Mazza v. Commonwealth of VA

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Mazza v. Commonwealth of VA, 266 F. App'x 306 (4th Cir. 2008)

Mazza v. Commonwealth of VA

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Anthony F. Mazza, Jr., seeks to appeal the magistrate judge’s order denying relief on his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2000) petition. * 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 Mazza has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability, deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis, 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.

*

This case was decided by the magistrate judge upon consent of the parties under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (2000).

Reference

Full Case Name
Anthony F. MAZZA, Jr., Petitioner—Appellant, v. Commonwealth of VIRGINIA, Respondent—Appellee
Status
Unpublished