Young v. Director, TDCJ-CID
Young v. Director, TDCJ-CID
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS RAYMOND LEE YOUNG, § § Petitioner, § § versus § CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:19-CV-394 § DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID, § § Respondent. § MEMORANDUM ORDER OVERRULING PETITIONER’S OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Petitioner Raymond Lee Young, an inmate confined at the McConnell 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 Christine L. Stetson, United States Magistrate Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this court. The magistrate judge recommends denying and dismissing the petition. The court has received and considered the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge, along with the record, pleadings and all available evidence. Petitioner filed objections to the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation. The court has conducted 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 are without merit. Petitioner argues he should receive statutory tolling of the limitations period. As set forth in the Report, however, petitioner exceeded the limitations period even after he was afforded the applicable statutory tolling. Petitioner also now argues he should receive equitable tolling. In Holland v. Florida,
560 U.S. 631(2010), the Supreme Court held that § 2244(d) is subject to equitable tolling in appropriate cases. The Court stated that “a petitioner is entitled to equitable tolling only if he shows (1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way and prevented timely filing.” Id. at 649 (citation omitted). Neither “a [party’s] unfamiliarity with the legal process nor his lack of representation during the applicable filing period merits equitable tolling.” Turner v. Johnson,
177 F.3d 390, 392(5th Cir. 1999). Further, “equity is not intended for those who sleep on their rights.” Fisher v. Johnson,
174 F.3d 710, 715(5th Cir. 1999). As set forth in the Report, petitioner exceeded the one-year limitations period by more than five months. Petitioner has failed to demonstrate either the existence of an extraordinary circumstance or that he pursued his habeas remedy with the diligence and alacrity required to permit equitable tolling. Additionally, the 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 petitioner 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 petitioner 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 petitioner, 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, the 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 petitioner 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. Thus, the petitioner has failed to 2 make a sufficient showing to merit the issuance of a certificate of appealability. Therefore, a certificate of appealability shall not be issued. ORDER Accordingly, the 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 ADOPTED. A final judgment will be entered in this case in accordance with the magistrate judge’s recommendation.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 9th day of September, 2022.
MARCIA A. CRONE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Reference
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