“Florida law is clear that once a judge recuses himself or herself for whatever reasons, the judge may not thereafter reconsider the recusal decision and reassert judicial authority over the case.”
How later courts described this case
- “Florida law is clear that once a judge recuses himself or herself for whatever reasons, the judge may not thereafter reconsider the recusal decision and reassert judicial authority over the case.”
- “Where defendants, prior to trial, had within their knowledge the information by which they could have ascertained the alleged Brady material, there is no suppression by the government.”
- holding that “when a habeas petition is the first to challenge a new judgment [following a resentencing], it is not ‘second or successive,’ regardless of whether its claims challenge the sentence or the underlying conviction.”
- remanding for new sentencing hearing and noting that “[i]t appears that the trial judge on this case, Judge Thomas S. Reese, retired in 2010. On remand, this issue should be addressed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.700(c)(1).”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
MELVIN JEROME DAY,
Petitioner,
v. Case No. 3:15-cv-698-MMH-PDB
SECRETARY, FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
et al.,
Respondents.
________________________________
ORDER
I. Status
Petitioner Melvin Day, an inmate of the Florida penal system, initiated
this action on June 9, 2015,1 by filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Petition; Doc. 1). Day is proceeding on an amended
petition filed on July 14, 2015 (Amended Petition; Doc. 10). In the Amended
Petition, Day challenges a 1999 state court (Clay County, Florida) judgment of
conviction for armed robbery. Day raises five grounds for relief. See Amended
Petition at 5-10.2 Respondents have submitted a memorandum in opposition
to the Petition. See Answer to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Response;
1 See Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276 (1988) (mailbox rule).
2 For purposes of reference, the Court will cite the page number assigned by the
Court’s electronic docketing system.
Doc. 19) with exhibits (Resp. Ex.). Day declined to file a reply brief; instead,
deciding to rely on his allegations and arguments as raised in his Amended
Petition. See Doc. 22. This case is ripe for review.
II. Relevant Procedural History
On July 28, 1999, the State of Florida (State) charged Day by way of an
amended Information with one count of armed robbery. Resp. Ex. A at 8. Day
proceeded to a jury trial, at the conclusion of which the jury found him guilty
as charged, with a specific finding that he used a firearm during the
commission of the offense. Id. at 74. On January 13, 2000, the circuit court
adjudicated Day as a habitual violent felony offender (HVFO) and sentenced
him to a term of incarceration of thirty years in prison, with a fifteen-year
minimum mandatory as a HVFO and a three-year minimum mandatory for his
use of a firearm during the commission of the crime. Id. at 132,137-38.
Day appealed his conviction and sentence to Florida’s First District
Court of Appeal (First DCA). Id. at 149. Day, with the assistance of counsel,
raised one issue on appeal: whether the circuit court erred in sentencing Day
as a HVFO. Resp. Ex. D. The State filed an answer brief, Reps. Ex. E, and Day
filed a brief in reply. Resp. Ex. F. On January 18, 2001, the First DCA per
curiam affirmed Day’s conviction and sentence without a written opinion.
Resp. Ex. G. The First DCA issued its Mandate on February 5, 2001. Resp. Ex.
H.
On February 18, 2000, Day filed a motion to correct illegal sentence
pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a) (Rule 3.800(a)
Motion), in which he alleged his HVFO sentence was illegal. Resp. Ex. I. On
February 29, 2000, the circuit court dismissed the motion for lack of
jurisdiction due to Day’s pending direct appeal. Resp. Ex. J. On November 9,
2000, the First DCA per curiam affirmed the dismissal with a written opinion,
Resp. Ex. K, and issued its Mandate on December 5, 2000. Resp. Ex. L.
On August 13, 2001, Day filed a pro se motion for postconviction relief
pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 (Rule 3.850 Motion).
Resp. Ex. M at 7-29. In his Rule 3.850 Motion, Day argued that his counsel was
ineffective for: (1) misadvising him to reject a favorable plea offer; (2) failing
to call a witness; (3) failing to impeach two witnesses; (4) opening the door to
evidence that was otherwise excluded pursuant to a pretrial motion in limine;
(5) referring to Day as the unidentified robber, and failing to object when the
prosecutor and a witness made the same characterization; and (6) his
cumulative errors. Id. Following an evidentiary hearing, the circuit court
denied the motion. Resp. Ex. O. On January 10, 2005, the First DCA affirmed
the circuit court’s denial without a written opinion. Resp. Ex. U. Day filed a
motion for rehearing, Resp. Ex. V, which the First DCA denied on February
18, 2005. Resp. Ex. W. The First DCA issued its mandate on March 8, 2005.
Resp. Ex. X.
On May 19, 2003, Day filed a second pro se motion to correct illegal
sentence pursuant to Rule 3.800(a) (Second Rule 3.800(a) Motion), arguing
that his HVFO adjudication was illegal because one of the prior convictions the
State relied on did not qualify as a prior conviction for purposes of the HVFO
statute. Resp. Ex. P. In an order filed July 24, 2003, the circuit court denied
the motion. Resp. Ex. O. Day did not appeal. Resp. Ex. AA.
On October 8, 2008, Day filed another pro se motion to correct illegal
sentence pursuant to Rule 3.800(a) (Third Rule 3.800(a) Motion), in which he
again attacked his HVFO adjudication based on the State’s reliance on a
conviction that did not qualify as a previous conviction for purposes of the
HVFO statute. Resp. Ex. Y. The circuit court denied the motion on March 9,
2010. Resp. Ex. Z. Again, Day did not appeal. Resp. Ex. AA.
On October 28, 2011, Day, with the assistance of counsel, filed a motion
to correct illegal sentence and petition for writ of habeas corpus (Fourth Rule
3.800(a) Motion). Resp. Ex. BB at 1-57. In the motion, Day argued that the
circuit court relied on an older version of the HVFO statute that allowed for
the imposition of a HVFO sentence if a defendant was on parole within five
years from the commission of the instant offense. Id. The Florida legislature
amended the statute to eliminate the probation or parole provision of the law
prior to the date Day committed the armed robbery. Id. Thus, Day contended
that the circuit court’s reliance on an Alabama conviction for which Day was
released from prison more than five years before the commission of the instant
offense, even though he was on parole within the five-year period, was
improper and resulted in an illegal sentence. Id. Following an evidentiary
hearing, the circuit court granted Day’s Fourth Rule 3.800(a) Motion, finding
Day did not qualify as a HVFO and ordered a new sentencing proceeding. Id.
at 127-31. Ultimately, the circuit court resentenced Day to a term of
imprisonment of thirty years, with a three-year minimum mandatory. Id. at
188-89.
Day appealed the imposition of his new sentence to the First DCA. Id. at
197. Day’s appellate counsel filed an Anders3 brief. Resp. Ex. DD. After the
filing of appellate counsel’s Anders brief, but prior to Day’s filing his own pro
se initial brief, Day filed with the circuit court a motion to correct a sentencing
error pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2) (Rule
3.800(b)(2) Motion). Resp. Ex. EE. In the motion, Day alleged that (1) his
sentence was illegal because a successor judge sentenced him rather than the
original trial judge; (2) the circuit court violated his due process rights by not
allowing him to address the circuit court; (3) the circuit court considered
erroneous information during the resentencing hearing; and (4) the circuit
court did not understand it had the discretion to impose a sentence of less than
3 Anders v. State of California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).
thirty years. Id. at 2-10. The circuit court denied the Rule 3.800(b)(2) Motion.
Id. at 13-15. Thereafter, Day filed his pro se initial brief, arguing that the
circuit court abused its discretion in sentencing him. Resp. Ex. FF. On March
10, 2014, the First DCA per curiam affirmed Day’s sentence without a written
opinion, Resp. Ex. GG, and issued its mandate on April 7, 2014. Resp. Ex. HH.
On June 6, 2014, Day filed a motion to mitigate sentence pursuant to
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(c). Resp. Ex. II. The circuit court
denied the motion on June 19, 2014. Resp. Ex. JJ.
On June 9, 2015, Day filed his initial Petition with this Court. See
Petition. Following Day’s notice of voluntary dismissal, Doc. 7, the Court
dismissed the Petition without prejudice. Doc. 8. On July 14, 2015, Day filed
an amended federal habeas petition, but it was given a new case number, 15-
cv-882. See Doc. 1 in case number 15-cv-882. Respondents filed a motion to
dismiss the amended petition as untimely. See Doc. 12 in case number 15-cv-
882. Day filed a reply brief. See Doc. 13 in case number 15-cv-882. On April 6,
2018, the Court denied Respondents’ motion to dismiss, reopened case number
15-cv-698 (the instant case), and afforded Day the right to pursue his claims in
this case. See Doc. 14 in case number 15-cv-882.
On October 20, 2015, Day filed another Rule 3.850 Motion (Second Rule
3.850 Motion) in state court, in which he alleged his counsel was ineffective
for: (1) failing to object to a successor judge sentencing Day and advising Day
of the law in relation to the facts of his case; (2) failing to object to the State’s
misstatement of the law; (3) misadvising the circuit court on the law in relation
to his case; and (4) failing to object to scoresheet errors. Resp. Ex. KK. On May
4, 2016, the circuit court denied Day’s Second Rule 3.850 Motion. Resp. Ex.
NN. Day did not appeal. Resp. Ex. AA.
III. One-Year Limitations Period
This proceeding was timely filed within the one-year limitations period.
See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). However, Respondents challenge the timeliness of
Ground Five of the Amended Petition. Response at 11. The Court will address
the timeliness of that ground below.
IV. Evidentiary Hearing
In a habeas corpus proceeding, the burden is on the petitioner to
establish the need for a federal evidentiary hearing. See Chavez v. Sec’y, Fla.
Dep’t of Corr., 647 F.3d 1057, 1060 (11th Cir. 2011). “In deciding whether to
grant an evidentiary hearing, a federal court must consider whether such a
hearing could enable an applicant to prove the petition’s factual allegations,
which, if true, would entitle the applicant to federal habeas relief.” Schriro v.
Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 474 (2007); Jones v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 834
F.3d 1299, 1318-19 (11th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2245 (2017). “It
follows that if the record refutes the applicant’s factual allegations or otherwise
precludes habeas relief, a district court is not required to hold an evidentiary
hearing.” Schriro, 550 U.S. at 474. The pertinent facts of this case are fully
developed in the record before the Court. Because the Court can “adequately
assess [Day’s] claim[s] without further factual development,” Turner v. Crosby,
339 F.3d 1247, 1275 (11th Cir. 2003), an evidentiary hearing will not be
conducted.
V. Governing Legal Principles
A. Standard of Review
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA)
governs a state prisoner’s federal petition for habeas corpus. See Ledford v.
Warden, Ga. Diagnostic & Classification Prison, 818 F.3d 600, 642 (11th Cir.
2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1432 (2017). “‘The purpose of AEDPA is to ensure
that federal habeas relief functions as a guard against extreme malfunctions
in the state criminal justice systems, and not as a means of error correction.’”
Id. (quoting Greene v. Fisher, 565 U.S. 34, 38 (2011) (quotation marks
omitted)). As such, federal habeas review of final state court decisions is
“‘greatly circumscribed’ and ‘highly deferential.’” Id. (quoting Hill v.
Humphrey, 662 F.3d 1335, 1343 (11th Cir. 2011) (quotation marks omitted)).
The first task of the federal habeas court is to identify the last state court
decision, if any, that adjudicated the claim on the merits. See Marshall v. Sec’y,
Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 828 F.3d 1277, 1285 (11th Cir. 2016). The state court need
not issue a written opinion explaining its rationale in order for the state court’s
decision to qualify as an adjudication on the merits. See Harrington v. Richter,
562 U.S. 86, 100 (2011). Where the state court’s adjudication on the merits is
unaccompanied by an explanation, the United States Supreme Court recently
stated:
[T]he federal court should “look through” the
unexplained decision to the last related state-court
decision that does provide a relevant rationale. It
should then presume that the unexplained decision
adopted the same reasoning.
Wilson v. Sellers, 138 S. Ct. 1188, 1192 (2018). The presumption may be
rebutted by showing that the higher state court’s adjudication most likely
relied on different grounds than the lower state court’s reasoned decision, such
as persuasive alternative grounds that were briefed or argued to the higher
court or obvious in the record it reviewed. Id. at 1192, 1196.
If the claim was “adjudicated on the merits” in state court, § 2254(d) bars
relitigation of the claim unless the state court’s decision (1) “was contrary to,
or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States;” or (2) “was based on
an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented
in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Richter, 562 U.S. at 97-98.
The Eleventh Circuit describes the limited scope of federal review pursuant to
§ 2254 as follows:
First, § 2254(d)(1) provides for federal review for
claims of state courts’ erroneous legal conclusions. As
explained by the Supreme Court in Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000),
§ 2254(d)(1) consists of two distinct clauses: a
“contrary to” clause and an “unreasonable application”
clause. The “contrary to” clause allows for relief only
“if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to
that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a question of
law or if the state court decides a case differently than
[the Supreme] Court has on a set of materially
indistinguishable facts.” Id. at 413, 120 S. Ct. at 1523
(plurality opinion). The “unreasonable application”
clause allows for relief only “if the state court identifies
the correct governing legal principle from [the
Supreme] Court's decisions but unreasonably applies
that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Id.
Second, § 2254(d)(2) provides for federal review for
claims of state courts’ erroneous factual
determinations. Section 2254(d)(2) allows federal
courts to grant relief only if the state court’s denial of
the petitioner’s claim “was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. §
2254(d)(2). The Supreme Court has not yet defined §
2254(d)(2)’s “precise relationship” to § 2254(e)(1),
which imposes a burden on the petitioner to rebut the
state court’s factual findings “by clear and convincing
evidence.” See Burt v. Titlow, 571 U.S. ---, ---, 134 S.
Ct. 10, 15, 187 L.Ed.2d 348 (2013); accord Brumfield v.
Cain, 576 U.S. ---, ---, 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2282, 192
L.Ed.2d 356 (2015). Whatever that “precise
relationship” may be, “‘a state-court factual
determination is not unreasonable merely because the
federal habeas court would have reached a different
conclusion in the first instance.’”[4] Titlow, 571 U.S. at
---, 134 S. Ct. at 15 (quoting Wood v. Allen, 558 U.S.
290, 301, 130 S. Ct. 841, 849, 175 L.Ed.2d 738 (2010)).
Tharpe v. Warden, 834 F.3d 1323, 1337 (11th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S.
Ct. 2298 (2017). Also, deferential review under § 2254(d) generally is limited
to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the
merits. See Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 182 (2011) (stating the language
in § 2254(d)(1)’s “requires an examination of the state-court decision at the
time it was made”).
Thus, “AEDPA erects a formidable barrier to federal habeas relief for
prisoners whose claims have been adjudicated in state court.” Burt v. Titlow,
134 S. Ct. 10, 16 (2013). “Federal courts may grant habeas relief only when a
state court blundered in a manner so ‘well understood and comprehended in
existing law’ and ‘was so lacking in justification’ that ‘there is no possibility
fairminded jurists could disagree.’” Tharpe, 834 F.3d at 1338 (quoting Richter,
562 U.S. at 102-03). This standard is “meant to be” a “difficult” one to meet.
Richter, 562 U.S. at 102. Thus, to the extent that the petitioner’s claims were
adjudicated on the merits in the state courts, they must be evaluated under 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d).
4 The Eleventh Circuit has described the interaction between § 2254(d)(2) and §
2254(e)(1) as “somewhat murky.” Clark v. Att’y Gen., Fla., 821 F.3d 1270, 1286 n.3 (11th Cir.
2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1103 (2017).
B. Exhaustion/Procedural Default
There are prerequisites to federal habeas review. Before bringing a §
2254 habeas action in federal court, a petitioner must exhaust all state court
remedies that are available for challenging his state conviction. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(b)(1)(A). To exhaust state remedies, the petitioner must “fairly
present[]” every issue raised in his federal petition to the state’s highest court,
either on direct appeal or on collateral review. Castille v. Peoples, 489 U.S. 346,
351 (1989) (emphasis omitted). Thus, to properly exhaust a claim, “state
prisoners must give the state courts one full opportunity to resolve any
constitutional issues by invoking one complete round of the State’s established
appellate review process.” O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999).
In addressing exhaustion, the United States Supreme Court explained:
Before seeking a federal writ of habeas corpus, a state
prisoner must exhaust available state remedies, 28
U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1), thereby giving the State the
“‘“opportunity to pass upon and correct” alleged
violations of its prisoners’ federal rights.’” Duncan v.
Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365, 115 S. Ct. 887, 130 L.Ed.2d
865 (1995) (per curiam) (quoting Picard v. Connor, 404
U.S. 270, 275, 92 S. Ct. 509, 30 L.Ed.2d 438 (1971)). To
provide the State with the necessary “opportunity,”
the prisoner must “fairly present” his claim in each
appropriate state court (including a state supreme
court with powers of discretionary review), thereby
alerting that court to the federal nature of the claim.
Duncan, supra, at 365-366, 115 S. Ct. 887; O’Sullivan
v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845, 119 S. Ct. 1728, 144
L.Ed.2d 1 (1999).
Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29 (2004).
A state prisoner’s failure to properly exhaust available state remedies
results in a procedural default which raises a potential bar to federal habeas
review. The United States Supreme Court has explained the doctrine of
procedural default as follows:
Federal habeas courts reviewing the constitutionality
of a state prisoner’s conviction and sentence are guided
by rules designed to ensure that state-court judgments
are accorded the finality and respect necessary to
preserve the integrity of legal proceedings within our
system of federalism. These rules include the doctrine
of procedural default, under which a federal court will
not review the merits of claims, including
constitutional claims, that a state court declined to
hear because the prisoner failed to abide by a state
procedural rule. See, e.g., Coleman,[5] supra, at 747–
748, 111 S. Ct. 2546; Sykes,[6] supra, at 84–85, 97 S.
Ct. 2497. A state court’s invocation of a procedural
rule to deny a prisoner’s claims precludes federal
review of the claims if, among other requisites, the
state procedural rule is a nonfederal ground adequate
to support the judgment and the rule is firmly
established and consistently followed. See, e.g.,
Walker v. Martin, 562 U.S. --, --, 131 S. Ct. 1120, 1127–
1128, 179 L.Ed.2d 62 (2011); Beard v. Kindler, 558
U.S. --, --, 130 S. Ct. 612, 617–618, 175 L.Ed.2d 417
(2009). The doctrine barring procedurally defaulted
claims from being heard is not without exceptions. A
prisoner may obtain federal review of a defaulted
claim by showing cause for the default and prejudice
from a violation of federal law. See Coleman, 501 U.S.,
at 750, 111 S. Ct. 2546.
5 Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991).
6 Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72 (1977).
Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S. Ct. 1309, 1316 (2012). Thus, procedural defaults may
be excused under certain circumstances. Notwithstanding that a claim has
been procedurally defaulted, a federal court may still consider the claim if a
state habeas petitioner can show either (1) cause for and actual prejudice from
the default; or (2) a fundamental miscarriage of justice. Ward v. Hall, 592 F.3d
1144, 1157 (11th Cir. 2010). In order for a petitioner to establish cause,
the procedural default “must result from some
objective factor external to the defense that prevented
[him] from raising the claim and which cannot be
fairly attributable to his own conduct.” McCoy v.
Newsome, 953 F.2d 1252, 1258 (11th Cir. 1992)
(quoting Carrier, 477 U.S. at 488, 106 S. Ct. 2639).[7]
Under the prejudice prong, [a petitioner] must show
that “the errors at trial actually and substantially
disadvantaged his defense so that he was denied
fundamental fairness.” Id. at 1261 (quoting Carrier,
477 U.S. at 494, 106 S. Ct. 2639).
Wright v. Hopper, 169 F.3d 695, 706 (11th Cir. 1999).
In the absence of a showing of cause and prejudice, a petitioner may
receive consideration on the merits of a procedurally defaulted claim if the
petitioner can establish that a fundamental miscarriage of justice, the
continued incarceration of one who is actually innocent, otherwise would
result. The Eleventh Circuit has explained:
[I]f a petitioner cannot show cause and prejudice,
there remains yet another avenue for him to receive
consideration on the merits of his procedurally
7 Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478 (1986).
defaulted claim. “[I]n an extraordinary case, where a
constitutional violation has probably resulted in the
conviction of one who is actually innocent, a federal
habeas court may grant the writ even in the absence
of a showing of cause for the procedural default.”
Carrier, 477 U.S. at 496, 106 S. Ct. at 2649. “This
exception is exceedingly narrow in scope,” however,
and requires proof of actual innocence, not just legal
innocence. Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171
(11th Cir. 2001).
Ward, 592 F.3d at 1157. “To meet this standard, a petitioner must ‘show that
it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted him’
of the underlying offense.” Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171 (11th Cir.
2001) (quoting Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 327 (1995)). Additionally, “‘[t]o be
credible,’ a claim of actual innocence must be based on reliable evidence not
presented at trial.” Calderon v. Thompson, 523 U.S. 538, 559 (1998) (quoting
Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324). With the rarity of such evidence, in most cases,
allegations of actual innocence are ultimately summarily rejected. Schlup, 513
U.S. at 324.
C. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
“The Sixth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the effective
assistance of counsel. That right is denied when a defense attorney’s
performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness and thereby
prejudices the defense.” Yarborough v. Gentry, 540 U.S. 1, 5 (2003) (per
curiam) (citing Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 521 (2003), and Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)).
To establish deficient performance, a person
challenging a conviction must show that “counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness.” [Strickland,] 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.
Ct. 2052. A court considering a claim of ineffective
assistance must apply a “strong presumption” that
counsel’s representation was within the “wide range”
of reasonable professional assistance. Id., at 689, 104
S. Ct. 2052. The challenger’s burden is to show “that
counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant
by the Sixth Amendment.” Id., at 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052.
With respect to prejudice, a challenger must
demonstrate “a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome.” Id., at 694, 104 S. Ct. 2052.
It is not enough “to show that the errors had some
conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.”
Id., at 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052. Counsel’s errors must be
“so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a
trial whose result is reliable.” Id., at 687, 104 S. Ct.
2052.
Richter, 562 U.S. at 104. The Eleventh Circuit has recognized “the absence of
any iron-clad rule requiring a court to tackle one prong of the Strickland test
before the other.” Ward, 592 F.3d at 1163. Since both prongs of the two-part
Strickland test must be satisfied to show a Sixth Amendment violation, “a
court need not address the performance prong if the petitioner cannot meet the
prejudice prong, and vice-versa.” Id. (citing Holladay v. Haley, 209 F.3d 1243,
1248 (11th Cir. 2000)). As stated in Strickland: “If it is easier to dispose of an
ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we
expect will often be so, that course should be followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
697.
A state court’s adjudication of an ineffectiveness claim is accorded great
deference.
“[T]he standard for judging counsel’s representation is
a most deferential one.” Richter, - U.S. at -, 131 S. Ct.
at 788. But “[e]stablishing that a state court’s
application of Strickland was unreasonable under §
2254(d) is all the more difficult. The standards created
by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both highly
deferential, and when the two apply in tandem, review
is doubly so.” Id. (citations and quotation marks
omitted). “The question is not whether a federal court
believes the state court’s determination under the
Strickland standard was incorrect but whether that
determination was unreasonable - a substantially
higher threshold.” Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S.
111, 123, 129 S. Ct. 1411, 1420, 173 L.Ed.2d 251 (2009)
(quotation marks omitted). If there is “any reasonable
argument that counsel satisfied Strickland’s
deferential standard,” then a federal court may not
disturb a state-court decision denying the claim.
Richter, - U.S. at -, 131 S. Ct. at 788.
Hittson v. GDCP Warden, 759 F.3d 1210, 1248 (11th Cir. 2014); Knowles v.
Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111, 123 (2009). In other words, “[i]n addition to the
deference to counsel’s performance mandated by Strickland, the AEDPA adds
another layer of deference--this one to a state court’s decision--when we are
considering whether to grant federal habeas relief from a state court’s
decision.” Rutherford v. Crosby, 385 F.3d 1300, 1309 (11th Cir. 2004). As such,
“[s]urmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an easy task.” Padilla v.
Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 371 (2010).
VI. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
A. Ground One
Day alleges that the circuit court denied him due process of law when it
did not afford him a de novo resentencing hearing. Amended Petition at 5.
According to Day, “at resentencing, a successor judge simply conformed to the
original judge’s findings and reimposed his 30 year sentence.” Id. Day contends
the successor judge’s actions denied him of an independent hearing in front of
a neutral judge because the “successor judge, at the urging of the State,
impermissibly abdicated his responsibility by simply conforming his sentence
to the original judge’s previous findings.” Id.
Day raised a similar argument in his Rule 3.800(b)(2) Motion. Resp. Ex.
EE at 8-10. The circuit court denied all the claims with in that motion with the
following explanation:
Being familiar with the case and having
reviewed the entire court file and the evidence
presented at resentencing proceedings; heard the
testimony of witnesses and the argument of counsel;
considered applicable rules, statutes, and case law;
and having been otherwise fully advised, the Court
finds Defendant’s arguments unmeritorious and
unpersuasive. Defendant was rightly resentenced by
the Honorable Don H. Lester to a legal sentence, which
was appropriately based on the evidence, testimony,
and record before the Court, as well as applicable
Florida law.
Id. at 13-14. The First DCA per curiam affirmed Day’s sentence without
issuing a written opinion. Resp. Exs. GG; HH.
To the extent that the First DCA decided the claim on the merits,8 the
Court will address the claim in accordance with the deferential standard for
federal court review of state court adjudications. After a review of the record
and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication
of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, and was not
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceedings. Thus, Day is not entitled to relief on
the basis of this claim.
Even if the state appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not entitled
to deference, the record refutes the claim in Ground One. Under Florida law,
“resentencing entitles the defendant to a de novo sentencing hearing with the
full array of due process rights.” Trotter v. State, 825 So. 2d 362, 367-68 (Fla.
2002). The de novo nature of resentencing requires the State to produce
evidence on sentencing issues even if it had done so at the original sentencing
8 Throughout this order, in looking through the appellate court’s per curiam
affirmance to the circuit court’s “relevant rationale,” the Court presumes that the appellate
court “adopted the same reasoning.” Wilson, 138 S. Ct. at 1194.
hearing. State v. Collins, 985 So. 2d 985, 989 (Fla. 2008) (citations omitted).
Likewise, a trial court “is not limited by the evidence originally presented.” Id.
Here, the circuit court held a resentencing hearing on January 29, 2013.
Resp. Ex. BB at 226-49. At the hearing, the circuit court noted the prior judge
had improperly imposed a HVFO sentence and discussed with the parties an
amended scoresheet that resulted in the calculation of a lower minimum
sentence. Id. at 229-31. The circuit court also took into consideration a
presentence investigation report. Id. at 230, 242, 245. Day’s counsel was
afforded the opportunity to present evidence and argument. Id. at 231. Counsel
presented fifteen letters Day’s friends and family wrote in support of him,
which the circuit court read. Id. at 232. The circuit court heard live testimony
from Day’s wife and a friend, id. at 233-36, and was made aware of Day’s prior
convictions and the details of the instant case. Id. at 236-41. Defense counsel
also detailed Day’s behavior in prison and the courses he took while there to
better himself. Id. at 241-42. The circuit court also afforded the State an
opportunity to present evidence and argument, and the State provided the
circuit court with a transcript of the original sentencing hearing. Id. at 244-46.
Prior to imposing sentence, the circuit court stated the following:
All right. Before I announce the sentence, Mr.
Day, I have reviewed the presentence investigation
report, I’ve reviewed all of the letters that your counsel
provided to me, and I’ve reviewed the defendant’s
sentencing hearing.
Ms. Marshall, as usual, you have eloquently
advocated on behalf of your client, particularly with
respect to the facts and circumstances of the trial.
However, legally, I do not believe that residual doubt
can form the basis for my ruling or my sentence. Judge
Wilkes is the one who sat through the trial, he’s the
one who observed the demeanor and the facts of the
case. It’s clear that he took a number of circumstances
into account in determining the appropriate sentence.
Clearly he could have imposed life and did not. But
Judge Wilkes was concerned, as am I, regarding the
two previous armed robberies, including the fact that
one of them was committed while he was on probation
for a previous robbery, which is a very significant and
serious concern to me.
Therefore, I can’t say that I can see anything in
the record that I have so far or arguments I’ve heard
from counsel to suggest that Judge Wilkes’ previous 30
year sentence was inappropriate and I’m not in a
position to disagree with him on that.
So today I’m going to, pursuant to the jury
verdict, I’m going to adjudicate you guilty of this
charge, order that you serve 30 years Florida State
Prison, credit for the nunc pro tunc to January 13th,
2000. Credit for 197 days. That also has a three-year
mandatory minimum, pursuant to the jury finding
that you used a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Id. at 246-47 (emphasis added). Based on the circuit court’s statements, the
Court finds that the circuit court did conduct a de novo sentencing review, as
it received and considered the evidence presented. The fact the circuit court
agreed with the original sentencing judge’s sentence does not render the
sentence improper or result in a violation of Day’s federal due process rights.
The circuit court’s explanation describes how its review of the relevant
evidence led it to conclude that a thirty-year sentence was appropriate.
Accordingly, as the record refutes this claim, Day is not entitled to the relief
he seeks in Ground One and this claim is due to be denied.
B. Ground Two
In Ground Two, Day avers that the circuit court denied him due process
when a successor judge resentenced him rather than the original sentencing
judge. Amended Petition at 10. While acknowledging the original judge was
“semi-retired,” Day contends he was still serving as a judge in a limited
capacity. Id. According to Day, “the State did not make a prima facie showing
of necessity that petitioner be resentenced by a successor judge.” Id.
Day raised a similar claim in his Rule 3.800(b)(2) Motion, Resp. Ex. EE
at 2-4. In denying relief on this and other claims raised in his Rule 3.800(b)(2)
Motion, the circuit court explained:
Being familiar with the case and having
reviewed the entire court file and the evidence
presented at resentencing proceedings; heard the
testimony of witnesses and the argument of counsel;
considered applicable rules, statutes, and case law;
and having been otherwise fully advised, the Court
finds Defendant’s arguments unmeritorious and
unpersuasive. Defendant was rightly resentenced by
the Honorable Don H. Lester to a legal sentence, which
was appropriately based on the evidence, testimony,
and record before the Court, as well as applicable
Florida law.
Id. at 13-14. The circuit court included a footnote that stated “[t]he Honorable
William Wilkes retired on December 31, 2010, prior to Defendant’s
resentencing. Therefore, sentencing before a successor judge was necessary.
Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.700(c)(1).” Day again raised this issue in his pro se initial
brief. Resp. Ex. FF at 3-4. The First DCA per curiam affirmed Day’s sentence
without a written opinion. Resp. Exs. GG; HH.
To the extent that the First DCA decided the claim on the merits, the
Court will address the claim in accordance with the deferential standard for
federal court review of state court adjudications. After a review of the record
and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication
of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, and was not
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceedings. Thus, Day is not entitled to relief on
the basis of this claim.
Even if the First DCA’s adjudication of the claim is not entitled to
deference, the claim in Ground Two is meritless. Florida Rule of Criminal
Procedure 3.700(c) provides:
In any case, other than a capital case, in which
it is necessary that sentence be pronounced by a judge
other than the judge who presided at trial or accepted
the plea, the sentencing judge shall not pass sentence
until the judge becomes acquainted with what
transpired at the trial, or the facts, including any plea
discussions, concerning the plea and the offense.
Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.700(c)(1). It was necessary for a successor judge to preside
over Day’s resentencing for two reasons. First, because Day successfully moved
to have Judge Wilkes recused. Resp. Ex. M at 1-3, 100-01. Judge Wilkes found
Day’s motion to disqualify legally sufficient and recused “himself from any
further proceedings in this cause.” Id. at 100. As such, Judge Wilkes was
prohibited from presiding over Day’s resentencing. See Miller v. Bell South
Phone Co., 860 So. 2d 523, 523 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003) (“Florida law is clear that
once a judge recuses himself or herself for whatever reasons, the judge may not
thereafter reconsider the recusal decision and reassert judicial authority over
the case.”). Second, as the circuit court noted, Judge Wilkes had retired prior
to the resentencing, making it necessary for a successor judge to preside. See
Caldwell v. State, 72 So. 3d 779, 779 n.1 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011) (remanding for
new sentencing hearing and noting that “[i]t appears that the trial judge on
this case, Judge Thomas S. Reese, retired in 2010. On remand, this issue
should be addressed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure
3.700(c)(1).”). Accordingly, Day has failed to demonstrate that the circuit court
violated his federal due process rights, and, as such, relief on his claim in
Ground Two is due to be denied.
C. Grounds Three and Four
As Ground Three, Day asserts that his resentencing counsel was
ineffective for failing to enter into evidence certified copies of his two previous
Alabama robbery convictions. Amended Petition at 8. Day contends that the
circuit court stated it was concerned about Day’s “two previous armed
robberies.” Id. However, he maintains these were not armed robberies but
third-degree, unarmed robberies. Id. According to Day, had counsel submitted
certified copies of these two convictions, there is a reasonable probability the
circuit court would not have imposed a thirty-year sentence. Id. In Ground
Four, Day contends the circuit court violated his due process rights when it
based its sentencing determination on Day having previously committed prior
armed robberies where the convictions were actually third-degree, unarmed
robberies. Id. at 9.
Regarding Ground Three, Respondents assert that the claim is
unexhausted. Response at 33-37. Day acknowledges as much in his Amended
Petition; however, he asserts he could not exhaust this claim because “[u]nder
Florida law, a remedy and/or vehicle doesn’t exist for a[n] ineffective assistance
of counsel claim on direct appeal.” Amended Petition at 8. Respondents note,
however, that Day did file a motion for postconviction relief after the direct
appeal of his resentencing had concluded that raised several claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel, but did not raise this specific claim. Response
at 36-37. Moreover, even if he had raised this in his Second Rule 3.850 Motion,
Day did not appeal the denial of that order, thus it would have been
unexhausted, nonetheless. Id.
The record reflects that Day did not raise this claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel at any point during his state court proceedings. Day’s
assertion that Florida law prohibited him from raising such a claim on direct
appeal is unavailing as Florida provides a procedural mechanism, Rule 3.850,
in which a defendant may raise such claims. Indeed, Day attacked the
effectiveness of his resentencing counsel in his Second Rule 3.850 Motion but
did not raise this claim. Accordingly, the Court finds this claim is unexhausted.
Day has failed to demonstrate cause or prejudice to overcome this procedural
default and has not alleged a manifest injustice would occur if the Court did
not address the merits of this claim. As such, this claim is due to be denied as
unexhausted.
Concerning Ground Four, Day raised a similar issue in his Rule
3.800(b)(2) Motion. Resp. Ex. EE at 5-7. In denying the motion, the circuit court
stated:
Being familiar with the case and having
reviewed the entire court file and the evidence
presented at resentencing proceedings; heard the
testimony of witnesses and the argument of counsel;
considered applicable rules, statutes, and case law;
and having been otherwise fully advised, the Court
finds Defendant’s arguments unmeritorious and
unpersuasive. Defendant was rightly resentenced by
the Honorable Don H. Lester to a legal sentence, which
was appropriately based on the evidence, testimony,
and record before the Court, as well as applicable
Florida law.
Id. at 13-14. The First DCA per curiam affirmed Day’s sentence without a
written opinion. Resp. Exs. GG; HH.
To the extent that the First DCA decided the claim on the merits, the
Court will address the claim in accordance with the deferential standard for
federal court review of state court adjudications. After a review of the record
and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication
of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, and was not
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceedings. Thus, Day is not entitled to relief on
the basis of this claim.
Nevertheless, even if Day properly exhausted the claim in Ground Three
and the First DCA’s adjudication of the claim in Ground Four was not entitled
to deference, Day has failed to demonstrate an entitlement to relief as to these
claims. The record reflects that at the resentencing hearing the parties agreed
that Day’s prior Alabama robbery convictions were third-degree felonies. Resp.
Ex. BB at 230. Notably, Day’s prior Alabama records were put into evidence at
the original sentencing hearing, and they reflect that he was initially charged
with first-degree robbery but pled out to third-degree robbery. Resp. Ex. A at
107-23. During Day’s original sentencing hearing, Judge Wilkes initially
referred to Day’s prior convictions as armed robberies but the attorneys
corrected him, stating Day actually pled to unarmed, third-degree robbery
charges. Resp. Ex. C at 321-22. The resentencing court specifically noted that
it had read the original sentencing transcript, which means the circuit court
would have been aware of this variance. Resp. Ex. BB at 246.
Additionally, in resentencing Day, the circuit court made the following
comment: “But Judge Wilkes was concerned, as am I, regarding the two
previous armed robberies, including the fact that one of them was committed
while he was on probation for a previous robbery, which is a very significant
and serious concern to me.” Id. at 247. Although the resentencing court
referenced Day’s prior robbery convictions as armed robberies, it would appear,
when reading the resentencing court’s comments in context, that it was more
concerned with the fact that Day committed another robbery while on
probation rather than the fact that it was an armed robbery compared to
unarmed robbery. As such, the Court finds that Day’s claim of prejudice as to
the claim in Ground Three is speculative, considering the resentencing court’s
review of the sentencing transcript that addressed this issue and the context
of its statements on the matter. Speculation, however, cannot form the basis of
an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. See Tejada v. Dugger, 941 F.2d 1551,
1559 (11th Cir. 1991) (recognizing that vague, conclusory, speculative, or
unsupported claims cannot support an ineffective assistance of counsel claim).
Accordingly, Day has failed to demonstrate prejudice. Likewise, as to the claim
in Ground Four, Day has failed to establish that the circuit court relied on
erroneous information, where the circuit court was more concerned with Day’s
potential for recidivism than it was with him having been armed during the
commission of his prior offenses. Therefore, in light of the above analysis, Day’s
claims in Grounds Three and Four are due to be denied.
D. Ground Five
Finally, Day argues that the State withheld exculpatory evidence in
violation of his due process rights. Amended Petition at 10. Day asserts that
during his trial the State relied on the testimony of Roger Mitchell to convict
him. Id. Law enforcement placed a wire on Mitchel in an attempt to get Day to
confess to the robbery. Id. However, Day contends that these undercover
recordings establish that he did not commit the robbery and knew nothing
about it. Id. The State, nonetheless, presented Mitchell’s “perjured testimony”
that Day committed the robberies. Id. According to Day, the State suppressed
the undercover recordings, which Day maintains would have resulted in a not
guilty verdict had they been played at trial. Id.
Respondents contend that this claim is both untimely and unexhausted.
Response at 43-48. As to the timeliness of this claim, Respondents assert that
the claim was not raised in Day’s original, timely Petition and does not
otherwise relate back to any of the claims he initially raised. Id. at 43-46.
Regarding exhaustion, Respondents aver that Day never raised this claim in
state court; thus, depriving the state courts of the ability to first determine the
validity of these federal claims. Id. at 46-48. In his Amended Petition, Day
asserts he did not exhaust this claim because “[u]nder Florida law, a remedy
and/or vehicle doesn’t exist for a[n] ineffective assistance of counsel claim on
direct appeal.” Amended Petition at 10.
Concerning the timeliness of this claim, the Antiterrorism and Effective
Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) amended 28 U.S.C. § 2244 by adding the
following subsection:
(d)(1) A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to an
application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in
custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court.
The limitation period shall run from the latest of—
(A) the date on which the judgment
became final by the conclusion of direct
review or the expiration of the time for
seeking such review;
(B) the date on which the impediment to
filing an application created by State
action in violation of the Constitution or
laws of the United States is removed, if
the applicant was prevented from filing by
such State action;
(C) the date on which the constitutional
right asserted was initially recognized by
the Supreme Court, if the right has been
newly recognized by the Supreme Court
and made retroactively applicable to cases
on collateral review; or
(D) the date on which the factual predicate
of the claim or claims presented could
have been discovered through the exercise
of due diligence.
(2) The time during which a properly filed application
for State post-conviction or other collateral review
with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is
pending shall not be counted toward any period of
limitation under this subsection.
28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). For purposes of section 2244(d)(1)(A), the final judgment
means both the conviction and sentence. Burton v. Stewart, 549 U.S. 147, 156
(2007). Therefore, if a resentencing occurs, then a new judgment has been
entered, which restarts the AEDPA statute of limitations. See Magwood v.
Patterson, 561 U.S. 320, 341-42 (2010) (holding that “where . . . there is a ‘new
judgment intervening between the two habeas petitions,’ an application
challenging the resulting new judgment is not ‘second or successive’ at all.”)
(citations omitted); Insignares v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 755 F.3d 1273, 1281
(11th Cir. 2014) (holding that “when a habeas petition is the first to challenge
a new judgment [following a resentencing], it is not ‘second or successive,’
regardless of whether its claims challenge the sentence or the underlying
conviction.”); Ferreira v. Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., 494 F.3d 1286, 1293 (11th Cir.
2007) (holding that habeas petition challenging underlying convictions filed by
state prisoner more than five years after he was convicted of crime, but only
57 days after the corrected sentence imposed on resentencing became final,
was timely filed). Day’s resentencing constituted a new judgment for purposes
of section 2244(d)(1). Moreover, section 2244 (d)(1)(A) is the only applicable
trigger date here because Day has not alleged an impediment to filing, a new
constitutional right, or newly discovered evidence. Amended Petition at 10.
Thus, the Court must determine whether this claim was filed within a one-
year period from when Day’s new judgment became final.
On March 10, 2014, the First DCA per curiam affirmed Day’s sentence
without a written opinion. Resp. Ex. GG. Because Florida law does not permit
the Florida Supreme Court to review an affirmance without an opinion, see
Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.030(a)(2), Day’s judgment and sentence
became final when the time for filing a petition for certiorari in the United
States Supreme Court expired, ninety days from when the First DCA entered
its opinion. See Chamblee v. Florida, 905 F.3d 1192, 1198 (11th Cir. 2018).
Accordingly, on June 9, 2014, the one-year limitations period began to run in
this case. Absent the invocation of statutory provisions that extend or toll the
limitations period, Day had until June 9, 2015 to file any federal habeas claims.
On June 6, 2014, Day filed a Rule 3.800(c) motion, Resp. Ex. II, which
the circuit court denied on June 19, 2014. Resp. Ex. JJ. Day did not appeal. As
such, the statute of limitations was tolled for fourteen days from June 6, 2014
through June 19, 2014. The filing of this motion extended his one-year
limitation period to June 23, 2015.
Day filed his initial Petition on June 9, 2015, rendering it timely filed.
However, he did not include the claim raised in Ground Five in his original
Petition. Instead, Day first raised this claim in his Amended Petition filed in
case number 15-cv-882 on July 14, 2015. Therefore, his claim in Ground Five
was filed outside of the one-year limitations period and is due to be denied as
untimely unless it relates back to the claims raised in his original petition.
“An amendment to a pleading relates back to the date of the original
pleading when . . . the amendment asserts a claim or defense that arose out of
the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set out--or attempted to be set out--in
the original pleading.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(1)(B). An amendment to a habeas
petition may relate back “[s]o long as the original and amended petitions state
claims that are tied to a common core of operative facts.” Mayle v. Felix, 545
U.S. 644, 644 (2005). A new claim, however, does not meet the standard and,
thus, “does not relate back . . . when it asserts a new ground for relief supported
by facts that differ in both time and type from those the original pleading set
forth.” Id. at 650. The terms “conduct, transaction, or occurrence” are not
synonymous with “trial, conviction or sentence.” Id. at 664.
Here, none of Day’s original claims in his Petition dealt with the same
conduct, transaction, or occurrence as the claim in Ground Five. In fact, none
of his original claims concerned the guilt phase of his trial; instead, each one
focused on his resentencing. Thus, the claims in Grounds One through Four
differ in both time and type from the claim raised here. Therefore, the claim in
Ground Five is due to be denied as untimely.
Turning to exhaustion, the record reflects that Day never raised this
issue in state court, a fact Day concedes in his Amended Petition. Amended
Petition at 10. Day’s assertion that his failure to exhaust this claim is
excusable is meritless. He argues Florida law does not permit claims of
ineffective assistance on direct appeal but the claim in Ground Five is not an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Therefore, Day has failed to
demonstrate cause or prejudice to excuse this procedural default.
Day asserts in the body of this claim that the State’s alleged withholding
of these recordings resulted in a miscarriage of justice. Accordingly, the Court
will broadly construe this allegation as an attempt to excuse his lack of
exhaustion of this claim based on a claim of actual innocence. In reviewing the
trial transcripts, the State presented evidence of Mitchell wearing a wiretap
on three separate occasions in an attempt to get a recorded confession from
Day but each attempt was unsuccessful. Resp. Ex. B at 92, 122-23. Notably,
defense counsel specifically cross-examined Mitchell on his failed attempts to
get a recorded confession. Id. at 122-23. In light of this record, Day’s claim the
State withheld this information is meritless. The jury was made aware of these
failed attempts; therefore, playing the recordings would not have changed the
outcome of the trial. Moreover, as evidence of the failed undercover recordings
was introduced at trial, it cannot support a claim of manifest injustice as to
overcome his procedural default. See Calderon, 523 U.S. at 559 (“‘[t]o be
credible,’ a claim of actual innocence must be based on reliable evidence not
presented at trial.”). As such, Day’s claim in Ground Five is due to be dismissed
as unexhausted.
Even if this claim were timely and exhausted, Day would not be entitled
to relief. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) governs a state’s withholding
of exculpatory evidence. To establish a Brady claim, a petitioner must
demonstrate: “(1) that the prosecution suppressed evidence (2) that was
favorable to the [petitioner] or exculpatory and (3) that the evidence was
material.” United States v. Blasco, 702 F.2d 1315, 1327 (11th Cir. 1983)
(citation omitted). Notably, “[t]he Brady mandate only applies to information
in the possession of the prosecutor or anyone under his authority that defense
counsel could not have obtained by exercising reasonable diligence through
other means.” United States v. Naranjo, 634 F.3d 1198, 1212 (11th Cir. 2011);
see also United States v. Griggs, 713 F.2d 672, 674 (11th Cir. 1983) (“Where
defendants, prior to trial, had within their knowledge the information by which
they could have ascertained the alleged Brady material, there is no
suppression by the government.”).
As noted above, the State did not suppress evidence of the surveillance
recordings because it presented testimony concerning the unsuccessful
attempts to record Day confessing to the crime and defense counsel was aware
of such. Therefore, Day cannot satisfy the first element of a Brady violation.
Moreover, Day cannot demonstrate this evidence was exculpatory or material,
particularly in light of the fact that the jury heard testimony that Day did not
confess during these recorded meetings, which would have rendered the actual
playing of the recordings cumulative. Additionally, at trial, the State presented
evidence that a K-9 unit tracked the suspects scent close to Day’s apartment.
Resp. Ex. B at 22, 26, 40-42, 46-58, 78. A search of Day’s apartment uncovered
small black gloves, distinct clothing similar to the ones eyewitnesses described
seeing the suspect wear, and dark-colored stocking-type material that matched
the description of the mask the suspect wore. Id. at 26-27, 85-87, 133-34, 143-
45, 154-55, 157-58, 163-64, 166-67, 174-75, 177-78. Mitchell testified Day told
him he was planning a robbery and asked to borrow the same clothing the
eyewitnesses described. Id. at 107-08. After the robbery, Day told Mitchell that
police did not have any evidence against him for the robbery. Id. at 130-31. The
State played the surveillance footage from the scene for the jury, allowing them
to compare the physical appearance of the suspect and the clothing with Day
and the clothes recovered from Day’s apartment. Id. at 136-37. More
importantly, three eyewitnesses who worked at the Food Lion and knew Day,
testified that they believed Day was the robber even though the robber’s face
was hidden based on his voice and physical characteristics. Id. at 139-42, 164-
66, 173-74. One of the witnesses knew Day well through her husband, and she
testified that Day typically pronounced her name strangely, which was the
same way the suspect said her name at the time of the incident. Id. at 173-74.
Notably, her name tag did not have her full name on it, but the robber used
her full name. Id. Accordingly, in light of the overwhelming evidence of Day’s
guilt, there is no reasonable probability the outcome of the trial would have
been different had these recordings been played for the jury. For all of the
foregoing reasons, relief on Day’s claim in Ground Five is due to be denied.
VII. Certificate of Appealability
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)
If Day seeks issuance of a certificate of appealability, the undersigned
opines that a certificate of appealability is not warranted. The Court should
issue a certificate of appealability only if the petitioner makes “a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To make
this substantial showing, Day “must demonstrate that reasonable jurists
would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims
debatable or wrong,” Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282 (2004) (quoting
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)), or that “the issues presented were
‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further,’” Miller-El v. Cockrell,
537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4
(1983)).
Where a district court has rejected a petitioner’s constitutional claims on
the merits, the petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find
the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.
See Slack, 529 U.S. at 484. However, when the district court has rejected a
claim on procedural grounds, the petitioner must show that “jurists of reason
would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial
of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable
whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling.” Id. Upon
consideration of the record as a whole, the Court will deny a certificate of
appealability.
Therefore, it is now
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1. The Amended Petition (Doc. 10) is DENIED, and this action is
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
2. The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment denying the Amended
Petition and dismissing this case with prejudice.
3. If Day appeals the denial of the Amended Petition, the Court
denies a certificate of appealability. Because the Court has determined that a
certificate of appealability is not warranted, the Clerk shall terminate from the
pending motions report any motion to proceed on appeal as a pauper that may
be filed in this case. Such termination shall serve as a denial of the motion.
4, The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case and terminate
any pending motions.
DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, this 26th day of May,
2021.
United States District Judge
Jax-8
C: Melvin Jerome Day #J13421
Anne Catherine Conley, Esq.
39