Bedford v. State of Oklahoma, 10th Cir. (2000)

F I L E D
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit
TENTH CIRCUIT
MAY 18 2000
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
CHARLES SYLVESTER BEDFORD,

Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
No. 99-6301
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA;

ROBERT MACY; STEVE HARGETT,
(D.C. No. 98-CV-709-L)

(W.D. Okla.)
Respondents-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before BALDOCK, HENRY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.**
In 1996, an Oklahoma state court jury found Petitioner guilty of trafficking a
controlled dangerous substance and possessing a controlled dangerous substance without
a tax stamp. The court sentenced Petitioner to fifteen years imprisonment and one year
imprisonment, respectively. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals upheld
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of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.
*
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to honor the parties request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(A)(2). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
**
Petitioners conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Bedford v. Oklahoma, No. F-961424 (Okla. Crim. App. filed Oct. 27, 1997) (unpublished). Petitioner subsequently
sought post-conviction relief in state district court. The state court denied relief, and the
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed in May 1998. Bedford v. Oklahoma, No.
PC-98-254 (Okla. Crim. App. filed May 8, 1998) (unpublished). In June 1998, Petitioner
filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. 2254 in federal district court.
The district court denied the petition as well as Petitioners motion for a certificate of
appealability.1 Now before us is Petitioners renewed motion.2
In his 2254 petition, Petitioner argued: (1) he was denied due process because (a)
he was held in county jail for a year before trial and (b) the state failed to present certain
evidence to his attorney and investigator, (2) the Oklahoma district court lacked
jurisdiction to hear his case, and (3) the police illegally searched and seized his bags from
a Greyhound bus. In a thorough report and recommendation, a magistrate judge
recommended denial of the petition. The magistrate judge concluded that Petitioners
speedy trial claim was procedurally barred and lacked merit. The magistrate judge further
concluded that Petitioners access to evidence claim lacked merit. Finally, the magistrate
judge concluded that Petitioners second and third claims were procedurally barred and
Although the district court did not act on the issue of a certificate of
appealability, the certificate of appealability is deemed denied by the district court
pursuant to this courts General Order of October 1, 1996.
1
Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 22(b), we construe Petitioners notice of appeal as a

renewed application for a certificate of appealability.
2
that Petitioner failed to demonstrate cause and prejudice or a fundamental miscarriage of

justice. See Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991). The district court
subsequently adopted the report and recommendation in its entirety and denied Petitioner
a certificate of appealability. See 28 U.S.C. 2253(c).
A petitioner may appeal the denial of a 2254 petition only if a circuit justice or
judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(1)(A). A certificate of
appealability may issue . . . only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the
denial of a constitutional right. Id. at 2253(c)(2).
We have thoroughly reviewed Petitioners application for a certificate of
appealability, his brief, the magistrate judges report and recommendation, the district
courts order adopting that report and recommendation, and the entire record before us.
We conclude that Petitioner has failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a
constitutional right substantially for the reasons set forth in the magistrate judges report
and recommendation.3 Accordingly, we deny his request for a certificate of appealability
When analyzing Petitioners access to evidence claim, the magistrate judge
applied a deferential standard which authorizes habeas relief only when the state courts
have decided the question by interpreting or applying the relevant precedent in a manner
that reasonable jurists would all agree is unreasonable. Mag. R&R at 12, quoting Roberts
v. Ward, 1999 WL 162751, at *7 (10th Cir. 1999) (unpublished). The Supreme Court,
however, recently rejected that standard, stating, Under the unreasonable application
clause, a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court identifies the correct
governing legal principle from this Courts decisions but unreasonably applies that
principle to the facts of the prisoners case. Williams v. Taylor, __ U.S. __, __, 2000
WL 385369, at *28 (2000). Application of the Williams standard does not affect the
outcome of this case because the state court did not unreasonably apply the governing
legal principles to the facts of Petitioners case.
3
and dismiss the appeal.4

CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.
Entered for the Court,
Bobby R. Baldock
Circuit Judge
Petitioners motion to proceed IFP is moot in light of his full payment of the
appellate filing fee.
4

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F I L E D

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

United States Court of Appeals

CHARLES SYLVESTER BEDFORD,

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA;

(D.C. No. 98-CV-709-L)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 22(b), we construe Petitioners notice of appeal as a

that Petitioner failed to demonstrate cause and prejudice or a fundamental miscarriage of

and dismiss the appeal.4

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