Michael Sanders v. Charles Ryan

MEMORANDUM

Michael Martin Sanders appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition challenging his Arizona convictions for first-degree felony murder, first-degree burglary, unlawful imprisonment, and aggravated assault. Sanders’s convictions arose out of an incident where he and four associates invaded a house. A gunfight between Sanders and an occupant of the house resulted in the deaths of two people inside. By convicting Sanders of burglary and felony murder, the jury found that Sanders invaded the house with the intent to commit a robbery, and rejected his claim that he entered the house with the intent to apprehend a bail absconder.

Because Sanders filed his petition after April 24, 1996, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”) of 1996 governs review of his claims. Under AEDPA, 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d), our review is highly deferential. Harrington v. Richter, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 770, 785 , 178 L.Ed.2d 624 (2011). We will not grant habeas relief unless Sanders can show that the state court’s last reasoned adjudication of his federal claims resulted in a decision that (1) “was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of,…