UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

JEFFREY J. RITTENHOUSE,

Petitioner-Appellant,

v.

RICK HUDSON, Warden,

Respondent-Appellee.

No. 00-6142

(D.C. No. 99-CV-1917-A)

(W.D. Okla.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before BALDOCK, PORFILIO, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and 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); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Jeffrey J. Rittenhouse appeals from the district court's order dismissing his federal habeas complaint, filed pro se and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Our jurisdiction over this appeal arises from 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Petitioner alleged claims pursuant to due process, the Eighth and Thirteenth amendments, and equal protection--all resulting from his transfer out of a Wisconsin state prison to a private prison facility in Oklahoma. The magistrate judge recommended that all of petitioner's claims be dismissed, see R. Vol. I, doc. 12, and, after considering the petitioner's objections, the district court agreed, see id., doc. 15.

On appeal, petitioner reiterates those issues and arguments presented in his objections to the magistrate judge's report and recommendation. He also presents a jurisdictional issue and various other arguments and theories which were not presented to the district court. In accord with the general rule, we do not consider issues, theories, and arguments not presented below absent special circumstances not present here. See Okland Oil Co. v. Conoco, Inc., 144 F.3d 1308, 1314 n.4 (10th Cir. 1998); Smith v. Rogers Galvanizing Co., 128 F.3d 1380, 1385-86 (10th Cir. 1997).

Because the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act applies to this appeal, petitioner must obtain a certificate of appealability (COA) before proceeding on appeal. See Montez v. McKinna, 208 F.3d 862, 867 (10th Cir. 2000). The district court denied petitioner COA, see R. Vol. I, doc. 15, at 3; this court construes petitioner's notice of appeal as a renewed application for COA, see Fed. R. App. P. 22(b)(2). In determining whether COA should issue, we must decide whether petitioner has "made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).

Petitioner also seeks leave to proceed without prepayment of costs and fees; that request is granted. However, after careful review of the entire record on appeal in light of the applicable law and the parties' briefs, we conclude that petitioner has not met the standards for issuance of COA, for the reasons set forth in the district court's order dated April 5, 2000. This appeal is dismissed; the mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court

Wade Brorby

Circuit Judge