Weedman v. Houser

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA
RICHARD MICHAEL WEEDMAN,
Petitioner,
vs.
EARL HOUSER,
Respondent. Case No. 3:21-cv-00083-RRB
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Richard Michael Weedman, representing himself from Goose Creek
Correctional Center, where he is housed as a pretrial detainee, filed a habeas
petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, claiming that the state court is violating his rights
in a criminal case in which he is a defendant.1 On June 30, 2021, after the Court
withdrew the dismissal of this case for failure to prosecute, Mr. Weedman paid the
$5.00 filing fee.2 The case now is ready for review.
1 Docket 1; State of Alaska v. Richard Michael Weedman, Alaska Superior Court Case
No. 3DI-19-00346CR.
2 Dockets 4–8.
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The Court takes judicial notice3 that Mr. Weedman has been charged with
the Class A Felony of Assault 1, as well as misdemeanor assault.4 The state court
record also shows that he has been incarcerated since August 14, 2019, and that
several pretrial conferences have been held in his case, the last one being held on
June 14, 2021.5
The Supreme Court for the State of Alaska and its Chief Justice have issued
Special Orders regarding COVID-19 and criminal jury trials. 	Trials involving both
felonies and misdemeanors are now being held, after being postponed beginning
on March 15, 2020, when Alaska’s speedy trial rule was suspended.6 In the spring
3 Judicial notice is the “court’s acceptance, for purposes of convenience and without
requiring a party’s proof, of a well-known and indisputable fact....” Black’s Law Dictionary
(11th ed. 2019); see also Foster Poultry Farms v. Alkar-Rapidpak-MP Equip., Inc., 868 F.
Supp. 2d 983, 990 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (“Courts routinely take judicial notice of publicly
available records ... from other court proceedings.”) (citing Engine Mfrs. Ass’n v. South
Coast Air Quality Management Dist., 498 F.3d 1031, 1039 n.2 (9th Cir. 2007) (additional
citation omitted)); Fed. R. Evid. 201.
4 See https://records.courts.alaska.gov/eaccess/searchresults, Alaska v. Weedman, 3DI-
19-00346CR.
5 Id.
6 See http://www.courts.alaska.gov/covid19/index.htm#socj (see, e.g., 6/21/21 Order
No. 8289, and 3/15/20 Order No. 8130).
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and summer of this year, vaccinations for COVID-19 were being given to Alaskans
in more significant numbers,7 and trials gradually resumed.8
SCREENING REQUIREMENT
Federal courts have general habeas jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241.9 	A petitioner may properly challenge state pretrial detention under
§ 2241.10 But a court must “promptly examine” a habeas petition, and “if it plainly
appears 	from 	the 	motion, 	any 	attached 	exhibits, 	and 	the 	record 	of 	prior
proceedings that the moving party is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss
the motion....” 11 In conducting its review of a self-represented litigant’s pleadings,
a court must liberally construe the pleadings and give the petitioner the benefit of
the doubt.12
7 See id.; https://alaska-coronavirus-vaccine-outreach-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com (as of
7/6/21, 639,138 Covid-19 vaccine doses had been given in Alaska).
8 See http://www.courts.alaska.gov/covid19/index.htm#socj.
9 See Magana-Pizano v. INS, 200 F.3d 603, 608 & n.4 (9th Cir. 1999).
10 See Stow v. Murashige, 389 F.3d 880, 885–88 (9th Cir. 2004).
11 Rule 4(b), Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District
Courts. 	The same procedural rules for 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and § 2255 govern 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241.
12 See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d
1026, 1027 n.1 (9th Cir. 1985) (en banc)).
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DISCUSSION
A writ of habeas corpus allows an individual to test the legality of being
detained or held in custody by the government.13 The writ “is a vital ‘instrument
for the protection of individual liberty’ against government power.”14 28 U.S.C. §
2241 provides federal courts with general habeas corpus jurisdiction15 over a
prisoner “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United
States.”16 However, as explained below, Mr. Weedman’s federal petition is
premature.
I. Appropriate Relief
Section 2241 is the proper avenue for a state prisoner who wishes to
challenge state custody without a state judgment.17 For relief, Mr. Weedman
requests his “release from unconstitutional confinement.”18 A speedy trial claim
may be reviewed under § 2241 if a pretrial detainee is seeking to compel the state
13 Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466, 474 (2004).
14 Gage v. Chappell, 793 F.3d 1159, 1167 (9th Cir. 2015) (quoting Boumediene v. Bush,
553 U.S. 723, 743 (2008)).
15 See Magana-Pizano, 200 F.3d at 608 & n.4.
16 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3).
17 Stow, 389 F.3d at 886 (“[T]he general grant of habeas authority in § 2241 is available
for challenges by a state prisoner who is not in custody pursuant to a state court judgment-
for example, a defendant in pre-trial detention or awaiting extradition.”) (quoting White v.
Lambert, 370 F.3d 1002, 1006 (9th Cir. 2004)).
18 Docket 1 at 8.
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to bring him to trial, but federal courts do not address the merits underlying the
state charges.19
II. 	Abstention
The Younger abstention doctrine provides that federal courts may not
generally exercise jurisdiction when doing so would interfere with state judicial
proceedings.20 	The core of Younger abstention is that a federal court cannot
interfere with pending state court criminal proceedings, absent a “showing of bad
faith, harassment, or any other unusual circumstance that would call for equitable
relief.”21 	And the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has “specifically rejected … the
argument that a claimed violation of the Speedy Trial Clause … sufficed in and of
19 See Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484, 489–90 (1973)
(“Petitioner does not, however, seek at this time to litigate a federal defense to a criminal
charge, but only to demand enforcement of the Commonwealth’s affirmative constitutional
obligation to bring him promptly to trial.”) (citation omitted); McNeely, 336 F.3d at 832
(“Because his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial has been violated, Petitioner
should be immediately released from custody with prejudice to re-prosecution of the
criminal charges. See Strunk v. United States, 412 U.S. 434, 439–40 … (1973) (holding
that violation of Sixth Amendment speedy trial rights requires dismissal).”); Stow, 389
F.3d 880 (affirming habeas relief for state pre-trial detainee who claimed double
jeopardy); Dominguez v. Kernan, 906 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2018) (a state pretrial detainee
should bring federal double-jeopardy challenge under § 2241).
20 See Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 41 (1971).
21 Younger, 401 U.S. at 54; see also Carden v. Montana, 626 F.2d 82, 84 (9th Cir. 1980)
(In Perez v. Ledesma, 401 U.S. 82, 85 (1971), the Supreme Court “limited the category
of ‘extraordinary circumstances’ to encompass only ‘cases of proven harassment or
prosecutions undertaken by state officials in bad faith without hope of obtaining a valid
conviction,’ or where ‘irreparable injury can be shown.’”).
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itself 	as 	an 	independent 	‘extraordinary 	circumstance’ 	necessitating 	pre-trial
habeas consideration.”22
A federal court
must abstain under Younger if four requirements are met: (1) a state-
initiated 	proceeding 	is 	ongoing; 	(2) 	the 	proceeding 	implicates
important state interests; (3) the federal plaintiff is not barred from
litigating federal constitutional issues in the state proceeding; and
(4) the federal court action would enjoin the proceeding or have the
practical 	effect 	of 	doing 	so, 	i.e., 	would 	interfere 	with 	the 	state
proceeding in a way that Younger disapproves.23
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has directly addressed abstention,
regarding the claim of a state court violating the right to a speedy trial, explaining:
Younger does not “require[ ] a district court to abstain from hearing a
petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging the conditions of
pretrial detention in state court” where (1) the procedure challenged
in the petition is distinct from the underlying criminal prosecution and
the challenge would not interfere with the prosecution, or (2) full
vindication 	of 	the 	petitioner’s 	pretrial 	rights 	requires 	intervention
before trial.24
The State of Alaska has an important interest in enforcing its criminal laws
and procedures, and Mr. Weedman’s criminal case in state court remains ongoing.
Mr. Weedman’s allegation, that he is being denied his right to a speedy trial in state
22 Brown v. Ahern, 676 F.3d 899, 901 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Carden, 626 F.2d at 84).
23 San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee v. City of
San Jose, 546 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir. 2008).
24 Page v. King, 932 F.3d 898, 903 (9th Cir. 2019) (citing Arevalo, 882 F.3d at 764, 766–
67).
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court, 	should 	be 	addressed 	in 	his 	state 	court 	criminal 	proceedings.25 	The
abstention “doctrine requires dismissal of a habeas petition that prematurely raises
a Speedy Trial defense to state prosecution.”26 	This Court should not interfere
with the trial court’s fact-finding responsibilities and legal decisions in that case,
unless “full vindication of the petitioner’s pretrial rights requires intervention before
trial.”27 	Because federal intervention is not required here, where there is no
indication of “harassment or prosecutions undertaken by state officials in bad faith
without hope of obtaining a valid conviction,” or showing of “irreparable injury,” this
Court must abstain.28
III. 	Exhaustion
Exhaustion is required under common law before bringing a federal petition
for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.29 	Although there is no
25 See Brown, 676 F.3d at 900–01 (A “federal court’s exercise of jurisdiction over
a habeas petition that raises an affirmative defense to state prosecution before trial and
conviction can have the same effect as a direct injunction of ongoing state proceedings.”)
(citing Carden, 626 F.2d at 83).
26 Brown, 676 F.3d at 903.
27 Page, 932 F.3d at 903.
28 See Carden, 626 F.2d at 84 (citing Perez, 401 U.S. at 85).
29 See Braden, 410 U.S. at 488 (allowing petitioner to raise speedy trial claim prior to trial
under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, where he had exhausted available state remedies); Stow, 389
F.3d at 886; Reem, 2017 WL 6765247, at *2 (“The exhaustion requirement addresses the
same concerns of comity between federal and state courts as Younger does. 	See
Dickerson v. State of La., 816 F.2d 220, 225–26 (5th Cir. 1987) (‘The exhaustion doctrine
of section 2241(c)(3) was judicially crafted on federalism grounds in order to protect the
state courts’ opportunity to confront and resolve initially any constitutional issues arising
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statutory exhaustion requirement for a petition brought under § 2241, principles of
federalism 	and 	comity 	require 	the 	court 	to 	abstain 	until 	all 	state 	criminal
proceedings are completed, and the petitioner exhausts the available state judicial
remedies, unless extraordinary circumstances warranting federal intervention prior
to a state criminal trial are found. 	A violation of the right to a speedy trial is not,
alone, an extraordinary circumstance warranting federal intervention.30
This Court should only address Mr. Weedman’s speedy trial claim, if at all,
after he fully exhausts his state court remedies.31
IV. 	Reasonable Bail
Further, the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
bar 	pretrial 	detention 	unless 	detention 	is 	necessary 	to 	serve 	a 	compelling
within their jurisdictions as well as to limit federal interference in the state adjudicatory
process.’).”).
30 Carden, 626 F.2d at 83–85.
31 See, e.g., Stack, 342 U.S. at 6–7 (“While habeas corpus is an appropriate remedy for
one held in custody in violation of the Constitution, … 28 U.S.C.A. § 2241(c)(3), the
District Court should withhold relief in this collateral habeas corpus action where an
adequate remedy available in the criminal proceeding has not been exhausted.”) (citation
omitted); Webb v. Simpson, Case No. 3:19-CV-5561-BHS-DWC, 2020 WL 589818 at *1
(W.D. Wash. Jan. 6, 2020) (slip op.) (“Petitioner alleges his constitutional rights are being
violated, including violations of his right to be free from excessive bail and his right to a
speedy trial.… Petitioner has not shown there is an absence of available state corrective
processes or that circumstances exist rendering any state process ineffective.”).
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government interest.32 	Thus, although a state may “impose conditions on an
arrestee’s release, such as bail … [b]ail set at a figure higher than an amount
reasonably calculated to fulfill [its] purpose [of assuring the presence of the
accused at trial] is ‘excessive’ under the Eighth Amendment.”33 In addition, in both
state and federal criminal cases, when determining reasonable bail, courts are
required to consider concerns related to a victim’s safety.34 	Mr. Weedman’s
request that he be released from incarceration raises the issue of whether the state
has set appropriate conditions on his release pending trial.35
32 Reem v. Hennessy, Case No. 17-cv-06628-CRB, 2017 WL 6765247, at *1 (N.D. Cal.
Nov. 29, 2017) (unpublished) (citing Lopez-Valenzuela v. Arpaio, 770 F.3d 772, 780 (9th
Cir. 2014)).
33 Id. (quoting Lopez-Valenzuela, 770 F.3d at 777).
34 See United States v. Quintero, 995 F.3d 1044, 1056–57 (9th Cir. 2021); Shepersky v.
State, 401 P.3d 990, 993–94 (Alaska App. 2017).
35 See Reem, 2017 WL 6765247, at *2 (“A number of circuit courts have entertained
habeas petitions alleging unconstitutional detention or excessive bail prior to trial.”) (citing
numerous cases involving state pretrial detainees); see also Davie v. Villanueva, No. CV
20-6580 MWF (PVC), 2020 WL 4901611, at *3 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 20, 2020) (“[T]o the extent
that he is seeking release on zero or reduced bail prior to trial due to health concerns
arising from the coronavirus pandemic, this claim overlaps with his excessive bail claim.
Furthermore, state courts can and do offer an adequate forum to litigate such claims.”)
(noting that a state appellate court granted “in part pretrial detainee’s habeas petition
seeking release on bail and order[ed] trial court to hold a hearing to ‘consider entering a
new and different order setting bail consistent with the [county’s] June 23, 2020 amended
bail order,’ which was adopted to address inmate overcrowding during the COVID-19
pandemic).”) (citation omitted).
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In Mr. Weedman’s state criminal case, bail has been set at $5,000 cash.36
Mr. Weedman attached law enforcement reports to his Petition, stating that Emilyn
Jordan, his wife and the victim of the assault for which he is charged, was
medevacked from Manokotak to Dillingham, Alaska for “numerous facial fractures,
a possible skull fracture, and a possible brain injury…. Jordan’s medical records
stated that she had a risk of an airway compromise and that she may have
aspirated blood or other fluids during the assault. Therefore, Assault 1 was added
as a charge ....”37 	An officer observed that “Jordan had multiple bruises on both
lower legs as well as some bruising and lacerations on her knees…. [H]er face
was extremely swollen and bruised. 	Both of her eyes were completely swollen
shut.”38 	The victim spent a week and a half to two weeks in the hospital in
Anchorage.39 	In 	addition, 	an 	officer 	who transported 	Mr. 	Weedman to the
Dillingham Jail “observed dried blood on both of his hands as well as dried blood
on his face. There were no injuries on him … that would explain all the dried blood
that was on his face and hands.”40
36 Docket 1-1 at 1 (8/14/19 Temporary Order in 3DI-19-00346CR); id. at 21 (10/23/19
Temporary Order providing that “bail remains as previously set”).
37 Id. at 9 (8/13/19 Alaska Public Safety Incident Report).
38 Id. at 15 (8/13/19 General Report by #CSM3 Markiewicz, C.).
39 Docket 1-2 at 10–11 (10/23/19 Transcript of Grand Jury Proceedings).
40 Docket 1-1 at 7 (8/13/19 Affidavit of Alaska State Trooper Markiewicz).
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Moreover, Mr. Weedman attached an Order to Modify or Revoke Probation
in a previous case, requiring him to serve 45 days of suspended jail time, and
prohibiting him from possessing illegal substances.41 His victim in the current case
“believes [he] was ‘blacked out’ from consuming too much alcohol when he
assaulted her. Weedman wouldn’t assault Jordan if he was sober [and] had never
assaulted [her] before this incident.”42
Given the severity of the medically-confirmed injuries, Jordan’s statement
and testimony asserting that Mr. Weedman assaulted her,43 and his apparent past
and present issues with substance abuse, the Court finds that the state court is
appropriately considering the amount of reasonable bail necessary to protect the
victim and the public from harm prior to trial. 	Thus, there is no need for federal
intervention on the issue of reasonable conditions of release.
V. 	Speedy Trial Analysis
The four-part test articulated by the Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo44 is
used to determine whether government delay had abridged a defendant’s Sixth
41 Docket 1-2 at 31 (6/25/12 Order).
42 Docket 1-1 at 19 (Jordan interview).
43 See, e.g., id. at 18–19 (Jordan’s interview); Docket 1-2 at 7–11 (10/23/19
Transcript of Grand Jury Proceedings, victim’s testimony).
44 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972).
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Amendment right to a speedy trial.45 	The factors to be considered in an inquiry
under Barker include: 	“(1) the length of the delay; (2) the reasons for the delay;
(3) the accused’s assertion of the right to speedy trial; and (4) the prejudice caused
by the delay. No single factor is necessary or sufficient.”46 However, “[t]he length
of delay is the threshold factor.”47
A. 	Length of Delay
When examining a § 2241 petition from a pretrial detainee claiming a
violation of his or her right to a speedy trial, a significant delay in the proceedings
must be shown.48 “[T]o trigger a speedy trial analysis, an accused must allege that
the interval between accusation and trial has crossed the threshold dividing
ordinary from ‘presumptively prejudicial’ delay, since, by definition, he cannot
45 McNeely, 336 F.3d at 826 (citing Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 652 n.1
(1992)).
46 Id. (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 530); see also United States v. Sheikh, No. 2:18-cr-00119
WBS, ___ F. Supp. 3d ___, 2020 WL 5995226, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 9, 2020) (Discussing
the right to a speedy trial in a federal criminal case, explaining that “the coronavirus alone
does not give the court the liberty to simply exclude time. Rather, the court must conduct
a ‘deliberate inquir[y] into whether an ends-of-justice continuance is justified by the
circumstances surrounding a particular case.’”) (citation omitted).
47 United States v. Myers, 930 F.3d 1113, 1119 (9th Cir. 2019) (citing Doggett, supra).
48 See Barker, 407 U.S. at 530–31.
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complain that the government has denied him a ‘speedy’ trial if it has, in fact,
prosecuted his case with customary promptness.”49
The Alaska Superior Court record shows that Mr. Weedman was arraigned
less than two years ago.50 In McNeely v. Blanas,51 the Ninth Circuit found a delay
of three years to be substantial, such that prejudice was presumed, triggering an
inquiry under Barker v. Wingo.52
Finally, Mr. Weedman’s reliance on 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) is misplaced,53
because the federal Speedy Trial Act does not apply to trials in state courts.54
Mr. Weedman has not met the “threshold factor” required to state a speedy
trial claim.55
B. 	Reasons for Delay
As explained by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in addressing the
suspension of federal jury trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
49 Myers, 930 F.3d at 1119 (quoting Doggett, 505 U.S. at 651–52) (further internal
quotation marks omitted).
50 Alaska v. Weedman, 3DI-19-00346CR (8/14/19).
51 336 F.3d 822, 826 (9th Cir. 2003).
52 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972).
53 See Docket 1 at 6.
54 See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h).
55 Myers, 930 F.3d at 1119.
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The global COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be extraordinarily
serious and deadly. 	In response, many state and local governments
entered 	declarations 	curtailing 	operations 	of 	businesses 	and
governmental entities that interact with the public. 	Beginning on
March 13, 2020, the Central District of California—in light of the
exigent 	circumstances 	brought 	on 	by 	the 	pandemic 	and 	the
emergencies declared by federal and state officials—issued a series
of emergency orders….
Each order was entered upon unanimous or majority votes of the
district judges of the Central District with the stated purpose “to protect
public health” and “to reduce the size of public gatherings and reduce
unnecessary travel,” consistent with the recommendations of public
health authorities.56
The Covid-19 pandemic was not an “excuse for delay,” and was not an
indication of state corruption, as claimed by Mr. Weedman.57 Such assertions are
frivolous.58 Frivolousness may include not only allegations that “lack an arguable
basis in either law or in fact,” but allegations that are clearly “fanciful,” “baseless,”
“fantastic,” or “delusional.”59 	The pandemic provided solid, legitimate reasons to
reduce public gatherings, especially indoors, to protect the public.60
56 United States v. Olsen, 995 F.3d 683, 687 (9th Cir. 2021) (citations omitted).
57 Docket 1 at 7.
58 See https://alaska-coronavirus-vaccine-outreach-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com (as of
7/6/21, over 33 million Covid-19 cases and over 600,000 deaths in the U.S.; 68,478
Covid-19 cases and 370 Alaska resident deaths; and nearly 4 million Covid-19 deaths
reported worldwide).
59 Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31-33 (1992) (quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S.
319, 325–28 (1989)).
60 	See, 	e.g., 	http://www.courts.alaska.gov/covid19/docs/socj-2020-8130.pdf 	(3/15/20
Special Order No. 8130 of the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court: “On March 11,
2020, Governor Dunleavy issued a Public Health Disaster Emergency due to the potential
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“By contrast, if the government acted in bad faith, for instance, by making
‘[a] deliberate attempt to delay the trial in order to hamper the defense,’ such delay
must ‘be weighted heavily against the government.’”61
C. 	Accused’s Assertions of Right to Speedy Trial
Mr. 	Weedman 	asserts 	that 	he 	has 	not 	challenged 	his 	alleged
unconstitutional confinement on appeal because of “fear & corruption of the judicial
threats.”62 	He claims that “[s]ince day one [he has] ask[ed] for [a] speedy trial &
[his] counsel avoid[s] [him].”63 	He also claims that he “did not consent to any
continuance,” but that “no one listen[s] to [him].”64
D. 	Prejudice Caused by Delay
Long delays before trial tend to be prejudicial. The Supreme Court has
observed in prior cases that unreasonable delay between formal
accusation and trial threatens to produce more than one sort of harm,
including “oppressive pretrial incarceration,” “anxiety and concern of
the accused,” and “the possibility that the [accused’s] defense will be
impaired” by dimming memories and loss of exculpatory evidence….
Of these forms of prejudice, “the most serious is the last, because the
spread of the novel coronavirus disease. 	On March 13, President Trump declared that
the novel coronavirus outbreak constitutes a national emergency. 	On March 13,
Governor Dunleavy issued a mandate closing all public schools statewide ....”).
61 Myers, 930 at 1119 (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 531).
62 Docket 1 at 3.
63 Id. at 7.
64 Id. at 7–8.
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inability of a defendant adequately to prepare his case skews the
fairness of the entire system.”65
The state courts can consider prejudice, along with the other factors listed
above, when addressing speedy trial claims brought in Mr. Weedman’s criminal
case, if he meets the threshold factor that the length of delay violates his right to a
speedy trial. The claims brought to this Court are premature.
Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. 	This case is DISMISSED without prejudice to pursuing appropriate
claims in the state criminal case, and in state appeals.
2. 	All outstanding motions are DENIED.
3. 	The 	Court, 	having 	concluded 	that 	Petitioner 	has 	not 	made 	a
substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, DENIES a certificate of
65 Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 654 (1992) (quoting Barker, 407 U.S. at 532))
(additional citations omitted).
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appealability.66 	Any further request for a Certificate of Appealability must be
addressed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.67
4. 	The Clerk of Court shall enter a Judgment accordingly.
Dated at Anchorage, Alaska, this 9th day of July, 2021.
/s/ Ralph R. Beistline
RALPH R. BEISTLINE
Senior United States District Judge
66 See 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(1). 	Unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of
appealability, an appeal may not be taken to the court of appeals from--
(a) 	the 	final 	order 	in 	a 	habeas 	corpus 	proceeding 	in 	which 	the 	detention
complained of arises out of process issued by a State court …
(2) A certificate of appealability may issue under paragraph (1) only if the applicant
has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
(3) The certificate of appealability under paragraph (1) shall indicate which specific
issue or issues satisfy the showing required by paragraph (2).
See Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 668, 705 (2004) (“To obtain a certificate of
appealability, a prisoner must ‘demonstrat[e] that jurists of reason could disagree with the
district court’s resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude the
issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.’” (citation
omitted); see also Wilson v. Belleque, 554 F.3d 816, 824 (9th Cir. 2009) (“We conclude
that the mere fact that a habeas petition is filed pursuant to § 2241(c)(3) does not exempt
that petition from § 2253(c)(1)(A)’s COA requirement.”
For the reasons set forth in this Order, Mr. Weedman has not made a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right, or that jurists of reason could disagree with
the district court’s resolution, or that he deserves encouragement to proceed further.
Banks, 540 U.S. at 705. 	Mr. Weedman has not been incarcerated for a substantial time
under federal law, especially considering the pandemic that delayed criminal proceedings
nation-wide. Mr. Weedman may make his arguments in his state criminal proceedings.
67 See Fed. R. App. P. 22(b); 9th Cir. R. 22-1.
Case 3:21-cv-00083-RRB Document 9 Filed 07/09/21 Page 17 of 17