Court Opinion

ID: 169867
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 17:50:25+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:04.433939
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                            United States Court of Appeals
                                                                    Tenth Circuit

                                                                  October 12, 2007
                      UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
                                                     Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                         Clerk of Court
                               TENTH CIRCUIT

 B ARRY K EITH H O LLO WA Y ,

          Petitioner-A ppellant,

 v.                                                     No. 07-2092
                                                (D.C. No. CV 07-50 M V/RLP)
 TIM OTHY HATCH, W arden;                                 (D . N.M .)
 A TTO RN EY G EN ER AL FO R THE
 STA TE OF N EW M EX IC O,

          Respondents-Appellees.

                              OR DER AND JUDGM ENT *

Before BR ISC OE, EBEL, and M cCO NNELL, Circuit Judges.

      Petitioner-Appellant Barry Holloway, a state prisoner appearing pro se,

filed an action in federal district court requesting habeas corpus relief, pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2254, and requesting that counsel be appointed to represent him in

the matter. The district court did not consider the merits of M r. Hollow ay’s §

      *
         After examining appellant’s brief and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R.
34.1(G ). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This
order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of
the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
2254 petition, concluding instead that it was time-barred. The district court

similarly denied M r. Holloway’s request for counsel. Because the district court

did not rule on whether M r. Holloway could obtain a Certificate of Appealability

(COA), it is deemed denied. 10th Cir. R. 22.1(C). Exercising jurisdiction

pursuant to 28 U .S.C . § 2253(c)(1), we 1) deny M r. Holloway’s request for COA

because his claim for habeas corpus relief is time-barred; and 2) affirm the

district court’s decision not to appoint M r. Holloway counsel.

                                 BACKGROUND

        On M arch 16, 2004, M r. Holloway pled guilty in New M exico state court to

kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder.

An Amended Judgment was later entered on April 2, 2004. Over a year later, on

M ay 3, 2005, M r. Holloway filed a M otion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct an

Illegal Sentence in New M exico state court. This motion was denied on M ay 5,

2005.

        On October 3, 2006, M r. Holloway filed in New M exico state court a state

habeas petition. This petition was denied on October 5, 2006. M r. Holloway

subsequently filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the New M exico Supreme

Court on October, 30, 2006. This petition was denied on November 27, 2006.

M r. Holloway then filed in the United States District Court for the District of

New M exico a petition for writ of habeas corpus on January 12, 2007.

                                        -2-
                                   D ISC USSIO N

                   A. H ollow ay’s H abeas Claim is Time-Barred

      M r. Holloway’s application for federal habeas corpus relief is governed by

the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA ). Under 28

U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1) as amended by AEDPA , M r. Holloway was allowed one year

in which to file for federal habeas corpus relief after his conviction became final.

Rule 12-201(A)(2) of the New M exico Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that

parties must file an appeal within 30 days of the state district court’s judgment.

Thus, given that the A mended Judgment was entered on April 2, 2004, M r.

Holloway’s conviction became final on M ay 3, 2004 (M ay 2, 2004 was a Sunday)

and M r. Holloway therefore had until M ay 3, 2005 to file his claim for federal

habeas corpus relief.

      Accordingly, M r. Holloway’s claim for federal habeas corpus relief, which

he filed on January 12, 2007, is time-barred. Although under § 2244(d)(2), 1 M r.

Holloway’s statute of limitations may be tolled for two days due to the time it

took to render a decision on his M otion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct an Illegal

Sentence, 2 such tolling is of no aid to M r. Holloway’s habeas claim, as it was still

      1
        28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2) provides that “[t]he time during which a properly
filed application for State post-conviction or other collateral review with respect
to the pertinent judgment or claim is pending shall not be counted toward any
period of limitation....”
      2
          W e may not, however, toll M r. Holloway’s statute of limitations period
                                                                        (continued...)

                                         -3-
filed w ell after the M ay 5, 2005 limitations period had expired. Thus, because

M r. H ollow ay’s claim is time-barred, we deny COA.

    B. The District Court Properly Declined to Appoint H ollow ay Counsel

      M r. Holloway appeals the district court’s decision not to appoint him

counsel in relation to his habeas claim. “[T]he appointment of counsel in a

habeas action lies within the sound discretion of the habeas court unless the case

is so complex that the denial of counsel would amount to the denial of due

process.” Nance v. Nelson, 60 F.3d 837, 1995 W L 380803, *6 (10th Cir. June 21,

1995) (unpublished opinion). This is not such a case. Accordingly, the district

court’s denial of M r. Holloway’s request for counsel is affirmed.

      W e therefore DENY COA on M r. Holloway’s habeas claims and AFFIRM

the district court’s decision not to appoint M r. Holloway counsel.

                                       ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                       David M . Ebel
                                       Circuit Judge

      2
       (...continued)
on account of his other post-judgment activities, as these activities occurred after
his limitations period had already expired.

                                         -4-