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Adequate Evidentiary Hearing

Text: 133 Campbell alleges that the district court improperly compacted consideration of his claims into a single day of hearings and thus did not provide an adequate evidentiary hearing. Campbell also contends that the district court's finding of probable cause to appeal but then denying a stay of execution was error. This latter contention is moot since we granted the stay of execution and have afforded a full opportunity to present all of his contentions in this appeal. The major concern on this appeal is whether the district court afforded an adequate opportunity to develop, at a factual hearing, any facts upon which the petition was based that were not adequately developed in the State court records or in the prior petition heard by the district court. The district court properly established expedited procedures in accordance with the standards set forth in Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 103 S.Ct. 3383, 77 L.Ed.2d 1090 (1983) and afforded Campbell and his attorneys wide latitude at the hearing to present whatever evidence they deemed appropriate in support of the petition. 134 A federal district court is required to conduct an evidentiary hearing on particular contentions where the petitioner alleges facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief. Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 312, 83 S.Ct. 745, 757, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1963). The court need not conduct an evidentiary hearing on allegations in the petition that are conclusory and wholly devoid of specifics. Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d 1228 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 838, 105 S.Ct. 137, 83 L.Ed.2d 77 (1984) (citation omitted). On allegations that involve only issues of law, obviously an evidentiary hearing is not required. 135 A factual hearing was conducted on the allegations concerning effective assistance of counsel. As previously noted, the two attorneys representing Campbell in the State trial testified and were examined by Campbell's attorneys. Three other witnesses testified. Campbell claims that there was an inadequate opportunity to prepare for that hearing and that further evidence could have been produced. This evidence would have been addressed to the argument that the jury selection process is important in a trial and that prejudice had resulted from Campbell's not being present. In light of our resolution of this issue on the basis that Campbell knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to be present at the time of the jury voir dire further evidence concerning the possible effect on the outcome would not affect our determination of this issue. 136 The only other issue which Campbell raises on appeal that could have involved testimony and could have arguably required a further factual hearing is the contention that hanging constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Because we have resolved this issue on the basis that Campbell had a choice to elect lethal injection as the method of execution, factual questions concerning the manner in which a hanging execution takes place is not pertinent. Thus, we find no failure on the part of the district court to conduct necessary factual inquiry.