166 F. 3d 1221 - Martin v. Young

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist 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.

Appellant Bruce Wayne Martin, an Oklahoma state prisoner appearing pro se, seeks a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 in order to challenge the district court's dismissal of his habeas petition

Thereafter, Mr. Martin filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in the federal district court raising essentially three claims: (1) the trial court used erroneous and improper jury instructions, which denied his right to an impartial jury, a fair trial, due process, equal protection, and the right to remain silent; (2) his conviction resulted from use of evidence obtained through an unlawful arrest; and (3) the court violated his privilege against self-incrimination by admitting into evidence his statements to the police prior to receiving a Miranda warning. Mr. Martin did not raise the first two issues in his direct appeal to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. He claims he failed to raise those issues because of his counsel's ineffective assistance. Alternatively, he asserts the district court's failure to consider those issues resulted in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.

The background facts of Mr. Martin's case are set out and fully addressed by the district court in a thorough thirteen-page Order filed May 7, 1998. After careful analysis, the district court found Mr. Martin's first two claims procedurally barred because he failed to raise them on direct appeal, or show "cause" why they could not be raised on direct appeal. The district court reviewed Mr. Martin's multiple claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, and determined they each failed to satisfy either the performance or prejudice prong of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 & 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). As a result, the court concluded Mr. Martin's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel did not satisfy the "cause" requirement to show why he failed to raise the first two issues on direct appeal. The district court also found Mr. Martin never raised a claim of actual innocence. Thus, the district court determined his assertion of fundamental miscarriage of justice must also fail.

Lastly, the district court considered Mr. Martin's claim that the trial court improperly admitted his statements to the police prior to issuance of a Miranda warning. After reviewing the record, the district court concluded the "state court's resolution of this issue did not involve an unreasonable application of Federal law nor was it based on an unreasonable determination of the facts," and found "nothing constitutionally infirm in the trial court's decision to admit this evidence." The district court denied Mr. Martin's request for a certificate of appealability.

On appeal, Mr. Martin raises essentially the same arguments raised in his petition before the district court. We have thoroughly reviewed Mr. Martin's application for a certificate of appealability, his brief and other pleadings, the district court's order, and the entire record on appeal. For substantially the same reasons set forth by the district court in its Order filed May 7, 1998, we conclude Mr. Martin fails to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).1 We adopt the district court's reasoning in its Order and attach it hereto.

Accordingly, we deny Mr. Martin's request for a certificate of appealability and DISMISS the appeal.