Mack v. Newland

191 F. App'x 580

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

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California state prisoner Maurice Mack appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm.

Mack contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions because his use of cocaine coupled with his prior injury rendered him incapable of malice, premeditation or deliberation. We conclude that the state court’s decision that there was sufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact to find the elements of first-degree murder was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, as determined by the United States Supreme Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 324, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).

Mack contends that he is entitled to relief because of newly discovered evidence consisting of two declarations which purport to establish that he was intoxicated at the time of the killings. Because Mack has not shown either an independent constitutional violation during state court proceedings or conclusive evidence of his innocence, we reject this claim. See Turner v. Calderon, 281 F.3d 851, 872-73 (9th Cir.2002).

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.