U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2007

Williams v. Wood

Williams v. Wood
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided August 29, 2007 · Williams, Wilkins, Hamilton
238 F. App'x 966

Williams v. Wood

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Stanley Lorenzo Williams seeks to appeal the district court’s order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and denying relief without prejudice on all claims in his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2000) petition and also dismissing as frivolous Claims 1 and 2 with prejudice. The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1) (2000). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2000). A prisoner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find that any assessment of the constitutional claims by the district court is debatable or wrong and that any dispositive procedural ruling by the district court is likewise debatable. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000); Rose v. Lee, 252 F.3d 676, 683-84 (4th Cir. 2001). We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Williams has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny the motion for a certificate of appealability, deny leave to proceed in for-ma pauperis, deny the motion to stay state *967 court proceedings, and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED.

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