Vernon Odell Adams, Jr. v. State of California

983 F.2d 1075 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. Vernon Odell ADAMS, Jr., Petitioner-Appellant, v. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Respondent-Appellee. No. 91-16929. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Oct. 8, 1992. * Decided Dec. 18, 1992. Before POOLE, FERNANDEZ and T.G. NELSON, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM ** 2 Vernon Odell Adams, Jr., a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition challenging his conviction for second degree murder. We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253 , and we review de novo. Norris v. Risley, 878 F.2d 1178, 1180 (9th Cir.1989). We affirm. 3 Adams asserts that he was denied a fair trial when the trial court determined that certain statements by his victim were "dying declarations" and admitted them as evidence. We disagree. 4 Violation of a state evidence rule does not constitute grounds for federal habeas…