Aaron Chandra v. Stephen Smith

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS DEC 16 2025

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

AARON CHANDRA, No. 22-16739

Petitioner-Appellant, D.C. No. 3:16-cv-06076-JD

v.

MEMORANDUM*

STEPHEN SMITH; PEOPLE OF THE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

Respondents-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California James Donato, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted December 8, 2025** San Francisco, California

Before: BUMATAY, JOHNSTONE, and DE ALBA, Circuit Judges.

Petitioner Aaron Chandra appeals the denial of his habeas petition under

U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his state court conviction for second-degree murder,

possession of marijuana for sale, and firearm enhancements. We review the

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). district court’s denial of Chandra’s habeas petition de novo and its…