1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 * * * 4 NATHAN WILLIAMS, Case No. 3:17-cv-00365-HDM-WGC 5 Petitioner, 6 v. ORDER 7 BRIAN E. WILLIAMS, SR., et al., 8 Respondents. 9 10 11 Introduction 12 In this habeas corpus action, brought pro se by Nathan Williams, an individual 13 incarcerated at Nevada’s High Desert State Prison, the remaining claims in Williams’ 14 habeas petition are before the Court for adjudication on their merits. The Court will deny 15 Williams’ petition and will deny Williams a certificate of appealability. 16 Background 17 On November 13, 2013, Williams was charged by criminal complaint with 18 conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, 19 robbery with use of a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon. See Criminal 20 Complaint, Exh. 2 (ECF No. 10-2) (The exhibits cited in this order were filed by 21 Respondents and are found in the record at ECF Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 18.). 22 A preliminary hearing was held on October 30 and November 8, 2013. See 23 Transcripts of Preliminary Hearing, Exhs. 10, 11 (ECF Nos. 10-10, 10-11). Attorney 24 Blaine Beckstead represented Williams at his preliminary hearing. See id. At the 25 conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the justice court bound Williams over to the 26 district court. An information was then filed on November 13, 2013, charging Williams 27 with conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, 1 use of a deadly weapon. See Information, Exh. 14 (ECF No. 10-14); see also Amended 2 Information, Exh. 16 (ECF No. 10-16). 3 At a hearing on February 20, 2014, the state district court allowed Beckstead to 4 withdraw, because of conflicts between Williams and Beckstead, and the court 5 appointed attorney John Parris in his stead. See Transcript, February 20, 2014, Exh. 18 6 (ECF No. 10-18). Soon thereafter, Williams requested permission to represent himself, 7 and, on March 11, 2014, the court granted that motion. See Transcript, 8 March 11, 2014, Exh. 19 (ECF No. 10-19). The court appointed Parris to act as 9 stand-by counsel. See id. 10 Williams’ jury trial was conducted between April 14 and 16, 2014. See 11 Transcripts of Trial, April 14, 15 and 16, 2014, Exhs. 56, 26, 27 (ECF Nos. 11-24, 10-26, 12 10-27). At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Williams guilty of burglary while in 13 possession of a deadly weapon, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and coercion. 14 See Transcript of Trial, April 16, 2014, Exh. 27, pp. 99–101 (ECF No. 10-27, pp. 100– 15 102). 16 Williams was sentenced on July 1, 2014. See Transcript of Sentencing, Exh. 40 17 (ECF No. 11-8). He was adjudicated an habitual criminal, and was sentenced to: 18 18 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 6 years, for the burglary while in 19 possession of a deadly weapon; a concurrent sentence of 18 years in prison, with 20 parole eligibility after 6 years, for the robbery; a concurrent sentence of 72 months in 21 prison, with parole eligibility after 28 months, for the assault with a deadly weapon; and 22 a concurrent sentence of 72 months in prison, with parole eligibility after 28 months, for 23 the coercion. See id. The judgment of conviction was filed on July 22, 2014. See 24 Judgment of Conviction, Exh. 50 (ECF No. 11-18). 25 Williams appealed, and counsel was appointed for him on appeal. See Order of 26 Limited Remand for Appointment of Counsel, Exh.53 (ECF No. 11-21); Appellant’s 27 Opening Brief, Exh. 88 (ECF No 12-25). The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the 1 judgment of conviction on March 17, 2016. See Order of Affirmance, Exh. 58 (ECF No. 2 11-26). 3 On April 28, 2016, Williams filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the state 4 district court. See Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Post-Conviction), Exh. 61 (ECF 5 No. 11-29). The state district court denied that petition on August 25, 2016. See 6 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order, Exh. 70 (ECF No. 12-7). Williams 7 appealed. See Appellant’s Informal Brief, Exh. 77 (ECF No. 12-14). The Nevada Court 8 of Appeals affirmed the denial of Williams’ state habeas petition on April 19, 2017. See 9 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 80 (ECF No. 12-17). 10 On August 16, 2016, Williams filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the 11 Nevada Supreme Court. See Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Post-Conviction), 12 Exh. 94 (ECF No. 18-1). The Nevada Supreme Court denied that petition on 13 October 13, 2016, declining to exercise jurisdiction over it. See Order Denying Petition, 14 Exh. 95 (ECF No. 18-2). 15 This Court received Williams’ pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus, initiating 16 this action, on June 8, 2017 (ECF No. 6). The Court reads Williams’ petition to assert 17 the following grounds for relief:
18 1. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated because “[t]here wasn’t a single black person on the [jury] venire.” 19 2. Williams’ federal constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated. 20 3. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated because of 21 ineffective assistance of his counsel before he began to represent himself, because of ineffective assistance of his stand-by counsel, and because he 22 did not knowingly and voluntarily choose to represent himself.
23 4. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated because of ineffective assistance of his counsel before he began to represent himself, 24 and because of ineffective assistance of counsel on his direct appeal.
25 5. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated because there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to support his conviction. 26 6. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated because he was 27 denied discovery of evidence related to false accusations made previously 1 7. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated as a result of prosecutorial misconduct, and abuse of discretion by the trial court. 2 a. The prosecution failed to disclose evidence related to 3 false allegations made previously against him by one of the victims in this case. 4 b. The trial court prompted Williams’ counsel to 5 withdraw.
6 c. The prosecutor commented on Williams’ decision not to testify, and the trial court did not take any action regarding 7 such comments.
8 d. The trial court continued the trial date.
9 e. The trial court interrupted Williams’ cross-examination of witnesses. 10 f. The trial court had Williams removed from the 11 courtroom.
12 8. Williams’ federal constitutional rights were violated as a result of the cumulative effect of the errors he alleges. 13 14 See Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6). 15 On October 3, 2017, the respondents filed a motion to dismiss (ECF No. 9), 16 arguing that Grounds 5, 6 and 7 of Williams’ petition are procedurally defaulted and 17 should be dismissed. The Court ruled on the motion to dismiss on August 6, 2018, 18 granting it in part and denying it in part. See Order entered August 6, 2018 (ECF No. 19 26). The Court granted the motion to dismiss with respect to Grounds 5, 7b, 7c, 7d and 20 7f, and dismissed those claims. See id. The Court denied the motion to dismiss with 21 respect to Grounds 6, 7a and 7e, without prejudice to Respondents reasserting the 22 procedural default defense to those claims in their answer. See id. 23 Respondents then filed an answer on January 24, 2019 (ECF No. 34), 24 responding to Williams’ remaining claims. Williams filed a reply (ECF No. 37) on 25 March 19, 2019. 26 27 1 Discussion 2 Standard of Review 3 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) sets forth the standard of review generally applicable in 4 habeas corpus cases under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA):
5 An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted with 6 respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim -- 7 (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an 8 unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or 9 (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable 10 determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 11 12 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). 13 A state court decision is contrary to clearly established Supreme Court 14 precedent, within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254, “if the state court applies a rule that 15 contradicts the governing law set forth in [the Supreme Court’s] cases” or “if the state 16 court confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of [the 17 Supreme Court] and nevertheless arrives at a result different from [the Supreme 18 Court’s] precedent.” Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 73 (2003) (quoting Williams v. 19 Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405–06 (2000), and citing Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694 20 (2002)). 21 A state court decision is an unreasonable application of clearly established 22 Supreme Court precedent, within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d), “if the state court 23 identifies the correct governing legal principle from [the Supreme Court’s] decisions but 24 unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Lockyer, 538 25 U.S. at 75 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 413). The “unreasonable application” clause 26 requires the state court decision to be more than incorrect or erroneous; the state 27 court’s application of clearly established law must be objectively unreasonable. Id. 1 The Supreme Court has instructed that “[a] state court’s determination that a 2 claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as ‘fairminded jurists could 3 disagree’ on the correctness of the state court’s decision.” Harrington v. Richter, 562 4 U.S. 86, 101 (2011) (citing Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)). The 5 Supreme Court has stated “that even a strong case for relief does not mean the state 6 court’s contrary conclusion was unreasonable.” Id. at 102 (citing Lockyer, 538 U.S. at 7 75); see also Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011) (describing standard as “a 8 difficult to meet” and “highly deferential standard for evaluating state-court rulings, which 9 demands that state-court decisions be given the benefit of the doubt” (internal quotation 10 marks and citations omitted)). 11 Analysis of Petitioner’s Claims 12 Ground 1 13 In Ground 1, Williams claims that his federal constitutional rights were violated 14 because “[t]here wasn’t a single black person on the [jury] venire.” Petition for Writ of 15 Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 3. 16 Williams asserted this claim on his direct appeal, and the Nevada Supreme Court 17 ruled on it as follows:
18 Appellant Nathan Williams argues first that the district court erred by denying his motion for a new jury venire, as the venire did not include 19 African Americans and thus was not composed of a fair cross-section of the community. Relying on Buchanan v. State, 130 Nev., Adv. Op. 82, 335 20 P.3d 207 (2014), he contends that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing to establish that the underrepresentation of African Americans in 21 the jury venire was due to systematic exclusion in the jury-selection process, and it was structural error for the district court to deny the motion 22 without holding an evidentiary hearing. We disagree.
23 In making his request for a new jury venire, Williams stated only that there were no African Americans in the venire. He did not allege that 24 the underrepresentation of African Americans in that venire was a result of systematic exclusion in the jury-selection process, nor did he request an 25 evidentiary hearing to inquire into the jury-selection process. See Williams v. State, 121 Nev. 934, 940, 125 P.3d 627, 631 (2005); Duran v. Missouri, 26 439 U.S. 357, 366 (1979). Thus, he failed o show a prima facie violation of the fair-cross-section requirement. See Williams, 121 Nev. at 940, 125 27 P.3d at 631. Williams’ reliance on Buchanan is misplaced, as Buchanan the hearing before denying the motion. 130 Nev., Adv. Op. 82, 335 P.3d at 1 210. Because Williams did not allege sufficient facts to warrant further inquiry, the district court did not err in denying his motion to strike the jury 2 venire without conducting an evidentiary hearing. 3 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 58, pp. 1–2 (ECF No. 11-26, pp. 2–3). 4 The Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling was reasonable. “[T]he selection of a petit 5 jury from a representative cross section of the community is an essential component of 6 the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial.” Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 528 (1975). 7 However, the Court in Taylor stated:
8 It should also be emphasized that in holding that petit juries must be drawn from a source fairly representative of the community we impose 9 no requirement that petit juries actually chosen must mirror the community and reflect the various distinctive groups in the population. Defendants are 10 not entitled to a jury of any particular composition, Fay v. New York, 332 U.S. 261, 284, 67 S.Ct. 1613, 1625, 91 L.Ed. 2043 (1947); Apodaca v. 11 Oregon, 406 U.S., at 413, 92 S.Ct., at 1634 (plurality opinion); but the jury wheels, pools of names, panels, or venires from which juries are drawn 12 must not systematically exclude distinctive groups in the community and thereby fail to be reasonably representative thereof. 13 14 Id. at 538. To make a prima facie showing that there has been violation of the 15 defendant’s right to a jury selected from a representative cross section of the 16 community, the defendant must show:
17 (1) that the group alleged to be excluded is a “distinctive” group in the community; (2) that the representation of this group in venires from which 18 juries are selected is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community; and (3) that this underrepresentation is 19 due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-selection process. 20 Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 364 (1979). Under the third prong, the 21 disproportionate exclusion need not be intentional to be unconstitutional, but it 22 must be systematic. See Randolph v. California, 380 F.3d 1133, 1141 (9th Cir. 23 2004). Williams has never made any colorable allegation that African Americans 24 were systematically excluded from the venire from which his jury was chosen. 25 The Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling on this claim was not contrary to, or an 26 unreasonable application of Taylor or Duren, or any other Supreme Court precedent. 27 The Court will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with respect to Ground 1. 1 Ground 2 2 In Ground 2, Williams claims that his federal constitutional right to a 3 speedy trial was violated. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 4. 4 Williams also asserted this claim on his direct appeal, and the Nevada Supreme 5 Court ruled as follows:
6 ... Williams argues that the district court violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial. “[T]o trigger a speedy trial analysis, an accused 7 must allege that the interval between accusation and trial has crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from ‘presumptively prejudicial’ delay.” Doggett 8 v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 651, 52 (1992) (quoting Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S.514, 530–31 (1972). Courts have generally found post-accusation 9 delays to be presumptively prejudicial as they approach the one-year mark. Id. at 652 n.1. Williams was arraigned on December 26, 2013, at 10 which time he invoked his right to a speedy trial, and his trial began on April 14, 2014. [Footnote: We note that most of the delay was attributable 11 to Williams’ conflicts and dissatisfaction with his attorneys and his decision to represent himself.] We conclude that Williams has not demonstrated 12 that the 109-day period between his arraignment and his trial constituted a presumptively prejudicial delay. [Footnote: Even if, as argued by Williams, 13 the delay should be calculated from the date his arraignment was originally scheduled – November 26, 2013 – this 139-day period would still 14 not be presumptively prejudicial.] Therefore, the delay did not trigger a constitutional speedy trial analysis. Accordingly, Williams did not suffer a 15 deprivation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. 16 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 58, pp. 2–3 (ECF No. 11-26, pp. 3–4). 17 The Court finds that Williams’ claim is meritless, and that the Nevada Supreme 18 Court’s ruling was reasonable. The Sixth Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant 19 the right to a speedy trial. The right to a speedy trial is “amorphous,” and “necessarily 20 relative,” and its application “depends upon circumstances.” Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 21 514, 522 (1972) (internal quotation marks omitted). The analysis of a claimed violation 22 of the right to a speedy trial requires application of a balancing test. Id. at 522, 530. 23 Courts reviewing such a claim are to consider four factors: (1) the length of the delay; 24 (2) the reason for the delay; (3) whether the defendant asserted his right to a speedy 25 trial; and (4) prejudice to the defendant. Id. at 530–32. These factors “must be 26 considered together with such other circumstances as may be relevant.” Id. at 533. In 27 this case, Williams’ trial commenced less than four months after his arraignment; while 1 attributable to Williams himself; and Williams has not shown that his defense was 2 prejudiced by the alleged delay. Willaims’ federal constitutional right to a speedy trial 3 was not violated. 4 As the Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling on this claim was not contrary to, or an 5 unreasonable application of Barker, or any other Supreme Court precedent, the Court 6 will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with respect to Ground 2. 7 Ground 3 8 In Ground 3, Williams claims that his federal constitutional rights were violated 9 because of ineffective assistance of his counsel before he began to represent himself, 10 because of ineffective assistance of his stand-by counsel, and because he did not 11 knowingly and voluntarily choose to represent himself. Petition for Writ of Habeas 12 Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 7. 13 Williams raised the first part of Ground 3 – his claims that the attorneys who 14 represented him before he began to represent himself, as well has his stand-by 15 counsel, were ineffective – in his state habeas action, and the Nevada Court of Appeals 16 ruled on the claim as follows:
17 First, Williams claims the district court erred by denying his claim pre-Faretta counsel was ineffective. [Footnote: Faretta v. California, 422 18 U.S. 806 (1975).] Williams claimed his pre-Faretta counsel was ineffective for failing to discover evidence regarding the victim’s prior false allegation 19 and for failing to communicate with Williams. Williams failed to demonstrate counsel was deficient or resulting prejudice. Strickland v. 20 Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687–88 (1984); Warden v. Lyons, 100 Nev. 430, 432–33, 683 P.2d 504, 505 (1984) (adopting the test in Strickland). 21 Williams failed to demonstrate counsel failed to discover evidence 22 regarding the victim’s prior false allegation. Williams had the written statements taken by the police and the 911 call from the incident. The 23 record indicates no police report was created and Williams failed to demonstrate a portion of the 911 call was withheld from him. Further, he 24 failed to demonstrate the alleged missing portion of the 911 call contained exculpatory or impeachment evidence. Finally, Williams failed to 25 demonstrate counsel failed to communicate with him or that had counsel communicated further, the result of the proceedings would have been 26 different because Williams ultimately represented himself at trial. Therefore, the district court did not err by denying these claims. 27 entitled to the appointment of standby counsel, see Harris v. State, 113 1 Nev. 799, 804, 942 P.2d 151, 155 (1997), he was not entitled to the effective assistance of standby counsel, McConnell v. State, 125 Nev. 2 243, 252–53, 212 P.3d 307, 314 (2009); see also McKague v. Warden, 112 Nev. 159, 164–65, 912 P.2d 255, 258 (1996) (holding a 3 postconviction petitioner who has no constitutional or statutory right to the appointment of counsel has no right to the effective assistance of post- 4 conviction counsel). Therefore, the district court did not err in denying this claim. 5
6 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 80, pp. 1–2 (ECF No. 12-17, pp. 2–3). 7 In Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), the Supreme Court 8 propounded a two-prong test for analysis of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel: 9 the petitioner must demonstrate (1) that the attorney’s representation “fell below an 10 objective standard of reasonableness,” and (2) that the attorney’s deficient performance 11 prejudiced the defendant such that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for 12 counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” 13 Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 694. A court considering a claim of ineffective assistance of 14 counsel must apply a “strong presumption” that counsel’s representation was within the 15 “wide range” of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 689. The petitioner’s burden 16 is to show “that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the 17 ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment.” Id. at 687. And, to 18 establish prejudice under Strickland, it is not enough for the habeas petitioner “to show 19 that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Id. at 20 693. Rather, the errors must be “so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a 21 trial whose result is reliable.” Id. at 687. With respect to Williams’ claims about the 22 attorneys who represented him before he began to proceed pro se, the Nevada Court of 23 Appeals’ ruling was reasonable. Williams does not specify or substantiate any alleged 24 shortcoming of counsel’s performance, and he does not show prejudice flowing from 25 any of the inadequate performance he alleges. 26 This Court also agrees with the Nevada Court of Appeals’ ruling regarding 27 Williams’ claim that he received ineffective assistance from his standby counsel. 1 effective assistance.” Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 752 (1991) (citing 2 Wainwright v. Torna, 455 U.S. 586 (1982)). “A criminal defendant does not have an 3 absolute right to both self-representation and the assistance of counsel.” United States 4 v. Halbert, 640 F.2d 1000, 1009 (9th Cir. 1981). Therefore, Williams’ claim that his 5 constitutional rights were violated on account of ineffective assistance of his standby 6 counsel fails as a matter of law. See United States v. Cochrane, 985 F.2d 1027, 1029 7 (9th Cir. 1993) (rejecting as a matter of law that “standby counsel appointed to assist 8 [the defendant]” provided ineffective assistance of counsel). 9 Williams asserted the second part of Ground 3 – his claim that he did not 10 knowingly and voluntarily choose to represent himself – on his direct appeal, and the 11 Nevada Supreme Court ruled as follows:
12 ... Williams contends that the district court abused its discretion in allowing him to represent himself at trial because his waiver of counsel 13 was not knowingly and intelligently made. Specifically, Williams contends that he chose to represent himself only because he did not feel that his 14 attorneys were effective and because he wanted to raise a speedy trial claim. Williams also argues that he clearly did not have formal legal 15 training, did not know how to subpoena witnesses or pick a jury panel, and did not know the rules of evidence. 16 “[T]o exercise the right to self-representation, a criminal defendant 17 must knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive the right to counsel.” Hooks v. State, 124 Nev. 48, 53–54, 176 P.3d 1081, 1084 (2008). A valid 18 waiver of the right to counsel entails the district court apprising “the defendant fully of the risks of self-representation and of the nature of the 19 charged crime so that the defendant’s decision is made with a clear comprehension of the attendant risks.” Id. at 54, 176 P.3d at 1084 (internal 20 quotation marks omitted). Here, the district court conducted a very thorough canvass during which the district court apprised Williams of the 21 dangers of self-representation and specifically pointed out Williams’ lack of legal knowledge and experience. Williams indicated that he understood 22 the nature of the charges and potential penalties and the risks of representing himself. The record as a whole shows that his decision to 23 waive his right to counsel was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. Id. at 55, 176 P.3d at 1085 (concluding that in reviewing decision to allow self- 24 representation, this court considers district court’s canvass and entire record, giving deference to district court’s decision). While Williams made 25 repeated statements during the canvass that he wanted to file a motion to dismiss the charges on speedy trial grounds and that he was dissatisfied 26 with his appointed attorneys because they refused to file it, he unequivocally stated that he still wished to represent himself even after the 27 district court indicated to him that such a motion would be frivolous. and voluntarily waived his right to counsel. See Vanisi v. State, 117 Nev. 1 330, 341, 22 P.3d 1161, 1172 (2001). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in this regard. 2
3 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 58, pp. 3–4 (ECF No. 11-26, pp. 4–5). 4 This ruling by the Nevada Supreme Court was reasonable. “[T]he Sixth and 5 Fourteenth Amendments include a ‘constitutional right to proceed without counsel when’ 6 a criminal defendant ‘voluntarily and intelligently elects to do so.’” Indiana v. Edwards, 7 554 U.S. 164, 170 (2008) (quoting Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 807 (1975)) 8 (emphasis in original). A defendant’s waiver of his right to counsel is knowing, voluntary 9 and intelligent if he acts “with full awareness of the ‘dangers and disadvantages of self- 10 representation.’” Arrendondo v. Neven, 763 F.3d 1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting 11 Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835). This Court has examined the trial court’s extensive canvass 12 of Williams with respect to his waiver of counsel, and finds that Williams was fully 13 apprised of, and was aware of, the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. 14 See Transcript, March 11, 2014, Exh. 19 (ECF No. 10-19). Williams makes no showing 15 that his waiver of counsel was other than knowing, voluntary and intelligent. 16 The state court rulings on these claims were not contrary to, or an unreasonable 17 application of Strickland, Edwards, or Faretta, or any other Supreme Court precedent. 18 The Court will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with respect to Ground 3. 19 Ground 4 20 In Ground 4, Williams claims that his federal constitutional rights were violated 21 because of ineffective assistance of his counsel before he began to represent himself, 22 and because of ineffective assistance of counsel on his direct appeal. Petition for Writ of 23 Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 3. 24 To the extent that in Ground 4 Williams claims ineffective assistance of his 25 counsel before he began to represent himself, the Court denies relief on that claim as is 26 discussed, above, with respect to Ground 3. 27 Williams’ claim of ineffective assistance of his appellate counsel, in its entirety, is 1 Direct Appeal counsel ... refused to raise all the issues even though she said she would go over the opening brief and closing arguments 2 before she turned them in. I got a docket sheet from the Supreme Court of Nevada that showed [she] took several time extensions without 3 communicating with me. [She] told me “you can claim I was ineffective on post-conviction.” 4 5 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 3. This claim is meritless on its face. 6 Williams does not specify what issues he believes his appellate counsel should have, 7 but did not, assert on his appeal. And, Williams does not explain how he might have 8 been prejudiced by his appellate counsel “taking” extensions of time. As such, Williams 9 does not show that the Nevada Court of Appeals’ ruling on this claim was contrary to, or 10 an unreasonable application of Strickland or any other Supreme Court precedent. The 11 Court will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with respect to Ground 4. 12 Grounds 6 and 7a 13 In Ground 6, Williams claims that his federal constitutional rights were violated 14 because he was denied discovery of evidence related to false accusations made 15 previously against him by one of the victims in this case, and because he was not 16 allowed to present such evidence at trial. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 17 6), p. 7. And, in what the Court has designated Ground 7a, Williams asserts the closely 18 related, if not identical, claim that the prosecution failed to disclose evidence related to 19 false allegations made previously against him by one of the victims in this case. Id. at 20 7A. 21 In the August 6, 2018 order, ruling on Respondents’ motion to dismiss, the Court 22 determined that these claims were held to be procedurally barred in state court, and are 23 subject to the procedural default doctrine in this case, but Williams might be able to 24 overcome the procedural default by showing that his appellate counsel was ineffective. 25 See Order entered August 6, 2018 (ECF No. 26), pp. 5–7. 26 In Coleman v. Thompson, the Supreme Court held that a state prisoner who fails 27 to comply with state-law procedural requirements in presenting his claims is barred by 1 corpus in federal court. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731-32 (1991) (“Just as in 2 those cases in which a state prisoner fails to exhaust state remedies, a habeas 3 petitioner who has failed to meet the State’s procedural requirements for presenting his 4 federal claims has deprived the state courts of an opportunity to address those claims in 5 the first instance.”). Where such a procedural default constitutes an adequate and 6 independent state ground for denial of habeas corpus, the default may be excused only 7 if “a constitutional violation has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually 8 innocent,” or if the prisoner demonstrates cause for the default and prejudice resulting 9 from it. Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 496 (1986). To demonstrate cause for a 10 procedural default, the petitioner must “show that some objective factor external to the 11 defense impeded” his efforts to comply with the state procedural rule. Murray, 477 U.S. 12 at 488. For cause to exist, the external impediment must have prevented the petitioner 13 from raising the claim. See McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 497 (1991). With respect 14 to the prejudice prong, the petitioner bears “the burden of showing not merely that the 15 errors [complained of] constituted a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his 16 actual and substantial disadvantage, infecting his entire [proceeding] with errors of 17 constitutional dimension.” White v. Lewis, 874 F.2d 599, 603 (9th Cir. 1989), citing 18 United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 170 (1982). 19 Williams argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for not asserting these 20 claims on his direct appeal, and there was, therefore, cause for the procedural default of 21 them. On the appeal in Williams’ state habeas action, the Nevada Court of Appeals 22 ruled, as follows, on that claim that Williams’ appellate counsel was ineffective:
23 ... Williams claimed appellate counsel should have argued the prosecutor committed misconduct by withholding evidence. Specifically, 24 he claimed the State withheld a police report and a portion of a 911 call from a previous incident involving the victim. Williams failed to 25 demonstrate appellate counsel was deficient or resulting prejudice because he failed to demonstrate his claims of prosecutorial misconduct 26 would have a reasonable likelihood of success on appeal. Williams failed to demonstrate the State withheld evidence or the evidence was material. 27 See Mazzan v. Warden, 116 Nev. 48, 66, 993 P.2d 25, 36 (2000) (setting 1 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 80, pp. 3–4 (ECF No. 12-17, pp. 4–5). 2 The Court agrees with the ruling of the Nevada Court of Appeals. Williams has 3 not shown that the State withheld evidence regarding the prior incident, and he has not 4 shown that any allegedly withheld evidence might conceivably have affected the 5 outcome of his trial. There is no showing of a reasonable probability that, but for 6 appellate counsel’s alleged errors, the result of his appeal would have been different. 7 Therefore, this Court determines that Williams does not show cause and 8 prejudice regarding his procedural defaults of Grounds 6 and 7a, such as to overcome 9 the procedural defaults. The Court will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with respect 10 to Grounds 6 and 7a, as those claims are barred by the procedural default doctrine. 11 Ground 7e 12 In Ground 7e, Williams claims that the trial court interrupted his cross- 13 examination of witnesses. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 6), p. 7A 14 (“Leavitt interrupted my examination of witnesses repeatedly.”). 15 Here too, in the August 6, 2018 order, the Court determined that this claim was 16 held procedurally barred in state court, and is subject to the procedural default doctrine 17 in this case, but Williams might be able to overcome the procedural default by showing 18 that his appellate counsel was ineffective. See Order entered August 6, 2018 (ECF No. 19 26), pp. 5–7. 20 On the appeal in Williams’ state habeas action, the Nevada Court of Appeals 21 ruled, as follows, on this claim that Williams’ appellate counsel was ineffective:
22 ... Williams also claimed appellate counsel should have argued the district court demonstrated judicial bias because the judge admonished 23 him several times during his cross-examination of witnesses and stated it did not “care about the Nevada Supreme Court.” Williams failed to 24 demonstrate the district court was biased against Williams, and therefore he failed to demonstrate appellate counsel was ineffective. 25 [R]ulings and actions of a judge during the course of official judicial 26 proceedings do not establish legally cognizable grounds for disqualification.” See In re Petition to Recall Dunleavy, 104 Nev. 784, 27 789–90, 769 P.2d 1271, 1275 (1988). The district court admonished certain issues pertaining to the victim’s HIV status and a sexual assault. 1 These admonishments were within the actions of a judge made during the course of official proceedings 2 3 Order of Affirmance, Exh. 80, p. 4 (ECF No. 12-17, p. 5). 4 The Court agrees with the Nevada Court of Appeals that Williams has not shown 5 his appellate counsel to have been ineffective, under Strickland, for not asserting a 6 claim based on the trial court’s “interruptions” of his cross-examinations. As far as state 7 law goes, the Nevada Court of Appeals’ ruling establishes authoritatively that such a 8 claim would have been for naught. And, Williams does not state any colorable theory as 9 to how the trial court’s alleged interruptions might have violated his federal constitutional 10 rights. There is no showing of any reasonable probability that the outcome of Williams’ 11 appeal would have been different if his appellate counsel had asserted this claim. As 12 appellate counsel was not ineffective in this regard, Williams does not show cause and 13 prejudice such as to overcome the procedural default of Ground 7e. The claim 14 designated Ground 7e is barred by the procedural default doctrine. 15 Ground 8 16 In Ground 8, Williams claims that the cumulative effect of the errors in his case 17 deprived him of his federal constitutional rights. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF 18 No. 6), p. 7A. The Court determines that there were no errors, so there are no errors to 19 be considered cumulatively. The Court will deny Williams habeas corpus relief with 20 respect to Ground 8. 21 Certificate of Appealability 22 The standard for the issuance of a certificate of appealability requires a “substantial 23 showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. §2253(c). The Supreme Court 24 has interpreted 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) as follows:
25 Where a district court has rejected the constitutional claims on the merits, the showing required to satisfy § 2253(c) is straightforward: The 26 petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong. The 27 issue becomes somewhat more complicated where, as here, the district grounds without reaching the prisoner’s underlying constitutional claim, a 1 COA should issue when the prisoner shows, at least, that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial 2 of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable 3 whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling. 4 || Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000); see also James v. Giles, 221 F.3d 1074, 5 || 1077-79 (9th Cir. 2000). 6 The Court finds that, applying the standard articulated in Slack, a certificate of 7 || appealability is unwarranted. The Court will deny Williams a certificate of appealability. 8 || (Williams may still appeal from the judgment in this case by filing a notice of appeal in this 9 || case in this Court and seeking a certificate of appealability from the Ninth Circuit Court of 10 || Appeals.) 11 |} Conclusion 12 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF 13 || No. 6) is denied. 14 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability. 15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to enter 16 || judgment accordingly. 17 18 DATED THIS 25th day of November, 2019. brawl! 9 ft fe tth> HOWARD D. MckKIBBEN, 21 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 28