RENFREW v. DAVIS (2020)

Ned Carlos Renfrew, Texas prisoner # 01929324, moves for a certificate of appealability (COA) to appeal the dismissal of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application, in which he challenged his felony conviction and sentence for driving while intoxicated, as barred by the one-year limitations period. He also seeks to appeal the denial of his timely Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) motion and the denial of his motion for an evidentiary hearing.

To obtain a COA, Renfrew must make “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Where, as in this case, the district court's denial of federal habeas relief is based on procedural grounds, a COA will issue “when the prisoner shows, at least, 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, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000). As for the Rule 59(e) motion, Renfrew must show that reasonable jurists would debate whether the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion. See Williams v. Thaler, 602 F.3d 291, 304 (5th Cir. 2010).

He has failed to make these showings. See Slack, 529 U.S. at 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595; Williams, 602 F.3d at 304. We therefore do not reach the merits of Renfrew's claims. See Slack, 529 U.S. at 485, 120 S.Ct. 1595; Houser v. Dretke, 395 F.3d 560, 561-62 (5th Cir. 2004). Further, Renfrew's motion for a COA with respect to the denial of an evidentiary hearing is construed as a direct appeal of that issue, see Norman v. Stephens, 817 F.3d 226, 234 (5th Cir. 2016), and affirmed, see McDonald v. Johnson, 139 F.3d 1056, 1060 (5th Cir. 1998).

Accordingly, Renfrew's motion for a COA is DENIED, and the denial of an evidentiary hearing is AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.  

PER CURIAM:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th CIR.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