James Burrell v. David Zook

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
James Burrell v. David Zook, 677 F. App'x 134 (4th Cir. 2017)
Duncan, Gregory, Hamilton, Per Curiam

James Burrell v. David Zook

Opinion

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

James Daniel Burrell seeks to appeal the district court’s order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and dismissing as untimely his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2012) petition. The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A) (2012). 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) (2012). When the district court denies relief on the merits, a prisoner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find that the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims is debatable or wrong. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000); see Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003). When the district court denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the dispositive procedural ruling is debatable, and that the petition states a debatable claim of the denial of a constitutional right. Slack, 529 U.S. at 484-85, 120 S.Ct. 1595.

We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Burrell has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability and *135 dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED

Reference

Full Case Name
James Daniel BURRELL, Petitioner-Appellant, v. David ZOOK, Warden, Respondent-Appellee
Cited By
1 case
Status
Unpublished