Court Opinion

ID: 9408256
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-12 00:00:43.783962+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:42.970348
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-30392         Document: 00516816540             Page: 1      Date Filed: 07/11/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________                              United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit

                                                                                        FILED
                                       No. 22-30392                                   July 11, 2023
                                     Summary Calendar
                                     ____________                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                       Clerk
   Alcus Smith,

                                                                    Petitioner—Appellant,

                                             versus

   Tim Hooper, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary,

                                                Respondent—Appellee.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                               USDC No. 2:20-CV-3190
                      ______________________________

   Before Barksdale, Elrod, and Haynes, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Alcus Smith, Louisiana prisoner # 527215 and proceeding pro se,
   appeals the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application challenging his jury-
   trial convictions for racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and
   possession with intent to distribute cocaine. See La. Stat. Ann. §§ 15:1352,
   40:967(A), 40:979. Pursuant to a 28 U.S.C. § 2253 certificate of appealability

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-30392       Document: 00516816540          Page: 2    Date Filed: 07/11/2023

                                     No. 22-30392

   issued by the district court, he maintains his non-unanimous jury verdicts
   violated Ramos v. Louisiana, 140 S. Ct. 1390 (2020) (holding state jury must
   be unanimous to convict defendant of serious offense).
            The district court’s findings of fact are reviewed for clear error; its
   conclusions of law, de novo. Martinez v. Johnson, 255 F.3d 229, 237 (5th Cir.
   2001).
            As the district court correctly explained, Smith’s convictions became
   final prior to the issuance of Ramos, which is not retroactively applicable to
   final convictions on federal collateral review. E.g., Edwards v. Vannoy, 141 S.
   Ct. 1547, 1562 (2021) (“Ramos announced a new rule of criminal procedure.
   It does not apply retroactively on federal collateral review.”). Accordingly,
   his assertions regarding Ramos’ applicability to his convictions are without
   merit.
            AFFIRMED.

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