Opinion
No. 2:10-cv-1029 KJM DAD P
02-26-2014
DONALD DAVIS, Petitioner, v. JAMES HAVILAND, Respondent.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with an amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Therein, petitioner challenges three 2007 prison disciplinary convictions he incurred for smoking, possession of contraband, and possession of obscene material, all on the same day. He seeks federal habeas relief on the grounds that: (1) none of his three disciplinary convictions was supported by sufficient evidence; (2) prison officials improperly failed to assign him a staff assistant at his disciplinary hearings; and (3) the procedures for processing prison disciplinary charges violated his rights under the Equal Protection Clause. Upon careful consideration of the record and the applicable law, the undersigned will recommend that petitioner's application for habeas corpus relief be denied.
I. Background
A. Disciplinary Conviction for Smoking
On November 30, 2007, Correctional Officer (C/O) T. Doane wrote a rules violation report (RVR) charging petitioner with "smoking policy" in violation of 15 California Code of Regulations (CCR) § 3187. (ECF No. 24 at 84.) Therein, C/O Doane alleged as follows:
On Friday, November 30, 2007, at approximately 1045 hours, I observed Inmate Davis, C-30385, 17-251-L, blow smoke out of his mouth and pass a Lit Cigarette to Inmate CASEY, V-67103, 17-342-U, who took and placed the cigarette in his mouth and inhaled and blew out smoke. Inmate DAVIS was laying on his bunk. Inmate CASEY was seated on a plastic bucket next to Inmate DAVIS on bunk 17-251-L. Inmate CASEY saw me and threw the cigarette on the floor. I placed Inmate CASEY AND Inmate DAVIS in mechanical restraints and had them escorted away from the area. Both Inmate CASEY and Inmate DAVIS stated that it was only Tobacco. The cigarette that was thrown on the floor by Inmate CASEY had a brown Tobacco substance in it.(Id.) The disciplinary charge against petitioner was classified as a serious Division F offense. (Id.)
On December 8, 2007, the prison disciplinary hearing on the November 30, 2007 RVR commenced. (Id.) Petitioner received copies of the RVR at least 24 hours in advance of that hearing. (Id.) Petitioner did not raise any objections to proceeding with the hearing and stated he was in good health. (Id. at 85.) A staff assistant was not assigned on the grounds that petitioner was literate and spoke fluent English, he did not have a documented disability, the issues were not complex, and assistance was "not necessary to comprehend the nature of the charges or the proceedings." (Id.) An investigative employee was not assigned to petitioner on the grounds that the issues were not complex and did not require further investigation, petitioner's housing status was not changed, petitioner was able to collect and present evidence necessary for an adequate defense, and a determination had been made that additional information was not necessary for a fair hearing. (Id.) Petitioner entered a plea of "not guilty" to the charge and stated merely: "I don't smoke." (Id.)
Petitioner's request that C/O Doane appear as a witness at the hearing was granted. (Id.) Officer Doane was asked, "Did you positively see Inmate Davis smoking?" (Id.) Officer Doane responded, "I saw him blow smoke out of his mouth, no doubt in my mind it was Inmate Davis, I observed him smoking." (Id.)
The Senior Hearing Officer found petitioner guilty of a violation of 15 CCR § 3187 for the specific act of "smoking." (Id. at 86.) According to the report of the hearing, petitioner's disciplinary conviction was based upon the statements of C/O Doane in the RVR and Doane's testimony at the disciplinary hearing that he observed petitioner smoking. (Id.) Petitioner was assessed a 30-day loss of time credits, a 90-day loss of privileges, and a 90-day loss of Friday visits. (Id.)
B. Disciplinary Conviction for Possession of Contraband
On November 30, 2007, C/O Doane wrote an RVR charging petitioner with "contraband" in violation of 15 California Code of Regulations (CCR) § 3006. (Id. at 78.) Therein, C/O Doane alleged as follows:
On 11-20-07, at approximately 1050 hours, I searched the bed, locker and area around 17-251-L, which housed inmate DAVIS, (C-30385). Inmate Davis was laying on his bunk just prior to my searching the area. I found approximately one and a half cubic feet (over one apple box) of electronic contraband from the area. The contraband was found in his locker, on his bunk, in shelves made of cardboard encasing his T.V. under his bunk in boxes with letters with his name on them and behind his locker. It appeared that Inmate Davis was repairing and or altering electrical equipment. Among the electrical contraband I removed from Inmate Davis' locker was a Motorola adaptor for charging a cell phone. In a shelf drawer among other electrical contraband was a Motorola cell phone head set. The shelf was encasing his T.V. In a bag hanging from his bunk was a Nokia cell phone charger and a Metro PCS head set. The electrical contraband also contained a small circuit board, fuses, wire and solder. One shoe box was packed full of small tobacco containers, each container held different small electrical parts. Inmate Davis was also using Inmate manufactured extension cords and plugs with multiple receptacles which can over load circuits and cause shock and fire hazards.(Id. at 78, 80.) The disciplinary charge against petitioner was classified as a serious Division F offense. (Id. at 78.)
I also found 5 razors used in box cutter, one utility razor and a can lid altered for a cutting device in Inmate Davis' locker. The contraband noted in this report was verified by Sgt. Fowler and placed in the hot trash.
On December 8, 2007, petitioner's prison disciplinary hearing on the November 30, 2007 RVR commenced. (Id.) Petitioner received copies of the RVR at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. (Id.) Petitioner did not raise any objections to proceeding with the hearing and stated he was in good health. (Id.) at 81.) A staff assistant was not assigned on the grounds that petitioner was literate and spoke fluent English, he did not have a documented disability, the issues were not complex, and assistance was "not necessary to comprehend the nature of the charges or the proceedings." (Id.) An investigative employee was not assigned to petitioner on the grounds that the issues were not complex and did not require further investigation, petitioner's housing status was not changed, petitioner was able to collect and present evidence necessary for an adequate defense, and a determination had been made that additional information was not necessary for a fair hearing. (Id.) Petitioner entered a plea of "not guilty" to the charge and stated at the hearing only as follows: "All the stuff belonged to the guy next to me. I did have the razors." (Id. at 82.) Petitioner did not request that any witnesses be called at this disciplinary hearing. (Id.)
The Senior Hearing Officer found petitioner guilty of a violation of 15 CCR § 3006 for the specific act of possessing "contraband." (Id.) According to the report of the hearing, petitioner's disciplinary conviction was based upon the statements of C/O Doane in the RVR. (Id.) Petitioner was assessed a 30-day loss of time credits, a 30-day loss of privileges, and a 90-day loss of Friday visits. (Id.)
C. Disciplinary Conviction for Possession of Obscene Material
On November 30, 2007, C/O Doane wrote an RVR charging petitioner with "obscenity" in violation of 15 California Code of Regulations (CCR) § 3006. (ECF No. 24 at 69.) Therein, Officer Doane alleged as follows:
On 11-30-07, at approximately 1125 hours, while searching the bunk area of Inmate Davis, CDC # C-30385, 7-251-L, in a box with Inmate Davis' mail in it, I found an envelope with Inmate Davis' name on it. In the envelope was a drawing of a woman having intercourse (sex) with a man exposing her breast. Possessing pornography is not allowed a CDCR. Inmate Davis is aware that he will be subjected to progressive discipline if found in possession of(Id.) The disciplinary charge against petitioner was classified as a serious Division F offense. (Id.)
pornography in the future. Sergeant Abella verified that the drawing was pornography and the drawing was then destroyed.
On December 8, 2007, the prison disciplinary hearing on the November 30, 2007 RVR commenced. (Id.) Petitioner received copies of the RVR at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. (Id. at 70.) Petitioner did not raise any objections to proceeding with the hearing and stated he was in good health. (Id.) A staff assistant was not assigned on the grounds that petitioner was literate and spoke fluent English, he did not have a documented disability, the issues were not complex, and assistance was "not necessary to comprehend the nature of the charges or the proceedings." (Id.) An investigative employee was not assigned to petitioner on the grounds that the issues were not complex and did not require further investigation, petitioner's housing status made it likely he could collect and present evidence necessary for an adequate defense, and a determination had been made that additional information was not necessary for a fair hearing. (Id.) Petitioner entered a plea of "not guilty" to the charge and stated merely: "I didn't have it, it could have belonged to my bunkie." (Id. at 71.) Petitioner did not request that any witnesses be present at the disciplinary hearing.
The Senior Hearing Officer found petitioner guilty of a violation of 15 CCR § 3006 for the specific act of "obscenity." (Id.) According to the report of the hearing, petitioner's disciplinary conviction was based upon the statements of C/O Doane in the RVR. (Id.) However, the charge was reclassified as an "administrative level" violation and petitioner was not assessed any credit loss. (Id.)
D. Post-Conviction Proceedings
After exhausting the administrative appeals process, petitioner challenged his three prison disciplinary convictions in a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in the Solano County Superior Court. That court rejected petitioner's claims, ruling as follows:
The Court has read and considered the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("petition") filed on August 12, 2009, in which petitioner, an inmate at CSP-Solano, complains that he was wrongfully found(ECF No. 37-2 at 2-3.)
guilty of smoking, possession of contraband, and possession of obscene materials. Petitioner also claims that the evidence presented at the disciplinary hearing was insufficient to support the findings of guilt. The Court now finds and orders the following:
Pursuant to Rule 260(a) and (e) of the California Rules of Court, the Court finds that petitioner fails to state a prima facie case establishing that he is entitled to relief. (People v Duvall (1995) 9 Cal.4th 464, 474-475.) The findings of guilt were based on the eyewitness account of Correctional Officer Doane, who reported that he personally observed petitioner smoking a cigarette while in his bunk and that he found electronic contraband and an envelope containing pornographic material in or around petitioner's locker. This constitutes some evidence in support of the decision of the hearing officer. (Superintendent, Mass. Corr. Inst., Walpole v. Hill (1985) 472 U.S. 445, 455; In re Wilson (1988) 202 Cal.App.3d 661, 670.) In reviewing a prison's disciplinary decisions, the Court does not examine the entire record or independently assess witnesses or the weight of the evidence. (Hill, 472 U.S. at 455.)
Petitioner's claim that the three offenses constituted improper "stacking" is without merit. Stacking is defined by the Department of Corrections as "charging an inmate with multiple violations for an event which warrants a single report." Petitioner was charged with three distinct acts constituting violations of three separate regulations which could be separately charged and punished: smoking, possession of the electronic contraband, and possession of obscene materials.
Accordingly, the petition is denied.
Petitioner subsequently challenged his prison disciplinary convictions in a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District. That petition was summarily denied by order dated November 25, 2009. (Id. at 6.) Petitioner then filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California Supreme Court, which was also summarily denied. (ECF No. 37-3 at 98.)
On April 21, 2010, petitioner commenced this action by filing a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, in the Yosemite/Fresno division. (ECF No. 1.) By order dated April 28, 2010, the case was transferred to this court. (ECF No. 2.) Respondent subsequently filed a motion to dismiss, which was granted with leave to file an amended petition also being granted. (ECF No. 21). On May 10, 2011, petitioner filed a first amended habeas petition, upon which this matter proceeds. (ECF No. 24.)
On January 23, 2013, respondent filed another motion to dismiss, in which he argued that the habeas petition should be dismissed because petitioner had failed to establish that success on the petition would necessarily shorten the duration of his confinement. (ECF No. 32). That motion was denied by order dated August 8, 2013. (ECF No. 36.) Respondent filed an answer to the petition on September 9, 2013. (ECF No. 37.)
II. Standards of Review Applicable to Habeas Corpus Claims
An application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody under a judgment of a state court can be granted only for violations of the Constitution or laws of the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). A federal writ is not available for alleged error in the interpretation or application of state law. See Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. ___, ___, 131 S. Ct. 13, 16 (2010); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991); Park v. California, 202 F.3d 1146, 1149 (9th Cir. 2000).
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) sets forth the following standards for granting federal habeas corpus relief:
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 respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the 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.
For purposes of applying § 2254(d)(1), "clearly established federal law" consists of holdings of the United States Supreme Court at the time of the last reasoned state court decision. Thompson v. Runnels, 705 F.3d 1089, 1096 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Greene v. Fisher, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 38 (2011); Stanley v. Cullen, 633 F.3d 852, 859 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405-06 (2000)). Circuit court precedent "may be persuasive in determining what law is clearly established and whether a state court applied that law unreasonably." Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859 (quoting Maxwell v. Roe, 606 F.3d 561, 567 (9th Cir. 2010)). However, circuit precedent may not be "used to refine or sharpen a general principle of Supreme Court jurisprudence into a specific legal rule that th[e] [ Supreme] Court has not announced." Marshall v. Rodgers, ___U.S. ___, ___,133 S. Ct. 1446, 1450 (2013) (citing Parker v. Matthews, ___ U.S. ___, ___,132 S. Ct. 2148, 2155 (2012)). Nor may it be used to "determine whether a particular rule of law is so widely accepted among the Federal Circuits that it would, if presented to th[e] [ Supreme] Court, be accepted as correct. Id. Further, where courts of appeals have diverged in their treatment of an issue, it cannot be said that there is "clearly established Federal law" governing that issue. Carey v. Musladin, 549 U.S. 70, 77 (2006).
A state court decision is "contrary to" clearly established federal law if it applies a rule contradicting a holding of the Supreme Court or reaches a result different from Supreme Court precedent on "materially indistinguishable" facts. Price v. Vincent, 538 U.S. 634, 640 (2003). Under the "unreasonable application" clause of § 2254(d)(1), a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from the Supreme Court's decisions, but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner's case. Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 75 (2003); Williams, 529 U.S. at 413; Chia v. Cambra, 360 F.3d 997, 1002 (9th Cir. 2004). In this regard, a federal habeas court "may not issue the writ simply because that court concludes in its independent judgment that the relevant state-court decision applied clearly established federal law erroneously or incorrectly. Rather, that application must also be unreasonable." Williams, 529 U.S. at 412. See also Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473 (2007); Lockyer, 538 U.S. at 75 (it is "not enough that a federal habeas court, in its independent review of the legal question, is left with a 'firm conviction' that the state court was 'erroneous.'"). "A state court's determination that a claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as 'fairminded jurists could disagree' on the correctness of the state court's decision." Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. ___, ___,131 S. Ct. 770, 786 (2011) (quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)). Accordingly, "[a]s 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." Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786-87.
Under § 2254(d)(2), a state court decision based on a factual determination is not to be overturned on factual grounds unless it is "objectively unreasonable in light of the evidence presented in the state court proceeding." Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859 (quoting Davis v. Woodford, 384 F.3d 628, 638 (9th Cir. 2004)).
If the state court's decision does not meet the criteria set forth in § 2254(d), a reviewing court must conduct a de novo review of a habeas petitioner's claims. Delgadillo v. Woodford, 527 F.3d 919, 925 (9th Cir. 2008); see also Frantz v. Hazey, 533 F.3d 724, 735 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc) ("[I]t is now clear both that we may not grant habeas relief simply because of § 2254(d)(1) error and that, if there is such error, we must decide the habeas petition by considering de novo the constitutional issues raised.").
The court looks to the last reasoned state court decision as the basis for the state court judgment. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859; Robinson v. Ignacio, 360 F.3d 1044, 1055 (9th Cir. 2004). If the last reasoned state court decision adopts or substantially incorporates the reasoning from a previous state court decision, this court may consider both decisions to ascertain the reasoning of the last decision. Edwards v. Lamarque, 475 F.3d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc). "When a federal claim has been presented to a state court and the state court has denied relief, it may be presumed that the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication or state-law procedural principles to the contrary." Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 784-85. This presumption may be overcome by a showing "there is reason to think some other explanation for the state court's decision is more likely." Id. at 785 (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 803 (1991)). Similarly, when a state court decision on a petitioner's claims rejects some claims but does not expressly address a federal claim, a federal habeas court must presume, subject to rebuttal, that the federal claim was adjudicated on the merits. Johnson v. Williams, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 133 S. Ct. 1088, 1091 (2013).
Where the state court reaches a decision on the merits but provides no reasoning to support its conclusion, a federal habeas court independently reviews the record to determine whether habeas corpus relief is available under § 2254(d). Stanley, 633 F.3d at 860; Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir. 2003). "Independent review of the record is not de novo review of the constitutional issue, but rather, the only method by which we can determine whether a silent state court decision is objectively unreasonable." Himes, 336 F.3d at 853. Where no reasoned decision is available, the habeas petitioner still has the burden of "showing there was no reasonable basis for the state court to deny relief." Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 784.
A summary denial is presumed to be a denial on the merits of the petitioner's claims. Stancle v. Clay, 692 F.3d 948, 957 & n. 3 (9th Cir. 2012). While the federal court cannot analyze just what the state court did when it issued a summary denial, the federal court must review the state court record to determine whether there was any "reasonable basis for the state court to deny relief." Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 784. This court "must determine what arguments or theories . . . could have supported, the state court's decision; and then it must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior decision of [the Supreme] Court." Id. at 786. The petitioner bears "the burden to demonstrate that 'there was no reasonable basis for the state court to deny relief.'" Walker v. Martel, 709 F.3d 925, 939 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 784).
When it is clear, however, that a state court has not reached the merits of a petitioner's claim, the deferential standard set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) does not apply and a federal habeas court must review the claim de novo. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 860; Reynoso v. Giurbino, 462 F.3d 1099, 1109 (9th Cir. 2006); Nulph v. Cook, 333 F.3d 1052, 1056 (9th Cir. 2003).
III. Petitioner's Claims
A. Due Process
Although petitioner articulates several separate grounds for federal habeas relief, his first three claims comprise, in essence, one claim that his three prison disciplinary convictions were not supported by sufficient evidence. (ECF No. 24 at 5, 7, 8, 17.) Petitioner also complains that prison officials improperly failed to assign him an investigative employee at his disciplinary hearings. (Id. at 5, 30.) In this regard, he contends that an investigative employee "could have questioned staff and inmates and arranged petitioner's requested forensic testing (fingerprints, call records check, etc.)," and could have testified about "the idiosyncracies of living in a dormitory setting," such as the inmates' habit of placing contraband in another inmate's space. (Id. at 27, 30.) Petitioner offers his own version of the events leading up to his disciplinary convictions, including his opinion of the actions and motivations of C/O Doane. (Id. at 18-26, 28-33.) Generally, petitioner argues that the contraband found in his cell belonged to someone else and that Officer Doane lied when he testified at petitioner's disciplinary hearing that he had observed petitioner smoking. (Id. at 18-27.) Finally, petitioner contends that the procedures for prosecuting prison disciplinary violations by inmates is fundamentally unfair in that it favors the account of the testifying prison officials over that of the inmate defendants. (Id. at 36-37.)
Respondent argues that this court does not have jurisdiction over petitioner's claims because success on those claims would not affect the fact or duration of petitioner's confinement. (ECF No. 37 at 3.) This argument was resolved adversely to respondent in connection with his second motion to dismiss and the court will not revisit that issue. (ECF No. 35.) Accordingly, the court will turn to address petitioner's claims on the merits.
It is well established that inmates subjected to disciplinary action are entitled to certain procedural protections under the Due Process Clause but are not entitled to the full panoply of rights afforded to criminal defendants. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556 (1974); see also Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455-56 (1985); United States v. Segal, 549 F.2d 1293, 1296-99 (9th Cir. 1977) (observing that prison disciplinary proceedings command the least amount of due process along the prosecution continuum). An inmate is entitled to advance written notice of the charge against him as well as a written statement of the evidence relied upon by prison officials and the reasons for any disciplinary action taken. See Wolff, 418 U.S. at 563. In the disciplinary hearing context, an inmate does not have a right to counsel, retained or appointed, although illiterate inmates are entitled to assistance. Id. at 570.
An inmate also has a right to a hearing at which he may "call witnesses and present documentary evidence in his defense when permitting him to do so will not be unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals." Wolff, 418 U.S. at 566. See also Ponte v. Real, 471 U.S. 491, 495 (1985). However, as a general rule, inmates "have no constitutional right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses" in prison disciplinary hearings. Ponte, 471 U.S. at 510 (Marshall, J., dissenting). See also Baxter v. Palmigiano, 425 U.S. 308, 322-23 (1976). The disciplinary hearing must be conducted by a person or body that is "sufficiently impartial to satisfy the Due Process Clause." Wolff, 418 U.S. at 571.
The decision rendered on a disciplinary charge must be supported by "some evidence" in the record. Hill, 472 U.S. at 455. A finding of guilt on a prison disciplinary charge cannot be "without support" or "arbitrary." Id. at 457. The "some evidence" standard is "minimally stringent," and a decision must be upheld if there is any reliable evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the fact finder. Powell v. Gomez, 33 F.3d 39, 40 (9th Cir. 1994) (citing Hill, 472 U.S. at 455-56 and Cato v. Rushen, 824 F.2d 703, 705 (9th Cir. 1987)). See also Burnsworth v. Gunderson, 179 F.3d 771, 773 (9th Cir. 1990); Zimmerlee v. Keeney, 831 F.2d 183, 186 (9th Cir. 1987). Determining whether this standard is satisfied in a particular case does not require examination of the entire record, independent assessment of the credibility of witnesses, or the weighing of evidence. Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1105 (9th Cir. 1986), abrogated in part on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). Indeed, in examining the record, a court is not to make its own assessment of the credibility of witnesses or re-weigh the evidence. Hill, 472 U.S. at 455. The question is whether there is any reliable evidence in the record that could support the decision reached. Toussaint, 801 F.2d at 1105.
Where a protected liberty interest exists, the requirements imposed by the Due Process Clause are "dependent upon the particular situation being examined." Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 472 (1983). The process due is such procedural protection as may be "necessary to ensure that the decision . . . is neither arbitrary nor erroneous." Washington v. Harper, 494 U.S. 210, 228 (1990). In identifying the safeguards required in the context of disciplinary proceedings, courts must remember "the legitimate institutional needs of assuring the safety of inmates and prisoners" and avoid "burdensome administrative requirements that might be susceptible to manipulation." Hill, 472 U.S. at 454-55. The requirements of due process in the prison context involve a balancing of inmate rights and institutional security concerns, with a recognition that broad discretion must be accorded to prison officials. Wolff, 418 U.S. at 560-63; see also Baxter, 425 U.S. at 324.
In this case, petitioner was given advance written notice of all three of the disciplinary charges brought against him. Petitioner was also given a written statement of the evidence relied upon by prison officials and the reasons for the disciplinary actions taken against him. A disciplinary hearing was conducted on each of the three disciplinary charges. Petitioner was allowed to question C/O Doane at his disciplinary hearing on the smoking charge. Petitioner did not request the appearance of witnesses at his other disciplinary hearings on the other two charges. There is no evidence before this court suggesting that the hearing officers were biased or impartial.
Finally, there was "some evidence" supporting the hearing officer's decision that petitioner committed all three of the prison rules violations with which he was charged. Specifically, with respect to all of the disciplinary charges, the testimony and/or statements by C/O Doane constitutes "some evidence" to support the hearing officer's finding that petitioner was guilty both of smoking and of possession of contraband. Petitioner argues that C/O Doane lied when he testified that he saw petitioner smoking. However, as noted above, in reviewing petitioner's due process claim this court must accept the hearing officer's assessment of the credibility of witnesses and may not make its own assessment or re-weigh the evidence. Hill, 472 U.S. at 455. Petitioner also implies that the obscene material found in his cell should have been produced at the prison disciplinary hearing on that charge. However, production of the actual evidence found in petitioner's cell is not required under the Due Process Clause. See Mancilla v. Biter, No. 1:13-dv-01724-BAM-HC, 2013 WL 6070417, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2013) ("there is no legal requirement under federal law that the prison authorities produce any specific evidence" at a prison disciplinary hearing); Crismond v. Sandon, No. CV 12-3572-ODW (VBK), 2013 WL 1759924, at * 7 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 26, 2013) ("The Supreme Court has never recognized a due process right to the preservation and testing of physical evidence in the prison disciplinary context."); see also White v. Superintendent, No. 3:13 CV 300, 2013 WL 6512671, at *3 (N.D. Ind. Dec. 11, 2013) ("The hearing officer was not required to produce physical evidence to support the charge . . . ."). In any event, petitioner has not demonstrated that he requested that any specific evidence be collected or presented on his behalf at or prior to any of his disciplinary hearings.
Under the circumstances presented here, Officer Doane's testimony and statements, standing alone, were sufficient to support petitioner's three disciplinary convictions. See Carter v. Workman, No. 04-6252, 121 Fed. Appx. 793, 796 (10th Cir. Jan. 27, 2005) (where the hearing officer received and believed the reporting officer' s statement, that statement constituted "some evidence" under Hill).
Prison authorities were not required under the Due Process Clause to assign a staff or investigative assistant at petitioner's disciplinary hearings. The Supreme Court has instructed that an inmate should be provided assistance from a fellow inmate or staff member where the inmate is illiterate or the issue is so complex that it is unlikely that the inmate could gather and present evidence necessary for an adequate comprehension of the case. Wolff, 418 U.S. at 570. None of these considerations is present here. Prison officials found before each disciplinary hearing that petitioner was not illiterate and that the issues involved in his disciplinary proceedings were not complex. Moreover, petitioner does not argue to the contrary. Under these circumstances, the federal constitution did not require prison officials to provide petitioner with an investigative employee at his three disciplinary hearings. See Hardney v. Sullivan, No. CIV S-07-0574 JCC, 2009 WL 1067244, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 21, 2009) (noting that the United States Supreme Court "has never set forth" a requirement that an investigative employee be provided at prison disciplinary proceedings).
Petitioner was afforded all the process that was due him under the federal Constitution in the context of his prison disciplinary proceedings. Accordingly, he is not entitled to federal habeas relief with respect to any of his due process claims.
B. Equal Protection
In his fourth and final ground for federal habeas relief, petitioner claims that he "has been deprived of his equal protection rights under the 14 Amendment, as he was not treated like inmates in the same situation/similarly situated." (ECF No. 24 at 10.) Petitioner argues that "California has two sets of rules" for processing disciplinary proceedings: one for inmates "with confirmed release dates," and one for inmates "without confirmed release dates (Life Term Prisoners)." (Id. at 34-35.) He contends that "all courts" may dismiss a habeas petition filed by a life prisoner on the grounds that a loss of time credits may not affect his eligibility for parole. (Id.) He also asserts that any disciplinary conviction suffered by a life prisoner will almost certainly affect his ability to be released on parole. (Id.) On the other hand, according to petitioner, habeas petitions filed by non-life prisoners who have received a loss of time credits will always be addressed by "the courts," and in most cases the lost time will be restored to the inmate. (Id.) Petitioner explains that non-life term prisoners "can lose from 1 day to 180 days for one R.V.R., while the lifer can be denied 3 to 15 years on just 1 R.V.R." (Id. at 35.) Petitioner argues this situation he describes violates the Equal Protection Clause because he is "being treated differently just because of his life term." (Id. at 35.) Petitioner explains that his claim in this regard is "about the procedure and process being fair." (Id. at 34.)
The Equal Protection Clause "embodies a general rule that States must treat like cases alike but may treat unlike cases accordingly." Vacco v. Quill, 521 U.S. 793, 799 (1997) (citing Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202, 216 (1982) and Tigner v. Texas, 310 U.S. 141, 147 (1940)). The Fourteenth Amendment "guarantees equal laws, not equal results." McQueary v. Blodgett, 924 F.2d 829, 835 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting Personnel Adm'r v. Feeney, 442 U.S. 256, 273 (1979)). A habeas petitioner has the burden of alleging facts sufficient to establish "a prima facie case of uneven application." McQueary, 924 F.2d at 835. Moreover, "a mere demonstration of inequality is not enough . . . . There must be an allegation of invidiousness or illegitimacy in the statutory scheme before a cognizable claim arises." Id.
Here, petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he was treated any differently in the disciplinary or parole process by virtue of his status as a life term inmate. All inmates who are similarly situated to him are subject to the same rules with regard to eligibility for parole and the to the same procedures for the processing of prison disciplinary charges. Petitioner has also failed to demonstrate that he was unable to process his habeas claims in state or federal court. The state courts' rejection of petitioner's equal protection claim is not contrary to or an unreasonable application of federal law. Accordingly, petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on that claim.
C. State Law Claims
To the extent petitioner is claiming his prison disciplinary convictions violated state law or California regulations, he has failed to state a cognizable federal habeas claim. As noted above, the federal writ is not available for alleged error in the application of state law, and habeas corpus cannot be utilized in federal court to try state issues de novo. Milton v. Wainwright, 407 U.S. 371, 377 (1972). Challenges to a state court's interpretation of state law are not cognizable in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. See Waddington v. Sarausad, 555 U.S. 179, 192 n.5 (2009) ("[W]e have repeatedly held that 'it is not the province of a federal habeas court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions."); Rivera v. Illinois, 556 U.S. 148, 158 (2009) ("[A] mere error of state law . . . is not a denial of due process") (quoting Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 121, n.21 (1982) and Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67, 72-73); Bradshaw v. Richey, 546 U.S. 74, 76 (2005) ("[A] state court's interpretation of state law . . . binds a federal court sitting in federal habeas"); Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 780 (1990) (federal habeas corpus relief does not lie for errors of state law).
Further, a habeas petitioner may not "transform a state-law issue into a federal one" merely by asserting a violation of the federal constitution. Langford v. Day, 110 F.3d 1380, 1389 (9th Cir. 1997). Rather, petitioner must show that the decision of the state courts somehow "violated the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States." Little v. Crawford, 449 F.3d 1075, 1083 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Estelle, 502 U.S. at 68). Based on these authorities, petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on any claim that his disciplinary convictions violated either state law or California regulations governing prisons.
IV. Conclusion
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that petitioner's application for a writ of habeas corpus be denied.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). In his objections petitioner may address whether a certificate of appealability should issue in the event he files an appeal of the judgment in this case. See Rule 11, Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (the district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant).
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DALE A. DROZD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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