Browne v. Johnson
Browne v. Johnson
Opinion
No. 98-10925 -1-
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 98-10925 Summary Calendar
BOBBY CLAY BROWNE,
Petitioner-Appellant,
versus
GARY L. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION,
Respondent-Appellee.
--------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 6:97-CV-30 --------------------- April 6, 2000
Before DAVIS, EMILIO M. GARZA and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Bobby Clay Browne, a Texas prisoner (# 500654) whose parole
was revoked because he allegedly assaulted his live-in companion,
Melinda Nichols, appeals from the denial of his
28 U.S.C. § 2254habeas corpus petition. On June 4, 1999, this court granted him
a certificate of appealability (“COA”) with respect to the issues
(a) whether the use of hearsay testimony about Nichols’
statements to police officers violated Browne’s Confrontation
Clause rights and (b) whether Nichols’ invocation of her Fifth
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 98-10925 -2-
Amendment privilege against self-incrimination was “good cause”
for not allowing confrontation. Browne waived all other claims
by failing to brief them in his pro se COA application. See
Hughes v Johnson,
191 F.3d 607, 613(5th Cir. 1999), cert.
denied,
120 S. Ct. 1003(2000).
Browne has not shown that his Confrontation Clause rights
were violated at his revocation hearing. A qualified right to
confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses is among the minimum
due-process requirements to be afforded to a parolee at his final
revocation hearing, provided that the hearing officer has not
specifically found “good cause” for not allowing confrontation.
See Morrissey v. Brewer,
408 U.S. 471, 489(1972). This right is
conditional upon the parolee’s affirmative request to confront
the witness. McBride v. Johnson,
118 F.3d 432, 437(5th Cir.
1997) (citing Gagnon v. Scarpelli,
411 U.S. 778, 786(1973)).
There is no suggestion in the record of Browne’s revocation
hearing that he sought to confront or cross-examine Melinda
Nichols. In any event, Browne has not shown that Nichols’
invocation of her privilege against self-incrimination–-it
appears that Nichols faced the revocation of her own parole in
connection with the incident in question–-was not “good cause”
for her failure to testify.
AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished