Court Opinion

ID: 682156
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 01:40:32+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:13:23.722926
License: Public Domain

39 F.3d 1187
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.David S. HARRISON, Petitioner-Appellant,v.UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 94-55124.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Oct. 7, 1994.*Decided Nov. 8, 1994.

1
Before:  D.W. NELSON, NORRIS, and BOGGS,** Circuit Judges.

2
MEMORANDUM***

3
Petitioner David Harrison pled guilty and was sentenced in 1989 to two ten-year prison terms and a five-year probation term for bombing and arson, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 844(i), and aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of stolen property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Secs. 2314 and 2.  Harrison's attorney filed a timely notice of appeal, which was dismissed for lack of prosecution on June 28, 1989.  Unaware that his claim had been dismissed, Harrison, sua sponte, filed a Motion for Voluntary Dismissal of Appeal on August 1, 1989.  Harrison filed this Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct his sentence under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 in February 1992.  The court below denied the motion, holding that Harrison's issues were procedurally barred because he did not pursue them on direct appeal.

4
On appeal, we affirm.  Harrison pled guilty, and thus can only show cause and prejudice necessary to overcome this procedural bar by demonstrating that his plea was involuntary or that he was denied effective assistance of counsel.   See United States v. Cortez, 973 F.2d 764, 766 (9th Cir.1992);   Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 266-67 (1973).

5
Harrison has not argued that his plea was involuntary.  Nor has he shown that his counsel's performance was deficient.  Harrison moved on his own to dismiss his direct appeal.  Therefore, he cannot argue that his counsel prejudiced his ability to pursue these issues on direct appeal by acting so incompetently that Harrison's prosecution was rendered unreliable or unfair.   Lockhart v. Fretwell, 113 S.Ct. 838, 844 (1993);   Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686 (1984).

6
AFFIRMED.

*
 The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument.  Fed.R.App.P. 34(a);  Ninth Circuit Rule 34-4

**
 The Honorable Danny J. Boggs, United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation

***
 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or used by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3