March v. Clement

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO

FRANCIS MARIE MARCH, Case No. 4:23-cv-00370-CWD Petitioner, INITIAL REVIEW ORDER v. JANELLE CLEMENT, Respondent.

Petitioner Francis Marie March has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus challenging her state court conviction. See Pet., Dkt. 2. The Court is required to review every habeas corpus petition upon receipt to determine whether it should be served upon the respondent, amended, or dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 2243. If “it plainly appears from the face of the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court,” the petition must be summarily dismissed. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (“Habeas Rules”).

REVIEW OF PETITION 1. Background In the Fourth Judicial District Court in Ada County, Idaho, Petitioner pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder. Petitioner was sentenced to a unified term of life in prison with 27 years fixed. Petitioner unsuccessfully pursued a direct appeal as well as state post-conviction relief.

The Court construes the instant Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus as alleging the following five claims.1 In Claim 1, Petitioner asserts that her right to due process was violated because the trial court lacked jurisdiction. This claim is based on an argument that the flag present in the courtroom had yellow fringe. Petitioner alleges that, by virtue of that fringed flag, the trial court was unconstitutionally transformed into a military court. Memo. of Law in Supp. of Pet., Dkt. 2-1 at 6–10.

Claim 2 alleges that the prosecutor committed misconduct by failing to present the second amended information prior to Petitioner’s guilty plea and that the trial court lacked jurisdiction as a result. Claim 2 also appears to assert ineffective assistance of counsel based on defense counsel’s failure to object on this basis. Id. at 12–14.

Claim 3 asserts a due process violation—as well as a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel—based on the prosecutor’s “common scheme” with defense counsel. These actors allegedly conspired to “persuade [Petitioner] to take a guilty plea to felony murder.” Id. at 15–16.

Claim 4 asserts (a) that the charging document was insufficient on its face to charge Petitioner, and (b) that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge it.

Specifically, Petitioner claims defense counsel should have made the following arguments: (i) that there could not possibly have been a felony because there was no

1 If the Court’s construction of any claim is incorrect, Petitioner must inform the Court and Respondent of all corrections within 28 days after entry of this Order. robbery and because Petitioner had acquired “squatter’s rights”; (ii) that the only predicate crime that could have been charged was “family unit embezzlement”; and (iii) that the “specific premises” alleged to have been burgled were not set forth in the charging document. Id. at 17–19.

Finally, Claim 5 alleges trial court error based on the lack of a second amended information prior to Petitioner’s plea. This claim also restates Petitioner’s ineffectiveness claim on this issue. Id. at 20–21.

2. Discussion Federal habeas corpus relief is available to prisoners who are held in custody under a state court judgment that violates the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). Habeas relief is not available for violations of state law, such as claims of error during state post-conviction proceedings. Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 780 (1990); Franzen v. Brinkman, 877 F.2d 26, 26 (9th Cir. 1989) (per curiam).

Habeas corpus law requires that a petitioner “exhaust” state court remedies before pursuing a claim in a federal habeas petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). To properly exhaust a claim, a habeas petitioner must fairly present it as a federal claim to the highest state court for review in the manner prescribed by state law. See O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999).

If, in this case, Petitioner did not properly exhaust her claims in the Idaho Supreme Court before filing the federal Petition, she may face procedural challenges from Respondent. The Court does not have the full record before it to determine whether Petitioner has properly exhausted her claims. The Court will order the Clerk of Court to serve the Petition upon Respondent, who will be permitted to file an answer or a pre- answer motion for summary dismissal and will be ordered to provide a copy of relevant portions of the state court record to this Court.

Petitioner may proceed on the Petition to the extent that the claims (1) are cognizable—meaning they actually can be heard—in a federal habeas corpus action, (2) were timely filed in this Court, and (3) were either properly exhausted in state court or are subject to a legal excuse for any failure to exhaust in a proper manner. At this time, the Court expresses no opinion as to whether any of these issues applies to any of Petitioner’s claims.

REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL Petitioner has requested appointment of counsel. See Pet. at 10. There is no constitutional right to counsel in a habeas corpus action. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 755 (1991). A habeas petitioner has a right to counsel, as provided by rule, if an evidentiary hearing is required in the case. See Habeas Rule 8(c). In addition, the Court may exercise its discretion to appoint counsel for an indigent petitioner in any case where required by the interests of justice. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(h); 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B).

Whether counsel should be appointed turns on the petitioner’s ability to articulate the claims in light of the complexity of the legal issues and the petitioner’s likelihood of success on the merits. See Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983) (per curiam).

At this point, the Court concludes that, based on the evidence currently in the record (Dkt. 2), it is unlikely that Petitioner will be able to meet the strict standards of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) for issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. Therefore, at this time the Court will deny the request for appointment of counsel. The Court will notify the parties if it determines, at a later date, that appointment of counsel may be appropriate.

ORDER IT IS ORDERED: 1. Petitioner’s request for appointment of counsel (contained in the Petition) is DENIED without prejudice.

2. The Clerk of Court will serve (via ECF) a copy of the Petition (Dkt. 2), along with any attachments, together with a copy of this Order, on L.

LaMont Anderson, on behalf of Respondent, at Mr. Anderson’s registered ECF address.

3. Within 120 days after service of the Petition, Respondent may file either of the following: (1) a motion for summary dismissal or partial summary dismissal on procedural grounds (which may be followed by an answer on the merits if the motion is unsuccessful); or (2) an answer on the merits that also includes a brief summary (between one paragraph and several pages) of any procedural defenses for any claims (which may be argued in the alternative). The Court may consider the merits of claims that may be subject to a procedural bar if the merits analysis is more straightforward than a complicated procedural analysis.

4. Respondent must file with the responsive pleading or motion, or within a reasonable time thereafter, a copy of all portions of the state court record previously transcribed that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented. Any presentence investigation reports or evaluations—which must be provided to the Court if the petition contains any sentencing claims—must be filed under seal. The lodging of the remainder of the state court record, to the extent that it is lodged in paper format, is exempt from the redaction requirements, as provided in D. Idaho Local Civil Rule 5.5(c).

5. If the response to the habeas petition is an answer, Petitioner must file a reply (formerly called a traverse), containing a brief rebutting Respondent’s answer and brief, which must be filed and served within 28 days after service of the answer and brief. Respondent has the option of filing a sur- reply within 14 days after service of the reply. At that point, the case will be deemed ready for a final decision.

6. If the response to the habeas petition is a motion, Petitioner’s response must be filed and served within 28 days after service of the motion, and Respondent’s reply, if any, must be filed and served within 14 days thereafter.

7. In the response to the habeas petition, whether a pre-answer motion or an answer and brief, Respondent must include citations to all portions of the state court record that support Respondent’s assertions. Although Respondent may include citations to a state appellate court decision that describes events that took place in a lower court, Respondent must also include citations to the underlying lower court record.

8. If any of Petitioner’s claims is currently under consideration in state court proceedings, any party may file a motion to stay this case pending the outcome of those proceedings. See Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 277–78 (2005); Mena v. Long, 813 F.3d 907, 908 (9th Cir. 2016).

9. No party may file supplemental responses, replies, affidavits, or other documents not expressly authorized by the Local Rules or by this Order without first obtaining leave of Court.

10. No discovery may be undertaken in this matter unless a party obtains prior leave of Court, pursuant to Rule 6 of the Habeas Rules.

11. The parties may, but need not, file the following in this matter: (1) notices of non-objections to motions to which they do not object; (2) responses to motions for appointment of counsel; (3) responses to motions that are meritless, frivolous, or filed in contravention of this Order; or (4) notices of intent not to file a reply. The Court will notify the parties if additional briefing is required on any issue.

12. Each party must ensure that all documents filed with the Court are simultaneously served via the ECF system or by first-class mail upon the opposing party (through counsel if the party has counsel), pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5. Each party must sign and attach a proper mailing certificate to each document filed with the court, showing the manner of service, date of service, address of service, and name of the person upon whom service was made, or as specified by the applicable ECF rules. The Court will not consider ex parte requests unless a motion may be heard ex parte according to the rules and the motion is clearly identified as requesting an ex parte order, pursuant to Local Rule 7.2. (“Ex parte” means that a party has provided a document to the court, but that the party did not provide a copy of the document to the other party to the litigation.)

13. All Court filings requesting relief or requesting that the Court make a ruling or take an action of any kind must be in the form of a pleading or motion, with an appropriate caption designating the name of the pleading or motion, served on all parties to the litigation, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 7, 10 and 11, and Local Rules 5.2 and 7.1. The Court will not consider requests made in the form of letters.

14. Petitioner must at all times keep the Court and Respondent advised of any change in address.

15. If Petitioner’s custodian changes at any point during this litigation, Petitioner must file a Notice of Substitution of Respondent, within 28 days of such change, identifying the person who is substituted as Respondent.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d); Habeas Rule 2(a).

ZS DATED: October 17,2023 Rich Oo” U.S. Magistrate Judge INITIAL REVIEW ORDER - 8