TAYLOR v. VANNOY (2018)

Petitioner-Appellant Kevin Taylor, Louisiana prisoner # 117058, filed a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application challenging his conviction for simple burglary, for which he was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment. The district court granted a certificate of appealability (COA) on a single issue—whether Taylor’s constitutional right to compulsory process to call a witness was violated.

This court’s review is limited to those issues for which a COA has been granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); United States v. Kimler, 150 F.3d 429, 430 (5th Cir. 1998). Pro se briefs are afforded liberal construction, but even pro se litigants must brief claims to preserve them. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993); Fed. R. App. P. 28(a).

Taylor has failed to address the issue whether his right to compulsory process was violated. He has instead briefed the merits of his claim that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance for failing to subpoena and present a potential alibi witness. Taylor has neither addressed the only issue on which a COA was granted, nor expressly requested to expand the scope of the COA, so he has abandoned the only cognizable issue on appeal. See Yohey, 985 F.2d at 224-25; Kimler, 150 F.3d at 431 n.1. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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PER CURIAM: * FN* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.