Hillman v. Director, TDCJ-CID

District Court, E.D. Texas

Hillman v. Director, TDCJ-CID

Trial Court Opinion

** NOT FOR PRINTED PUBLICATION ** IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS LUFKIN DIVISION

DANNY A. HILLMAN § VS. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 9:20cv181 DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID § ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ACCEPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Petitioner Danny A. Hillman, an inmate confined at the Eastham Unit, proceeding pro se, brought this petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2254

. The court referred this matter to the Honorable Zack Hawthorn, United States Magistrate Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this court. The Magistrate Judge recommended denying the petition. The court has received and considered the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge filed pursuant to such order, along with the record and pleadings. Petitioner filed

objections to the Report and Recommendation. This requires a de novo review of the objections in relation to the pleadings and the applicable law. See FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b). After careful consideration, the court concludes petitioner’s objections should be overruled. Petitioner’s claims do not implicate due process concerns. Further, as the punishment imposed in this case did not affect the fact or duration of confinement, petitioner’s claims do not present grounds warranting relief pursuant to federal habeas corpus review.1 Thus, this petition should be dismissed.

1 Petitioner’s claims not contesting the fact or duration of his confinement have been severed from this action and are proceeding as a separate civil rights action. Furthermore, petitioner is not entitled to the issuance of a certificate of appealability. An appeal from a judgment denying federal habeas corpus relief may not proceed unless a judge issues a certificate of appealability. See

28 U.S.C. § 2253

; FED. R. APP. P. 22(b). The standard for granting a certificate of appealability, like that for granting a certificate of probable cause to appeal under

prior law, requires the movant to make a substantial showing of the denial of a federal constitutional right. See Slack v. McDaniel,

529 U.S. 473, 483-84

(2000); Elizalde v. Dretke,

362 F.3d 323, 328

(5th Cir. 2004); see also Barefoot v. Estelle,

463 U.S. 880, 893

(1982). In making that substantial showing, the movant need not establish that he should prevail on the merits. Rather, he must demonstrate that the issues are subject to debate among jurists of reason, that a court could resolve the issues in a different manner, or that the questions presented are worthy of encouragement to proceed further. See Slack,

529 U.S. at 483-84

. Any doubt regarding whether to grant a certificate

of appealability is resolved in favor of the movant, and the severity of the penalty may be considered in making this determination. See Miller v. Johnson,

200 F.3d 274, 280-81

(5th Cir.), cert. denied,

531 U.S. 849

(2000). Here, petitioner has not shown that any of the issues raised by his claims are subject to debate among jurists of reason. The factual and legal questions advanced by the movant are not novel and have been consistently resolved adversely to his position. In addition, the questions presented are not worthy of encouragement to proceed further. Therefore, petitioner has failed to make a sufficient showing to merit the issuance of a certificate of appealability. Accordingly, a certificate of

appealability shall not be issued.

2 O R D E R Accordingly, petitioner’s objections are OVERRULED. The findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Magistrate Judge are correct and the report of the Magistrate Judge is

ACCEPTED. A final judgment will be entered in this case in accordance with the Magistrate Judge’s recommendations.

3

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