Cox

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

STEVE COX,  No. 06-15106 Petitioner-Appellant, v.  D.C. No.

CV-98-00482-PMP

FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA,

OPINION

Respondent-Appellee.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Philip M. Pro, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted August 15, 2007—San Francisco, California

Filed September 4, 2008

Before: Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain, Michael Daly Hawkins, and Kim McLane Wardlaw, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge O’Scannlain

12225 COX v. DEL PAPA 12229

COUNSEL

Paul G. Turner, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Las Vegas, Nevada, argued the cause for the petitioner-appellant 12230 COX v. DEL PAPA and filed briefs; Franny A. Forsman, Federal Public Defender and Danice Arbor Johnson, Research & Writing Specialist, Las Vegas, Nevada, were on the briefs.

David Neidert, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Las Vegas, Nevada, argued the cause for the respondents-appellees; Cath- erine Cortez Masto, Attorney General and Dennis C. Wilson, Deputy Attorney General, filed and were on the…