Caldwell v. Dretke

182 F. App'x 346

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: May 26, 2006
• Docket: 03-10928
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Lee Edwin Caldwell, formerly Texas prisoner # 936708, was convicted after a bench trial of false imprisonment. The district court dismissed Caldwell’s 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application as time-barred, but granted a certificate of appealability as to whether it erred in determining that his application was untimely and that the limitations period should not be equitably tolled. Caldwell argues, inter alia, that he is entitled to equitable tolling based on his medical condition, delays he encountered in obtaining documents, problems with sending and receiving mail, limitations on his access to the law library, and intimidation by his cellmates.

The district court did not err in determining that Caldwell’s § 2254 application was untimely. The limitations period was tolled by Caldwell’s first state application for postconviction relief, which was prepared by counsel. See § 2244(d)(2). Caldwell filed a second state application for postconviction relief, pro se, one year after the decision denying his first application. His second application was rejected for failure to comply with Tex.R.App. P. 73.2, and, therefore, did not toll the limitations period because it was not properly filed. See Artuz v. Bennett, 531 U.S. 4, 8, 121 S.Ct. 361, 148 L.Ed.2d 213 (2000). Caldwell’s later-filed § 2254 application was untimely. See § 2244(d)(1).

Although Caldwell has asserted that he encountered numerous problems in preparing his second state application for postconviction relief, he has not supported these allegations with evidence of the rare and exceptional circumstances necessary to warrant equitable tolling. See Looking-bill v. Cockrell, 293 F.3d 256, 263-64 (5th Cir.2002). We note, in particular, the absence of specific evidence of the impact of his medical conditions on his ability to file a timely application, the lack of evidence regarding why certain documents were necessary to the preparation of his application, and the fact that Caldwell was able to prepare a lengthy application. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying equitable tolling. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 351, 361-62, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996); Coleman v. Johnson, 184 F.3d 398, 402-03 (5th Cir. 1999); Ross v. Estelle, 694 F.2d 1008, 1011-12 (5th Cir.1983).

Caldwell’s request for the appointment of counsel is DENIED.

AFFIRMED.

* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.