Opinion ID: 782941
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reasonable Diligence and Causation

Text: 35 The presence of extraordinary circumstances is not enough, however, to justify the application of equitable tolling. A petitioner must also show that he acted with reasonable diligence, and that the extraordinary circumstances caused his petition to be untimely. See Hizbullahankhamon, 255 F.3d at 75. 36 The standard is not extreme diligence or exceptional diligence, it is reasonable diligence. On remand, the district court should ask: did the petitioner act as diligently as reasonably could have been expected under the circumstances? The circumstances here include: (1) Baldayaque's efforts at the earliest possible time to secure counsel for the purpose of filing a habeas petition; (2) Baldayaque's lack of funds to consult another lawyer; (3) Weinstein's assurances to Rivera and Marquez that everything had been done that could be done; (4) Weinstein's failure to communicate directly with Baldayaque at any time; (5) Baldayaque's lack of education and inability to speak or write English; and (6) Baldayaque's incarceration and attendant lack of direct access to other forms of legal assistance. 5 On remand, the district court should also consider whether Weinstein's actions prevented Baldayaque from filing a timely petition. 6