Galeska v. Duncan

894 F. Supp. 1375, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15240, 1995 WL 447472
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedJune 29, 1995
DocketCiv. No. CV 94-7776-WDK (Mc)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 894 F. Supp. 1375 (Galeska v. Duncan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Galeska v. Duncan, 894 F. Supp. 1375, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15240, 1995 WL 447472 (C.D. Cal. 1995).

Opinion

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

KELLER, District Judge.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 636(b)(1)(B), the Court has reviewed the pleadings and other papers herein, the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge, and approves and adopts the Magistrate Judge’s findings, conclusions and recommendations.

IT IS ORDERED that the Clerk shall serve copies of this Order and the Judgment by United States Mail on the petitioner and the Attorney General for the State of California.

ORDER TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT

The motion of the respondents to restrict the petitioner’s access to the court is granted.

The Clerk of the Court shall not accept for filing any petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. section 2254 naming Ronald Allen Galeska as a petitioner and asserting claims arising out of his state court conviction for first degree murder and financial gain special circumstances (California Superi- or Court for the County of Ventura, case no. CR 21718) unless and until the petitioner first files with the Clerk an application for leave, bearing the caption “Application Seeking Leave to File.” The application for leave shall include a copy of this Order to the Clerk of the Court. Any such habeas petition shall not be filed:

(i) without prior written authorization from a United States District Judge or a United States Magistrate Judge upon such showing of evidence supporting the claim as the judge may require; and

(ii) without a signed declaration under penalty of perjury by Ronald Allen Galeska describing facts meeting the requirements of cause and prejudice or a fundamental miscarriage of justice.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE ON A PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS BY A PERSON IN STATE CUSTODY

McMAHON, United States Magistrate Judge.

This Report and Recommendation is submitted to the Honorable William D. Keller, United States District Judge, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 636 and General Order 194 of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

On November 17, 1994, the petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. section 2254. For the reasons discussed below, the magistrate judge recommends that the court dismiss the petition as an abuse of the writ. The magistrate judge [1378]*1378further recommends that the court issue a pre-filing order restricting the petitioner’s ability to file future petitions in this court.

BACKGROUND

On August 23,1987, following a bench trial in the Ventura County Superior Court, the petitioner was convicted of first degree murder. The court also found that the petitioner committed the murder for financial gain. The petitioner was sentenced to life without possibility of parole.

On direct appeal, the petitioner argued that the trial court erred by failing properly to advise him of his rights prior to his entry of a “slow plea”; and by failing to dismiss a special circumstance allegation that the murder was intentional and carried out for financial gain pursuant to People v. Bigelow, 37 Cal.3d 731, 209 Cal.Rptr. 328, 691 P.2d 994 (1984). He also raised a claim regarding the retroactive application of People v. Howard, 44 Cal.3d 375, 243 Cal.Rptr. 842, 749 P.2d 279, cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871, 109 S.Ct. 188, 102 L.Ed.2d 157 (1988), which the California Court of Appeal declined to address. People v. Howard, supra, is a case discussing the scope of the financial gain special circumstance instruction under California law. On January 20, 1989, the Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction. (Answer, ex. A). The California Supreme Court denied the petitioner’s petition for review on April 20, 1989.

On July 13, 1989, the petitioner filed the first of nine federal habeas corpus petitions, case no. CV 89-4219-DT(S). The petitioner alleged that the ex post facto clause was violated by retroactively applying Howard, 44 Cal.3d 375, 243 Cal.Rptr. 842, 749 P.2d 279, rather than Bigelow, 37 Cal.3d 731, 209 Cal.Rptr. 328, 691 P.2d 994 to support the financial gain special circumstance allegation. He also alleged: that the ex post facto clause was violated by the enactment of California Penal Code section 28(b), which eliminated the defense of diminished capacity; that his guilty plea was invalid because it was a “slow plea” and he did not waive all of his rights; and that he was mentally impaired when he committed the crime. (Answer, ex. D). The court dismissed the petition on December 19, 1989, for failure to exhaust state remedies. (Answer, ex. E).

On July 13,1989, the same day he filed the first federal petition, the petitioner filed a second federal habeas petition, case no. CV 89-4220-RSWL(S). The second petition alleged the same grounds as the first petition. (Answer, ex. F). The court dismissed the second petition on December 19, 1989, for failure to exhaust state remedies. (Answer, ex. G).

The petitioner then filed two petitions for a writ of habeas corpus with the California Supreme Court. The first petition alleged that the petitioner’s “slow plea” was invalid and that the evidence did not support first degree murder due to the petitioner’s diminished capacity and the fact that no deadly weapon was used. The second petition alleged: that the evidence did not support first degree murder due to the petitioner’s diminished capacity; that the financial gain special circumstance instruction was improper; and that the petitioner did not waive his right to a jury trial on the financial gain allegation. The petitions were dismissed on April 4, 1990, and June 13, 1990, respectively.

On June 28, 1990, the petitioner filed his third federal habeas petition, case no. CV 90-3384-RSWL(S). He alleged that his guilty plea was invalid because it was a “slow plea” and he was not properly advised of his rights; and that the evidence was insufficient to prove intent because the petitioner was suffering from mental illness. (Answer, ex. B). This court dismissed this petition on the merits with prejudice on May 8, 1991. (Answer, ex. C).

On June 28,1990, the same day he filed his third petition, the petitioner filed a fourth federal habeas petition, case no. CV 90-3385-WDK(S). The fourth petition alleged: that the ex post facto clause was violated by the retroactive application of Howard, 44 Cal.3d 375, 243 Cal.Rptr. 842, 749 P.2d 279 to support the financial gain special circumstance allegation; that the petitioner’s guilty plea was invalid because it was a “slow plea”; and the petitioner should have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. (Answer, ex. J).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

(PC) Howell v. Johnson
E.D. California, 2021

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
894 F. Supp. 1375, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15240, 1995 WL 447472, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/galeska-v-duncan-cacd-1995.