Michael Arnold v. Anthony Kane

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner-Appellant Michael G. Arnold appeals the denial of his federal habeas petition. He argues that adverse pretrial publicity deprived him of a fair trial and that the state trial court should therefore have granted a change of venue. We affirm.

Because Arnold’s habeas petition was filed after April 24,1996, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) applies. Under AEDPA, Arnold must demonstrate that the state court’s merits decision “was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States” or “was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d).

To establish a constitutional violation on grounds of adverse pretrial publicity, a criminal defendant must demonstrate either actual or presumed prejudice. Randolph v. California, 380 F.3d 1133, 1142 (9th Cir.2004). Arnold fails to establish any error, let alone one rising to the level necessary for relief under § 2254(d). The state court reasonably concluded that the publicity surrounding his trial was not…