James Gaines v. Ron Davis

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner James C. Gaines appeals from the district court’s denial of his habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 . We review de novo the district court’s denial of the petition and for clear error the court’s factual findings in support of that denial. Runningeagle v. Ryan, 686 F.3d 758, 766 (9th Cir.2012). 'We affirm.

1. The district court’s factual finding that Petitioner never asked the state trial judge to admit Wright’s hearsay statement is not clearly erroneous. Petitioner concedes that he did not make a separate request to have the statement admitted notwithstanding the California hearsay rules. Instead, he contends that this request was “subsumed in his request for judicial immunity” for Wright. But asking the trial court to override hearsay rules is quite different than asking the court to extend immunity for the witness who made the statement. Due process did not require the state court to override California’s hearsay rules sua sponte and admit Wright’s statement even though Petitioner did not ask the court to do so.

2. The California Court of Appeal did not unreasonably apply clearly established federal law, 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d)(1), when it held that…