Court Opinion

ID: 740808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 19:52:43+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:06:51.083452
License: Public Domain

113 F.3d 1246
97 CJ C.A.R. 834
NOTICE:  Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties.  See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.
Mondray JEFFERSON, Petitioner-Appellant,v.Robert FURLONG, Attorney General of the State of Colorado,Respondents-Appellees.
No. 96-1278
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
May 30, 1997.

Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, PORFILIO and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

1
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

2
After examining the briefs and 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);  10th Cir.  R. 34.1.9.  The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

3
Petitioner Mondray Jefferson filed an application for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 alleging that he had been denied his constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and effective assistance of counsel by the delay in his right to appeal his underlying state conviction.  Upon recommenda-tion of the magistrate judge, the district court dismissed the action without prejudice for failure of Mr. Jefferson to exhaust state remedies.  The court then denied Mr. Jefferson's request for a certificate of appealability.  The district court also denied leave to file an appeal without payment of fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, as amended by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, because Mr. Jefferson failed to submit a certified trust account statement.

4
We grant Mr. Jefferson's request to proceed on appeal without payment of fees.  As we held recently in United States v. Simmonds, No. 96-3287, 111 F.3d 737 (10th Cir.1997), a section 2254 habeas corpus action is not a civil action as contemplated by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, and Mr. Jefferson is not required to submit a certified statement of his trust account.

5
After reviewing the record in light of Mr. Jefferson's contentions, however, we deny his motion for a certificate of appealability.  For the reasons set forth in the district court's Order Adopting Magistrate Judge's Recommendation, we agree with the district court that Mr. Jefferson has failed to exhaust available state court remedies, a prerequisite to bringing this action.  Since Mr. Jefferson may obtain relief in state court, he has not yet made a "substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right."   28 U.S.C. § 2253.

6
Accordingly, we DENY Mr. Jefferson's application for a certificate of appealability and we DISMISS the appeal.

*
 This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel.  The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments;  nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir.  R. 36.3