Martinez v. Martinez

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• Decided: August 22, 2025
• Docket: 24-2105
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 1 FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 22, 2025 _________________________________ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court ARMANDO MARTINEZ,

Petitioner - Appellant,

v. No. 24-2105 (D.C. No. 2:21-CV-00848-MV-DLM) RICHARD MARTINEZ; ATTORNEY (D. N.M.) GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

Respondents - Appellees. _________________________________

ORDER AND JUDGMENT* _________________________________

Before McHUGH, KELLY, and FEDERICO, Circuit Judges. _________________________________

New Mexico prisoner Armando Martinez appeals from the district court’s

denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas application. Exercising jurisdiction under

28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 2253(a), we affirm.

* After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 2

BACKGROUND

Mr. Martinez is intellectually disabled, with a “verbal IQ of 63, performance

IQ of 73, full scale IQ of 65, and full verbal IQ of 55.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 8. A

forensic psychologist opined that “he has the language development, socialization,

self-direction, and communication abilities of a three-year-old child.” Id.1 His

habeas claims are rooted in his intellectual disability.

When Mr. Martinez was accused of engaging in criminal sexual conduct, a

detective interviewed him. Although he initially said his conduct was consensual, he

eventually agreed with the detective’s suggestion that it was not consensual. After

the state court found Mr. Martinez competent to be tried, the prosecution introduced

that statement along with other evidence at trial. A jury convicted Mr. Martinez of

two counts of second-degree criminal sexual penetration, one count of false

imprisonment, and one count of aggravated battery. Mr. Martinez unsuccessfully

pursued a direct appeal and state habeas proceedings in which he argued, among

other issues, that he was incompetent to be tried and that his counsel was ineffective

in failing to recognize the importance of his intellectual disability, both as to the

voluntariness of his statement to the detective and as a defense at trial.

1 Mr. Martinez demonstrated somewhat higher equivalent mental ages in other areas. “In the domains of economic activity; numbers and times; responsibility; and vocational activity, Mr. Martinez’s equivalent mental age ranged from between four years, six months, to seven years, six months.” Aplee. Resp. Br. at 7. But “[i]n the independent-functioning domain . . . Mr. Martinez’s mental-age equivalent was above that of an average sixteen[-]year[-]old, and for domestic activity . . . his mental-age equivalent was that of an average fourteen[-]year[-]old.” Id. 2 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 3

Mr. Martinez brought several claims in his § 2254 application. As relevant

here, he asserted that he was incompetent and therefore trying him violated his right

to due process. He also asserted that, in light of his intellectual disability, his counsel

was ineffective for not challenging the voluntariness of his statement and not

presenting a defense based on mental deficiency. The magistrate judge issued

proposed findings and a recommended disposition (PFRD) rejecting the claims. The

district court overruled Mr. Martinez’s objections, denied the § 2254 application, and

denied a COA.

We granted a COA on the claims that (1) Mr. Martinez’s right to due process

was violated because he was incompetent to be tried, and (2) in light of his

intellectual disability, his counsel was ineffective in not challenging the voluntariness

of his statement to a detective and not presenting a defense based on mental

deficiency. The State filed a response brief advocating for affirmance. Mr. Martinez

did not file a reply brief.

DISCUSSION

I. Legal Standards

“We review the district court’s legal analysis of the state court decision

de novo and its factual findings, if any, for clear error.” Newmiller v. Raemisch,

877 F.3d 1178, 1194 (10th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d), a habeas applicant must demonstrate that the state

court’s adjudication of his claim “resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or

involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as

3 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 4

determined by the Supreme Court of the United States,” § 2254(d)(1), or “resulted in

a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the

evidence presented in the State court proceeding,” § 2254(d)(2). It is Mr. Martinez’s

burden to satisfy the “demanding standards” for habeas relief. Meek v. Martin,

74 F.4th 1223, 1249 (10th Cir. 2023).

A state-court decision is “contrary to” Supreme Court “precedent if the state

court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a

question of law” or “if the state court confronts facts that are materially

indistinguishable from a relevant Supreme Court precedent and arrives at a result

opposite to [the Court’s].” Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405 (2000). A decision

is “an unreasonable application of” Supreme Court precedent when “the state court

identifies the correct governing legal rule from [the Supreme] Court’s cases but

unreasonably applies it to the facts of the particular state prisoner’s case.” Id. at 407.

“[D]eference and reasonableness are our watchwords as we review

[state-court] rulings” in habeas cases. Meek, 74 F.4th at 1248. “[I]t is insufficient to

show that the state court’s decision was merely wrong or even clear error. The

prisoner must show that a state court’s decision is so obviously wrong that no

reasonable judge could arrive at the same conclusion given the facts of the prisoner’s

case.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). “It bears repeating that

even a strong case for relief does not mean the state court’s contrary conclusion was

unreasonable.” Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 102 (2011).

4 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 5

II. Competency

“[T]he criminal trial of an incompetent defendant violates due process.”

Medina v. California, 505 U.S. 437, 453 (1992). The test for competency to stand

trial is “whether [a defendant] has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer

with a reasonable degree of rational understanding—and whether he has a rational as

well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him.” Dusky v. United

States, 362 U.S. 402, 402 (1960) (per curiam); see also Cooper v. Oklahoma,

517 U.S. 348, 354 (1996) (describing the Dusky standard as “well settled”).

The state trial court held a pre-trial competency hearing at which it heard the

testimony of forensic psychologist Dr. Susan Cave. Although Dr. Cave opined that

Mr. Martinez was incompetent to be tried, the trial court found Mr. Martinez

competent. After reviewing Dr. Cave’s testimony (some of which supported the

finding of competency, and some of which undermined it), the New Mexico Court of

Appeals (NMCA) identified evidence supporting the finding:

Dr. Cave testified as to Defendant’s ability to consult with his attorney and assist in his defense. According to Dr. Cave, Defendant was able to identify and name his attorney. Defendant also understood he could help his defense by telling his lawyer his version of events, and importantly, knew what confidentiality was in his concrete way of expressing himself.

Dr. Cave also testified as to Defendant’s understanding of the nature of the proceedings against him and acknowledged that Defendant expressed an understanding of the pleas he could enter in court and knew the definitions of “guilty” and “not guilty.” Although he had some difficulty understanding the district attorney’s role, he accurately characterized the roles of other courtroom players, such as the public defender, judge, and jury. Of note, when asked to define the public defender’s role, Defendant said, “He is there to defend me.” Defendant also demonstrated an

5 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 6

understanding of probation and was also able to tell Dr. Cave what some of the specific conditions of probation might be, such as, no weapons, alcohol, or contact with Victim. He further understood that there would be no probation if he was found not guilty. Defendant also knew that if he accepted a plea bargain he would be giving up his rights.

Dr. Cave’s testimony additionally indicates that Defendant comprehended the nature of the charges against him and the reasons for punishment. Defendant knew he was charged with [criminal sexual penetration] and for “hitting” Victim. He appreciated the difference between misdemeanors and felonies and that felonies were more serious offenses. Defendant was aware that he could go to prison if he was found guilty. Moreover, Defendant knew that he did not have to testify and defined evidence as “proof.”

R. at 465-69 (alterations, citations, and internal quotation marks omitted). The

NMCA therefore upheld the trial court’s finding of competency. The New Mexico

Supreme Court denied a writ of certiorari.

In considering the § 2254 application, the magistrate judge recommended the

federal district court hold that the NMCA’s decision was not an unreasonable

application of the Dusky standard. Mr. Martinez objected, stating that the decision

was unreasonable because the indictment and jury instructions were too complex for

a person with his intellectual disability to understand. The district court rejected the

claim, holding that (1) Mr. Martinez waived his argument about the indictment and

jury instructions because he did not make it in his amended § 2254 application, but

instead asserted it for the first time in his objections, and (2) the argument failed on

the merits. It stated that Mr. Martinez “does not argue or point to facts showing that

he did, in fact, misunderstand any of the terms of the indictment or the jury

instructions, or otherwise argue that he lacked sufficient present ability to consult

6 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 7

with his lawyer under the Dusky standard.” R. at 895. And he did not “cite[] to any

clearly established federal law (as he must) to support his position that he should

have been deemed incompetent based on a theoretical supposition that he could not

have understood the terms in the indictment and/or jury instructions, with no basis

for that supposition in fact.” Id.

Mr. Martinez asserts that “[i]t was manifestly unreasonable for the New

Mexico state courts to find and conclude that [he] is somehow competent when he

operates at the level of a three-year[-]old toddler as to language development,

socialization, self-direction, and communication abilities.” Aplt. Opening Br. at 19.

We cannot conclude, however, that Mr. Martinez is entitled to relief under § 2254.

First, Mr. Martinez’s competency argument heavily relies on his assertion that

he could not understand the indictment and jury instructions. The district court held

that he waived this argument. He states that he did not waive his competency

argument, and it is true that he consistently has asserted that he was not competent to

be tried. But he first asserted that he was not competent to be tried because he could

not understand the indictment or the jury instructions in his objections to the PFRD.

That was too late. See United States v. Garfinkle, 261 F.3d 1030, 1031

(10th Cir. 2001) (“In this circuit, theories raised for the first time in objections to the

magistrate judge’s report are deemed waived.”).

Second, even disregarding waiver, Mr. Martinez has not shown he is entitled

to relief on the competency claim. His argument about the indictment and jury

instructions rests on a presumption, rather than facts: Mr. Martinez asserts that

7 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 8

because of his intellectual disability, he could not have understood the indictment and

jury instructions, but he did not supply any evidence that he did not understand either

the indictment or the jury instructions. But as the district court stated, he has not

identified any Supreme Court precedent establishing a presumption that would apply

in these circumstances. See Harrington, 562 U.S. at 101 (“It is not an unreasonable

application of clearly established Federal law for a state court to decline to apply a

specific legal rule that has not been squarely established by [the Supreme] Court.”

(brackets and internal quotation marks omitted)).

The record before the state court included evidence in favor of and evidence

undermining a finding of competency. On this record, “[a]t the very least, it is

possible fairminded jurists could disagree regarding whether the [state court’s]

competency determination conflicts with Supreme Court precedent.” Grant v. Royal,

886 F.3d 874, 914 (10th Cir. 2018) (internal quotation marks omitted). As such,

Mr. Martinez has not demonstrated entitlement to habeas relief. See Harrington,

562 U.S. at 103 (“As a condition for obtaining habeas corpus from a federal court, a

state prisoner must show that the state court’s ruling on the claim being presented in

federal court was so lacking in justification that there was an error well understood

and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded

disagreement.”).

Finally, Mr. Martinez suggests in passing that the district court should have

held an evidentiary hearing with regard to his competency claim. “[A] passing

reference to a matter is insufficient to present an issue for appellate review.” Tryon

8 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 9

v. Quick, 81 F.4th 1110, 1151 n.22 (10th Cir. 2023), cert. denied, 144 S. Ct. 2586

(2024). Mr. Martinez fails to develop an argument on why he was entitled to

hearing, despite the limitations on evidentiary hearings in § 2254 cases,

see § 2254(e)(2). We thus do not consider the issue.

III. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant “must show that

counsel’s performance was deficient” and “that the deficient performance prejudiced

the defense.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). To demonstrate

prejudice, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but

for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine

confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694.

The state habeas court concluded that Mr. Martinez’s counsel performed

deficiently, but it denied relief on the prejudice prong. It noted that he “did not even

attempt to present evidence that [he] was prejudiced,” but instead he “seemed to

assume that if counsel was deficient there was prejudice.” R. at 628. It reviewed the

totality of the evidence but did not find prejudice. The New Mexico Supreme Court

denied a writ of certiorari.

The magistrate judge recommended denying the ineffective-assistance claim

because Mr. Martinez did “not argue that the state habeas court unreasonably applied

Strickland in finding he was not prejudiced, or that it made an unreasonable finding

of fact in denying his claim.” R. at 862. Mr. Martinez argued prejudice in his

9 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 10

objections, but the district court rejected the ineffective-assistance claim for two

reasons: (1) Mr. Martinez waived his prejudice argument by failing to include it in

his § 2254 application, and (2) the claim would fail on the merits because he had not

shown prejudice. The district court also denied Mr. Martinez’s request for an

evidentiary hearing.

Before this court, Mr. Martinez asserts that the district court erred in holding

he waived his prejudice argument. He also challenges the denial of an evidentiary

hearing. But he does not address the district court’s second reason for denying relief

on this claim—that it would fail on the merits. “If the district court states multiple

alternative grounds for its ruling and the appellant does not challenge all those

grounds in the opening brief, then we may affirm the ruling.” Rivero v. Bd. of

Regents of Univ. of N.M., 950 F.3d 754, 763 (10th Cir. 2020).

Even disregarding the failure to challenge the merits ruling, however, we

cannot conclude the state court’s decision was contrary to or an unreasonable

application of Strickland. See Harrington, 562 U.S. at 101 (“The pivotal question is

whether the state court’s application of the Strickland standard was unreasonable.”);

id. at 105 (“The standards created by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both highly

deferential, and when the two apply in tandem, review is doubly so.” (citations and

internal quotation marks omitted)). Although Mr. Martinez had not identified

evidence of prejudice, the state court evaluated the prejudice prong. It found that

even without the statement to the detective, there was sufficient evidence to convict

Mr. Martinez, and it concluded that Mr. Martinez had “not met his burden of showing

10 Appellate Case: 24-2105 Document: 34-1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025 Page: 11

that the outcome of his trial would have been different” and had not “undermined

confidence in the outcome of this case.” R. at 628. This discussion reflected the

proper legal standards. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Harrington, 562 U.S. at

111-12. And at the very least, fair-minded jurists could disagree on whether the state

court correctly concluded that Mr. Martinez did not show prejudice. See Harrington,

562 U.S. at 113 (recognizing “ample basis” for the state court “to think any real

possibility of [the petitioner’s] being acquitted was eclipsed by the remaining

evidence pointing to guilt”). Mr. Martinez therefore is not entitled to habeas relief.

See id. at 101, 103.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the district court’s judgment.

Entered for the Court

Carolyn B. McHugh Circuit Judge