Opinion
03 Civ. 5439 (JSR) (JCF).
January 14, 2005
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Delroy Kemp brings this petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his February 17, 1999 conviction for three counts of Robbery in the First Degree. He argues that: (1) the indictment voted by the grand jury was "fatally defective"; (2) New York state courts lacked jurisdiction to prosecute him because he was extradited from New Jersey to New York involuntarily and without a warrant; (3) identification testimony admitted at trial was inaccurate and derived from impermissibly suggestive procedures; (4) identification testimony was improperly admitted during grand jury proceedings; (5) the trial court's failure to order a hearing regarding his competency to stand trial violated his due process rights; (6) he received ineffective assistance of counsel; (7) the verdict sheet was defective in that it contained the names of the robbery victims, the items stolen, and the choices guilty and not guilty, and did not contain a charge of "larceny 155"; (8) the jury selection process violated state law; and (9) the prosecution's exercise of a peremptory challenge after the defense had exercised its challenges violated his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights. The respondent argues that the petitioner's claims fail on the merits, and that, in any event, habeas review is unavailable because the claims are unexhausted and procedurally barred, are not cognizable federal claims, or are not based on "clearly established Federal law." For the reasons discussed below, I recommend that the petition be denied.
Mr. Kemp states in his petition that he was convicted of four counts of First Degree Robbery (Amended Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody (the "Petition") at 1), while in his memorandum of law in support of his petition ("Pet. Memo."), he states that he was convicted of only three counts. The trial transcript, however, clearly reflects that he was convicted of three counts of First Degree Robbery. (Tr. at 512).
The respondent did not specifically address the petitioner's claims regarding his competency to stand trial, flaws in the jury selection process related to the number of jurors, and the improper admission of identification testimony during grand jury proceedings.
Background
On November 10, 1997, Delroy Kemp robbed a small card and gift shop in Manhattan at gun point. (Tr. at 34-35, 42, 55-60, 72). The victims of the robbery were the store's co-owners, Lois Marsilio and Susan Zappone, and two of the store's customers, Carol Jacobanis and Kelly Gitter. Five days later, as Mr. Kemp was attempting to use Ms. Gitter's credit cards at a New Jersey mall, he was arrested. (Tr. at 213-16). He was subsequently extradited to New York and arraigned on charges arising from the robbery. (Pet. Memo.; Respondent's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus ("Resp. Memo.") at 25).
"Tr." refers to the trial transcript.
Following his arraignment, the petitioner participated in a lineup conducted by Detective Joseph Scalogna. (Tr. at 276, 286). According to Detective Scalogna, he assembled the lineup by recruiting individuals physically similar to the petitioner from a nearby men's shelter. (Tr. at 276-77). The witnesses to the lineup were Ms. Marsilio, Ms. Zappone, and Ms. Jabobanis; Ms. Gitter was unable to attend because she was working. (Tr. 285-87). Only Ms. Marsilio and Ms. Zappone identified the petitioner. (Tr. at 69-71, 302). Notably, Ms. Zappone had selected the petitioner's picture prior to the lineup from an array of photographs (the "photo array"). (Tr. at 343-47).
The petitioner was indicted by a grand jury on September 11, 1998. (Indictment No. 7057-98; Resp. Memo. at 2). Several months after the indictment, defense counsel, Kenneth Salaway, requested a competency examination pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law ("CPL") § 730.30. (Affirmation of Michael Mays dated July 23, 1998 ("Mays Aff."), attached as Exh. S to the Declaration of Danielle Attias dated March 31, 2004 ("Attias Decl."), ¶¶ 3, 6). The basis for the request was that Mr. Kemp was mentally ill and unable to communicate with his attorney regarding the nature of the criminal proceedings. (Mays Aff., ¶ 6). Justice Charles Solomon granted the request on July 13, 1998. (Attias Decl., Exh. T). Before the examination was conducted, however, Mr. Kemp obtained a new attorney, Michael Mays, who withdrew the request for a competency examination. In his affidavit in support of the motion to withdraw the application, Mr. Mays explained that he had met with the petitioner on or about July 17, 1998 for over two hours, and that during that meeting the petitioner was "able to understand the nature of the charges pending against him" and "able to supply information . . . crucial to the defense of his case." (Mays Aff., ¶¶ 7-9). Justice Solomon thereafter vacated his prior order. (Attias Decl., Exh. T).
The petitioner's trial was held before Justice Bonnie Wittner in New York State Supreme Court, New York County, beginning on November 5, 1998. During the second phase of the first round of jury selection, the following irregularity occurred: after the defense had exercised its peremptory challenges during that round, the prosecution was permitted to exercise one of its challenges. In an attempt to remedy any unfairness, Judge Wittner offered to allow the defense to redo its challenges. However, defense counsel declined the judge's offer. (V. at 148-50).
"V." refers to the transcript of the voir dire.
At the conclusion of the trial, Mr. Kemp was found guilty on all three counts of Robbery in the First Degree in violation of New York Penal Law § 160.15(4). He was subsequently sentenced, as a second violent felony offender, to three terms of 20 years, to be served concurrently. (S. at 533). Mr. Kemp appealed his conviction and sentence to the Appellate Division, First Department, arguing that: (1) the prosecutor's exercise of a peremptory challenge after the defense had exercised its challenges violated his rights under CPL § 270.15, as well as under the state and federal constitutions; (2) the trial judge improperly admitted evidence regarding the petitioner's arrest in New Jersey in violation of his constitutional rights; and (3) the petitioners' sentence was excessive and should be reduced in light of his mental illness. (Brief for Defendant-Appellant on Direct Appeal ("Def. App. Br."), attached as Exh. A to Attias Decl.). On February 7, 2002, the Appellate Division affirmed the petitioner's conviction and sentence. People v. Kemp, 291 A.D.2d 236, 738 N.Y.S.2d 25 (1st Dep't 2002). Specifically, it ruled that the petitioner waived his jury selection claim when he declined to accept the court's offer of a "suitable remedy" and that "[i]n any event, defendant was not prejudiced by the technical irregularity that occurred." Id. at 236. The Court of Appeals denied leave to appeal on May 29, 2002. People v. Kemp, 98 N.Y.2d 652, 745 N.Y.S.2d 511 (2002).
"S." refers to the transcript of the sentencing proceedings.
CPL § 270.15 provides that:
The people must exercise their peremptory challenges first and may not, after the defendant has exercised his peremptory challenges, make such a challenge to any remaining prospective juror who is then in the jury box.
In the meantime, Mr. Kemp filed a motion on July 26, 2000, seeking to vacate the judgment of conviction pursuant to CPL § 440.10 (the "440 motion"). (Notion of Motion to Vacate Judgment Pursuant to CPL § 440.10 Affidavit in Support of CPL § 440.10, attached as Exh. F to Attias Decl.). In that motion, he stated numerous reasons why his conviction should be vacated, arguing that: (1) the indictment was defective because it had been amended improperly and contained errors and omissions; (2) the prosecution acted improperly in its initial presentation of evidence to the grand jury; (3) the admission of identification testimony derived from the lineups and photo array was improper; (4) the court should have ordered a competency hearing; (5) the trial court lacked jurisdiction to prosecute him because his extradition from New Jersey to New York was improper; and (6) he had been provided with ineffective assistance of counsel. The New York County District Attorney's office opposed the motion on the grounds that none of the arguments was properly the subject of a 440 motion, and that in any event the arguments failed on the merits. (Affirmation in Response to the Defendant's Motion to Vacate, attached as Exh. G to Attias Decl.). Justice Wittner denied the motion, "based on the People's response," on February 9, 2001. (Attias Decl., Exh H). The petitioner sought leave to appeal that decision to the Appellate Division and then to the Court of Appeals. The Appellate Division denied both requests on May 8, 2001 and June 28, 2001, respectively. (Attias Decl., Exhs. K, M).
There is no appeal to the Court of Appeals from an order of the Appellate Division denying leave to appeal a § 440.10 motion. N.Y. Rules of Court, Court of Appeals, § 500.10(a); Soto v. Portuondo, No. 02-CV-28, 2004 WL 2501773, at *2 n. 2 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 5, 2004); Velasquez v. Edwards, No. 00 Civ. 8784, 2002 WL 441335, at *1 n. 1 (S.D.N.Y. March 21, 2002).
Mr. Kemp then filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to this Court. In an order dated July 23, 2003, the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey, Chief Judge, instructed the petitioner to amend the petition to include information regarding the exhaustion of his claims. As directed by Chief Judge Mukasey, Mr. Kemp then submitted the instant petition.
Discussion
Prior to passage of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (the "AEDPA"), factual findings made by a state court after an evidentiary hearing were presumed correct in a federal habeas proceeding, but federal courts were not required to defer to state court determinations of law and of mixed questions of law and fact. See Thompson v. Keohane, 516 U.S. 99, 107-12 (1995); Brown v. Artuz, 283 F.3d 492, 497 (2d Cir. 2002). Under the AEDPA, however, a writ of habeas corpus may not issue "with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication . . . 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." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
A decision is contrary to clearly established Federal law if it "contradicts the governing law" or "if the state court confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of [the Supreme Court] and nevertheless arrives at a result different from" the Supreme Court. [Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362,] 405-06 (2000). An unreasonable application of federal law is more than an incorrect application, but the petitioner need not show that all reasonable jurists would agree that a state court determination is incorrect in order for it to be unreasonable. Id. at 409-12. Instead, a federal court should review a state court's interpretation of federal law using a standard of objective reasonableness. Id. at 409. Objective unreasonableness includes an unreasonable refusal "to extend a clearly established, Supreme Court defined, legal principle to situations which that principle should have, in reason, governed." Kennaugh v. Miller, 289 F.3d 36, 45 n. 2 (2d Cir. 2002). The "increment of incorrectness beyond error . . . need not be great; otherwise, habeas relief would be limited to state court decisions so far off the mark as to suggest judicial incompetence." Francis S. v. Stone, 221 F.3d 100, 111 (2d Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).Yung v. Walker, 296 F.3d 129, 135 (2d Cir. 2002).
The AEDPA standard applies to this case since Mr. Kemp filed his petition after the Act's effective date. See Brown, 283 F.3d at 498 n. 2. Nevertheless, since each of the petitioner's claims fails under the less deferential pre-AEDPA standard, there is no need to conduct the AEDPA's more intricate analysis. Cf. Kruelski v. Connecticut Superior Court for the Judicial District of Danbury, 316 F.3d 103, 106-07 (2d Cir. 2003) (suggesting, in post-AEDPA cases, that habeas courts assess first whether state court's ruling was erroneous under "correct interpretation" of the federal law at issue, then whether the ruling was unreasonable).
A. Defective Indictment
The petitioner alleges that his indictment was "fatally defective," in that it was amended improperly and contained errors and omissions, and because two members of the grand jury were absent for part of the proceedings. (440 motion at 9-11). This claim must fail because it does not allege a federal constitutional violation and, as a result, habeas review is unavailable.
"[A] district court shall entertain an application for a 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 defects in the indictment alleged in this case do not violate federal law or the federal constitution. There is no federal constitutional right to a grand jury indictment in state court proceedings; although the Fifth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the right to a grand jury indictment, that guarantee does not apply to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. See LanFranco v. Murray, 313 F.3d 112, 118 (2d Cir. 2002).
B. Competency
The petitioner next alleges that the trial court violated his due process rights by failing to order a competency examination. Mr. Kemp maintains that the judge should have ordered a psychological evaluationsua sponte pursuant to CPL § 730.30 based on his irrational behavior during trial and his well-documented history of mental illness. The respondent did not address this claim. Nevertheless, it fails because the record does not indicate that the trial court had "reasonable grounds" to order a competency evaluation.
It is well established that "the criminal trial of an incompetent defendant violates due process." Cooper v. Oklahoma, 517 U.S. 348, 354 (1996). The standard for incompetency is whether a defendant has the "`sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding . . . [and] a rational as well as a factual understanding of the proceedings against him.'" Id. (quotingDusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 402 (1960)). Where there is "reasonable ground" for believing that a defendant fails to meet this standard, the trial court must hold a competency hearing. Silverstein v. Henderson, 706 F.2d 361, 369 (2d Cir. 1983). The failure to hold such a hearing where warranted, even if the defendant has not requested it, is grounds for reversing a conviction in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. Id. Factors relevant to whether a court had a basis to inquire as to a criminal defendant's competence to stand trial include the "defendant's demeanor at trial, medical opinions, and the opinion of defense counsel." Johnson v. Keane, 974 F. Supp. 225, 231 (S.D.N.Y. 1997) (citing Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 180 (1975)). The trial judge's determination that the defendant was competent is also relevant and entitled to deference. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1); see also Demosthenes v. Baal, 495 U.S. 731, 735 (1990) (citing Maggio v. Fulford, 462 U.S. 111, 117 (1983)).
In this case, the record does not reveal "reasonable grounds" for the trial court to have ordered a competency examination. Although there is no doubt that Mr. Kemp suffers some psychological impairment, "some degree of mental illness cannot be equated with incompetence to stand trial." United States v. Vamos, 797 F.2d 1146, 1150-51 (2d Cir. 1986) (citation omitted); see also Rollins v. Leonardo, 733 F. Supp. 763, 768 (S.D.N.Y. 1990). And there is no indication that the petitioner's demeanor, however odd, resulted in an inability to communicate with his attorney or participate meaningfully in his defense. In fact, both Mr. Kemp's trial counsel, Mr. Mays, and Justice Wittner determined at the trial's outset that the petitioner was competent to proceed, and neither revised that evaluation during the trial. (Tr. at 532; Mays Aff.). Justice Wittner's determination is entitled to deference pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e), and Mr. Mays' opinion is bolstered by the fact that it is based on precisely the criteria by which competency is measured: the criminal defendant's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and to assist in his defense. (Mays Aff.).
There is evidence in the record indicating that the petitioner's behavior during trial was unusual. Specifically, near the close of proceedings, the prosecutor stated that "[the petitioner's] demeanor during the course of the trial has been . . . unpredictable, uncontrolable [sic] with glaring and with faces," and argued that the jury should be allowed to consider this behavior and infer from it the petitioner's guilt. Justice Wittner appropriately rejected this argument. (Tr. at 431-32).
The respondent observes, in the context of challenging the petitioner's ineffective assistance counsel claim, that the petitioner was deemed legally incompetent by another New York state court within weeks of his sentencing in this case. (Resp. Memo. at 38; Attias Decl., Exh. U). However, that determination is not dispositive of whether the trial judge in this case had reasonable grounds to conduct a competency examination. See Rollins, 733 F. Supp. at 768 (holding that subsequent determination that habeas petitioner was incompetent was not dispositive of petitioner's competence to stand trial in New York three months earlier).
C. Jury Selection
The petitioner alleges that he was denied his rights under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by the prosecutor's exercise of a peremptory challenge after defense counsel had exercised his peremptory challenges in the same round. (Def. App. Br. at 15; Pet. Memo.). The respondent argues that "clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States" does not recognize a claim regarding the order in which peremptory challenges are exercised, and that, in any event, any deviation did not prejudice the petitioner. (Resp. Memo. at 45-46).
Although it has long been recognized that peremptory challenges are not constitutionally required, Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 81, 88 (1988);accord United States v. Martinez-Salazar, 528 U.S. 304, 311 (2000), "clearly established Federal law" would almost certainly support a due process claim regarding the improper exercise of peremptory challenges where the violation was so egregious that it compromised the defendant's right to a fair trial. See United States v. Harbin, 250 F.3d 532 (7th Cir. 2001) (recognizing a due process violation where the prosecution alone was allowed to exercise a peremptory challenge to eliminate a juror mid-trial). Nevertheless, it is unnecessary to resolve that issue here, because Mr. Kemp's claim clearly fails on the merits, as he has offered no evidence of prejudice.
The petitioner also argues that the jury selection process violated state law because between 18 and 23 potential jurors were seated in the jury box while nearly 60 others remained in the courtroom. However, a federal court in a habeas corpus action may not review alleged violations of state law. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991); Dunnigan v. Keane, 137 F.3d 117, 125 (1998).
D. Identification Evidence
The petitioner asserts that identification testimony admitted at trial was derived from impermissibly suggestive procedures and should have been suppressed. He maintains specifically that he was dressed differently from others in the lineup, that Officer Scalogna instructed him during the lineup to expose his gold rimmed teeth, and that witnesses were shown single photographs of the petitioner prior to viewing him in the lineup. (Pet. Memo.; Resp. Memo. at 26-32). These claims fail because all but one are unexhausted and they are all procedurally barred.
Prior to seeking federal habeas corpus relief a state inmate must first exhaust all available state remedies. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270 (1971); Daye v. Attorney General of New York, 696 F.2d 186, 190 (2d Cir. 1982). This means that before filing a habeas petition, the inmate must have allowed the state courts a fair opportunity to consider his federal claims. Picard, 404 U.S. at 275; Daye, 696 F.2d at 190. A claim has been fairly presented to a state court when that court has been apprised of both the factual and legal premises of the claim. "Specifically, [the petitioner] must have set forth in state court all of the essential factual allegations asserted in his federal petition; if material factual allegations were omitted, the state court has not had a fair opportunity to rule on the claim." Daye, 696 F.2d at 191 (citations omitted). Similarly, "the petitioner must have placed before the state court essentially the same legal doctrine he asserts in his federal petition."Id. at 192.
In the state courts Mr. Kemp raised only one of the arguments regarding identification evidence now asserted in his petition. He stated in his 440 motion that Officer Scalogna had shown Ms. Zappone his photograph before she viewed him in the lineup, and that the lineup therefore violated his constitutional rights. That claim is exhausted, notwithstanding the petitioner's failure to refer specifically to the United States Constitution or to cite to any case whatsoever. A petitioner need not cite "book and verse on the federal constitution" to alert a state court to the federal nature of a legal claim; it is sufficient that the legal claims are substantially equivalent. Picard, 404 U.S. at 277-78 (citations omitted); Daye, 696 F.2d at 192 (citations omitted). Without explicitly citing the Constitution, the federal nature of a state defendant's claim may be demonstrated by:
(a) reliance on pertinent federal cases employing constitutional analysis, (b) reliance on state cases employing constitutional analysis in like fact situations, (c) assertion of the claim in terms so particular as to call to mind a specific right protected by the Constitution, and (d) allegation of a pattern of facts that is well within the mainstream of constitutional litigation.Daye, 696 F.2d at 194.
The suggestive identification claim raised by Mr. Kemp in his 440 motion should have alerted the state courts to a potential violation of his due process rights as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. See Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198 (1972) (possibility of misidentification implicates due process rights); Wray v. Johnson, 202 F.3d 515, 524 (2d Cir. 2000) (same). Thus, Mr. Kemp exhausted this claim even if he failed to articulate it in specifically constitutional terms.
Yet, habeas review is nevertheless unavailable because the New York State Supreme Court denial of the claim "based on the People's response," i.e., that it was not the proper subject of a 440 motion, constituted an independent and adequate state grounds for denying the claim, therefore barring review. See Hayes v. Coombe, 142 F.3d 517, 518 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam) (citing Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 735 (1991)) (holding that an independent and adequate basis for rejecting a federal claim will bar a federal court from reviewing the claim in a habeas corpus proceeding).
As for the claims that Mr. Kemp failed to raise either on direct appeal or in his 440 motion, they are clearly unexhausted, and he is barred from returning to state court to exhaust them. This is because New York law provides only one opportunity for direct review. N.Y. Rules of Court, Court of Appeals § 500.10(a); see Spence v. Superintendent, Great Meadow Correctional Facility, 219 F.3d 162, 170 (2d Cir. 2000). A federal habeas court is precluded from reviewing a defaulted claim on the merits, unless the petitioner can show cause for the default and resulting prejudice, or "demonstrate that failure to consider the federal claim will result in a `fundamental miscarriage of justice,' or, in other words, an unjust incarceration." Spence, 219 F.3d at 170 (quoting Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991)); see also Gray v. Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 162 (1996); Bossett v. Walker, 41 F.3d 825, 829 (2d Cir. 1994). The petitioner has not suggested any cause for the failure to present these arguments on direct appeal, nor has he demonstrated prejudice resulting therefrom. In addition, he has not shown that manifest injustice will result if these grounds are not considered. Accordingly, all of Mr. Kemp's arguments regarding suggestive identification procedures are barred and may not be reviewed on the merits.
The petitioner also assails the reliability of identification testimony during grand jury proceedings on the grounds that it was inconsistent and that his initial identification by witnesses was vague. However, these arguments do not entitle the petitioner to habeas corpus relief. Even assuming for the sake of argument that the prosecution's decision to offer this evidence before the grand jury was erroneous, the subsequent guilty verdict by the petit jury cured any prejudice caused by this error. See Lopez v. Riley, 865 F.2d 30, 33 (2d Cir. 1989) (citingUnited States v. Mechanik, 475 U.S. 66, 70 (1986)) (errors in grand jury proceedings involving the use of prejudicial evidence were rendered irrelevant by conviction after trial, and habeas relief was thus unavailable); see also Velez v. New York, 941 F. Supp. 300, 316 (E.D.N.Y. 1996).
E. Warrantless Extradition
The petitioner alleges that he was extradited from New Jersey to New York involuntarily and without a warrant, and that the New York court therefore lacked jurisdiction to hear his case. (Pet. Memo.). He does not argue that his federal constitutional rights were violated, nor do the facts he presents, even assuming that they were true, support such a claim.
Under the Supreme Court's Ker-Frisbee doctrine, a court's authority to prosecute an individual for a crime is generally not impaired by the manner in which the defendant comes before the court, even where that individual has been brought within the court's jurisdiction by force. Gil v. Mazzuca, No. 03 Civ. 3316, 2004 WL 389103, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. March 3, 2003) (quoting Frisbie v. Collins, 342 U.S. 519, 522 (1952)). Although an exception to the Ker-Frisbee doctrine has been recognized where a defendant asserts "conduct of the most outrageous and reprehensible kind by government agents," Id. at 6, that is not the case here where the defendant has not alleged any abuse at all. Accordingly, because only federal claims may be reviewed in habeas corpus, and the petitioner has not presented a viable federal claim, this claim must be denied.
F. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
The petitioner alleges a range of ways in which he was deprived of effective assistance of counsel. (Pet. Memo.; Resp. Memo. at 32). The respondent argues that these claims are unexhausted because the petitioner failed to raise them "in any state court." (Resp. Memo. at 16).
The petitioner did in fact state in his 440 motion that his conviction should be vacated because of ineffective assistance of counsel. (Notice of Motion to Vacate Judgment, Attias Decl., Exh. F). Nevertheless, because he failed to offer any facts in support of his ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the state court did not have a fair opportunity to rule on them and they are unexhausted. See Daye, 696 F.2d at 192. And under the doctrine of procedural default discussed above, Mr. Kemp may not return to state court to exhaust his ineffective assistance of counsel claims. New York law provides a means to collaterally challenge a judgment that is in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights. CPL § 440.10(1)(h). But the petitioner has already brought a 440 motion, and is barred from bringing another pursuant to CPL § 440.10(c)(3). The petitioner is also precluded from bringing the claim on direct appeal. N.Y. Rules of Court, Court of Appeals § 500.10. Accordingly, the claims can only be reviewed if Mr. Kemp demonstrates cause and prejudice. Because he has shown neither and has also failed to show that manifest injustice will result if these grounds are not assessed, the petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claims may not be reviewed.
G. Verdict Sheet
Finally the petitioner argues that the verdict sheet was defective because it contained the choices guilty or not guilty as well as the names of the crime victims, listed the items stolen, and did not contain a charge of "larceny 155." (Pet. Memo.; Resp. Memo. 41-43).
As an initial matter, Mr. Kemp's claim regarding the failure to charge him with "larceny 155" is incoherent. The respondent states that the petitioner's argument may be that the trial court failed to charge him with a lesser included offense, but the petitioner himself makes no mention of a lesser included offense and the cases that he cites do not address the issue. The other claims raised by the petitioner regarding the verdict sheet are not cognizable federal claims. Even assuming that all of the petitioner's allegations were true, the petitioner would still not have alleged a constitutional violation. See Anderson v. Keane, 283 F. Supp. 2d 936, 942 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (noting that "no one has a Federal right to an unannotated verdict sheet" and that in fact, "[federal courts] give annotated verdict sheets to juries all the time").
The petitioner cites three cases in support of his arguments that the verdict sheet was defective. Two of those cases, People v. Spivey, 81 N.Y.2d 356, 599 N.Y.S.2d 477 (1993), and People v. Kelly, 76 N.Y.2d 1013, 565 N.Y.S.2d 764 (1990), hold that the use of a verdict sheet specifying the elements of the crime charged may constitute reversible error under New York law. The third case cited by the petitioner was entirely irrelevant.
Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, I recommend that Mr. Kemp's petition for a writ of habeas corpus be denied. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Rules 72, 6(a), and 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the parties shall have ten (10) days from this date to file written objections to this Report and Recommendation. Such objections shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court, with extra copies delivered to the chambers of the Honorable Jed S. Rakoff, U.S.D.J., Room 1340, and to the chambers of the undersigned, Room 1960, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007. Failure to file timely objections will preclude appellate review.