UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

MARK STEVEN MEAD,

Petitioner - Appellant,

v.

STATE OF COLORADO; ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF COLORADO; ROBERT FURLONG,

Respondents - Appellees.

No. 02-1273

D.C. No. 01-Z-2190

(D. Colorado)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before KELLY, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.**

Mr. Mead, a state inmate appearing pro se, seeks to appeal from the district court's denial of his habeas corpus petition and dismissal of the action without prejudice for failure to exhaust state remedies. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A) (requiring exhaustion). According to the petition, Mr. Mead pleaded guilty to aggravated motor vehicle theft and theft by deception and was thereafter sentenced. During these proceedings, he attempted to take a pro se interlocutory appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, but that court struck his pleadings because he was represented by counsel. He now seeks a hearing on the merits on his claims of double jeopardy, violation of a state joinder rule and of the right to a speedy trial. On appeal, in addition to arguing the merits of his claims, he contends that the Colorado Supreme Court never addressed his questions, and that he tried to get them addressed through an interlocutory appeal.

To proceed on appeal, Mr. Mead must obtain a certificate of appealability ("COA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Because the district court's ruling was based upon procedural grounds, he must demonstrate "that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). Mr. Mead did not take a direct appeal or seek postconviction relief via Colo. R. Crim. P. 35. He has failed to exhaust state remedies. See Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 178-79 (2001) (discussing exhaustion requirement).

We deny a COA, DENY in forma pauperis status and DISMISS the appeal.

Entered for the Court

Paul J. Kelly, Jr.

Circuit Judge