| Keyword | Case | Docket | Date: Filed / Added |     (17899 bytes)     (12120 bytes)

This case is before the court on Christopher Foote's application for a certificate of appealability ("COA"). Foote seeks a COA so that he can appeal the district court's denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A) (providing that a petitioner must first obtain a COA before he can appeal the denial of a § 2254 habeas petition). Because Foote has not "made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right," this court denies his request for a COA and dismisses the appeal. Id. § 2253(c)(2).

In his § 2254 habeas petition, Foote challenged his Oklahoma state conviction of second degree burglary, after former conviction of two or more felonies, for which he was sentenced to twenty years in prison. Foote alleged the following six grounds for relief in his habeas petition: (1) his conviction was not supported by sufficient evidence; (2) his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective; (3) his appellate counsel was constitutionally ineffective; (4) the trial court improperly failed to instruct the jury regarding lesser-included offenses; (5) the trial court improperly refused to give the jury a cautionary instruction regarding eyewitness identification; and (6) the trial court improperly admitted evidence of Foote's prior felony convictions. After the matter was referred to a magistrate judge for initial proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), the magistrate judge issued a comprehensive and well-reasoned Report and Recommendation, recommending that Foote's petition be denied. After conducting a de novo review, the district court adopted the Report and Recommendation and denied Foote's § 2254 habeas petition.

To be entitled to a COA, Foote must make a "substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Foote may make this showing by demonstrating the issues he seeks to raise on appeal are debatable among jurists, a court could resolve the issues differently, or that the questions presented deserve further proceedings. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000). Upon review of Foote's appellate filings, the magistrate judge's well-stated Report and Recommendation, and the entire record, we conclude that Foote has not made the requisite showing of the denial of a constitutional right for substantially those reasons set out in the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation. Accordingly, this court GRANTS Foote's request to proceed in forma pauperis, DENIES his request for a COA, and DISMISSES the appeal.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

Michael R. Murphy

Circuit Judge

^*. 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.

| Keyword | Case | Docket | Date: Filed / Added |     (17899 bytes)     (12120 bytes)