U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2010

Smith v. Uttecht

Smith v. Uttecht
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided March 3, 2010 · Fernandez, Gould, Smith
369 F. App'x 784

Smith v. Uttecht

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Washington state prisoner Bruce Eric Smith appeals from the district court’s dis *785 missal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition challenging his jury conviction for first degree rape, first degree murder, and first degree burglary. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm.

Smith contends that his due process rights were violated when the trial court permitted the arresting officers to testify about their observations regarding Smith’s post-arrest physical condition. Specifically, Smith contends that the officers impermissibly testified about his unresponsiveness, in violation of Wainwright v. Greenfield, 474 U.S. 284, 106 S.Ct. 634, 88 L.Ed.2d 623 (1986). The record reflects that any alleged error is harmless because it did not have a “substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 623, 113 S.Ct. 1710, 123 L.Ed.2d 353 (1993) (internal quotations omitted).

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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