Opalec v. Curry

556 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65429, 2008 WL 787170
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedMarch 20, 2008
DocketC 06-6459 MHP (pr)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 556 F. Supp. 2d 1036 (Opalec v. Curry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Opalec v. Curry, 556 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65429, 2008 WL 787170 (N.D. Cal. 2008).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING HABEAS PETITION

MARILYN HALL PATEL, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

Roderick Opalec, a prisoner at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, filed this pro se action for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 to challenge the parole board’s 2005 decision that he was not suitable for parole. After about 14 years of incarceration during which he continuously has exhibited exemplary behavior, Opalec’s crime does not provide sufficient evidence to support the parole board’s decision that he is currently unsuitable for parole. The petition will be granted.

BACKGROUND

Roderick Opalec was convicted in 1990 in Los Angeles County Superior Court of attempted murder and was sentenced in 1992 to a term of life plus 3 years plus 3 years in prison. His habeas petition does not concern that conviction directly, but instead focuses on the January 28, 2005 decision by the Board of Parole Hearings (“BPH”) to find him not suitable for parole. This was Opalec’s third parole consideration hearing, and came more than five years after his October 10, 1999 minimum eligible parole date. (Opalec asserts and respondent does not dispute that the parole eligibility for an indeterminate life sentence for an attempted murder generally is 7 years, so that — like the 15-to-life sentence for second degree murder — the attempted murder sentence is often considered a 7-to-life sentence.)

The specifics regarding the crime and the circumstances regarding parole suitability are described in the Discussion section later in this order and are only mentioned here in brief. In 1990, Opalec was in a street gang and shot at someone twice from a car in retaliation for an attack two days earlier on someone in his gang. No one was hit by either of the bullets fired from his gun. He was convicted of attempted murder. Before this crime, he had an insignificant criminal record and some drug usage. What really jumps out at the reader is that, although Opalec went *1038 in to prison at an age and with a background that probably made continued misconduct and gang affiliation likely, he has done a 180-degree turn with his life. He has avoided drugs, alcohol and gangs in prison. He has had zero disciplinary problems in prison, has upgraded educationally and vocationally, and has an excellent psychological evaluation. Even the district attorney’s opposition to parole was much more subdued than in most cases.

Opalec sought relief in the California courts. The Monterey County Superior Court denied his petition in a short but reasoned order. Resp. Exh. 5. The California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court summarily denied his petitions. Resp. Exh. 7 and 8.

Opalec then filed his federal petition for writ of habeas corpus, asserting that his right to due process had been violated. Respondent filed an answer. Opalec filed a traverse. The matter is now ready for a decision on the merits.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

This court has subject matter jurisdiction over this habeas action for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 28 U.S.C. § 1331. This action is in the proper venue because the challenged action occurred at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. So-ledad is in Monterey County and within this judicial district. 28 U.S.C. §§ 84, 2241(d).

EXHAUSTION

Prisoners in state custody who wish to challenge collaterally in federal habeas proceedings either the fact or length of their confinement are required first to exhaust state judicial remedies, either on direct appeal or through collateral proceedings, by presenting the highest state court available with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of each and every claim they seek to raise in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c). The parties do not dispute that state court remedies were exhausted for the claims asserted in the petition.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

This court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). The petition may not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in state court unless the state court’s adjudication of the claim: “(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) 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.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); see Williams (Terry) v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 409-18, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). Section 2254(d) applies to a habeas petition from a state prisoner challenging the denial of parole. See Sass v. California Board of Prison Terms, 461 F.3d 1123, 1126-27 (9th Cir.2006).

DISCUSSION

A. Due Process Requires That Some Evidence Support A Parole Denial

A California prisoner with a sentence of a term of years to life with the possibility of parole has a protected liberty interest in release on parole and therefore a right to due process in the parole suitability proceedings. See Sass, 461 F.3d at 1127-28; Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369, 107 S.Ct. 2415, 96 L.Ed.2d 303 (1987); Greenholtz v. Inmates of Nebraska Penal & Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 99 *1039 S.Ct. 2100, 60 L.Ed.2d 668 (1979); Cal.Penal Code § 3041(b).

A parole board’s decision satisfies the requirements of due process if “some evidence” supports the decision. Sass, 461 F.3d at 1128-29 (adopting some evidence standard for disciplinary hearings outlined in Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454-55, 105 S.Ct. 2768, 86 L.Ed.2d 356 (1985)).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
556 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65429, 2008 WL 787170, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/opalec-v-curry-cand-2008.