UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

STEVE ALLEN WELDON,

Petitioner-Appellant,

v.

WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STATE PENITENTIARY WARDEN, in his official capacity, also known as James Ferguson; WYOMING ATTORNEY GENERAL,

Respondents-Appellees.

No. 97-8041

(D.C. No. 96-CV-176)

(District of Wyoming)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, PORFILIO and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of the appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

The matter is before us upon appellant's petition for issuance of a certificate of appealability. Because his petition was filed before April 24, 1996, the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1996) are not applicable, and a certificate of appealability is not required to establish jurisdiction in this court. Lindh v. Murphy, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S. Ct. 2059 (1997). A certificate of probable cause is GRANTED, and we proceed to the merits of this case.

After examination of Mr. Weldon's brief and the record, we conclude the district court did not err in the dismissal of the petition. We affirm essentially for the reasons stated in the district court's order of dismissal.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

John C. Porfilio

Circuit Judge