Strickland v. Crank, 10th Cir. (2006)
Strickland v. Crank, 10th Cir. (2006)
Clerk of Court
FLOYD STRICKLAND,
Petitioner - Appellant,
v.
No. 05-8062
(D.C. No. 04-CV-330-J)
(D. Wyo.)
Respondent - Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before HARTZ, EBEL, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
Floyd Strickland was convicted in Wyoming state court of two counts of
arson. The district court denied both Mr. Stricklands 28 U.S.C. 2254 petition
for a writ of habeas corpus and his request for a certificate of appealability
(COA) to appeal the denial of his 2254 petition. He now seeks a COA from
After examining appellants brief and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R.
34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This
Order and Judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of
the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be
cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
*
this court. For substantially the same reasons set forth by the district court, we
DENY a COA and DISMISS this appeal.
In June 2001, Mr. Strickland was convicted of both first- and seconddegree arson in relation to a fire that damaged the basement of his home. See
Wyo. Stat. Ann. 6-3-101, -102 (2005). He was sentenced to serve concurrent
terms of between 120 and 216 months on the count of first-degree arson and
between 60 and 108 months on the count of second-degree arson. On direct
appeal, Mr. Strickland asserted thirteen points of error, but the Wyoming Supreme
Court affirmed his conviction and sentence. Strickland v. State, 94 P.3d 1034
(Wyo. 2004). 1
Mr. Strickland then filed a pro se 28 U.S.C. 2254 petition in federal
district court, asserting that the Wyoming Supreme Courts decision is contrary
to, or involved the unreasonable application of, United States Supreme Court case
law. 2 Mr. Strickland asserted causes for relief based on: his Fifth Amendment
Although the original sentence also recommended that Strickland not be
allowed to return to Natrona County should he be released prior to full service of
his sentence, the Wyoming Supreme Court found that portion of the sentence to
be unlawful. Strickland, 94 F.3d at 105051.
1
-2-
right against double jeopardy, his Fourth Amendment rights, his Sixth
Amendment right to effective counsel, and his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights
to due process and a fair trial.
Applying the standard given in 2254, the district court denied relief on all
four grounds. It first concluded that the Wyoming Supreme Court did not
unreasonably deny Mr. Stricklands double jeopardy claim because, in Wyoming,
first- and second-degree arson each require[] proof of a fact which the other does
not. Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932). Second, the
district court rejected Mr. Stricklands Fourth Amendment claims, both because
he had the opportunity to fully and fairly litigate the issue in the Wyoming courts
and because the Wyoming Supreme Courts conclusion that Mr. Strickland had
consented to all the challenged searches was not unreasonable. Third, the district
court rejected Mr. Stricklands claim that his attorney was ineffective in failing to
call an expert witness and failing to request several jury instructions. Finally, the
district court concluded that statements made by the prosecutor did not rise to the
level of a violation of Mr. Stricklands right to a fair trial. Mr. Strickland sought
(...continued)
of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court
of the United States . . . .
28 U.S.C. 2254(d).
2
-3-
to appeal the district courts decision, and the district court denied his request for
a COA. He renews his request for a COA before this court.
Congress has mandated that a COA may issue only if the applicant has
made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28 U.S.C.
2253(c)(2). We have held that a petitioner can make such a showing by
demonstrating that the issues he seeks to raise on appeal are deserving of further
proceedings, subject to a different resolution on appeal, or reasonably debatable
among jurists of reason. Montez v. McKinna, 208 F.3d 862, 869 (10th Cir.
2000). In this case, Mr. Strickland has not made such a showing. Therefore, for
substantially the same reasons set forth in the district courts thorough opinion,
we DENY Mr. Stricklands request for a COA and DISMISS this appeal.
David M. Ebel
Circuit Judge
-4-