Ray Lewis v. Heidi M. Lackner, Warden

MEMORANDUM

California state prisoner Ray Chester Lewis appeals from the district court’s judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 . We review de novo a district court’s judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition, see Collins v. Runnels, 603 F.3d 1127, 1130 (9th Cir.2010), and we affirm.

As an initial matter, the state argues that Lewis’s claim is procedurally barred. We do not reach this issue and instead resolve this case on the merits. See Franklin v. Johnson, 290 F.3d 1223, 1232 (9th Cir.2002).

Lewis contends that his due process rights were violated because his sentence of 28 years and 8 months was motivated by vindictiveness. Lewis previously pleaded guilty to various drug and firearm charges and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. After Lewis successfully challenged his guilty plea in a state habeas proceeding, he was convicted of fewer charges at a jury trial. A different judge presided over the jury trial and imposed the challenged sentence. The California Court of Appeal concluded that Lewis failed to show either presumptive or actual vindictiveness. This decision was not contrary…