UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

MICHAEL RAY CHEWEY,

Defendant-Appellant.

Nos. 01-7161 & 02-7025

(D.C. No. 01-CV-332-S)

(E.D. Okla.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before KELLY and BALDOCK, Circuit Judges, and BRORBY, Senior Circuit Judge.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of these appeals. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cases are therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Proceeding pro se, petitioner Michael Ray Chewey separately appeals the district court's dismissal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 petition as well as the court's rejection of his request for a certificate of appealability (COA). Because he has failed to make "a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right," 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), we too deny his request for COA, and we dismiss his appeals.

Chewey, who is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Indian Tribe, shot and killed a fellow tribal member. Chewey pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder in Indian country and one count of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1(A)(iii), 1111, 1151, 1153. In his habeas motion, he contends that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over him because the Cherokee Nation, on whose land the crime occurred, had not consented to his prosecution. He also alleges that trial counsel was constitutionally deficient for not raising this jurisdictional challenge and for overlooking what Chewey claims is a meritorious Fourth Amendment issue.

"'Congress has . . . constitutional power to prescribe a criminal code applicable in Indian country.'" United States v. Prentiss, 256 F.3d 971, 974 (10th Cir. 2001) (quoting United States v. Antelope, 430 U.S. 641, 648 (1977)). Wielding this power, Congress has unequivocally granted the federal courts jurisdiction to preside over the prosecution of certain crimes, including murder, committed by tribal members against other tribal members, provided the offense occurs in what is statutorily defined as Indian country. 18 U.S.C. § 1153(a); see also 18 U.S.C. § 1151 (defining Indian country). Neither the text of the statute, nor any case law interpreting it, conditions the exercise of federal jurisdiction on obtaining tribal consent to prosecution. We therefore reject Chewey's assertion that the trial court lacked jurisdiction, and we similarly reject his contention that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the court's jurisdiction. There is no merit, as well, to Chewey's assertion that counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a Fourth Amendment objection to the warrantless entry by police officers into the Chewey home on the night of the murder.

The request for COA is DENIED. The appeals are DISMISSED.

Entered for the Court

Wade Brorby

Senior Circuit Judge