Charles Williams v. Stuart Ryan

MEMORANDUM

Charles Andrew Williams (“Williams”) appeals the district court’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Williams alleges on appeal that he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing, that his trial and appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance, and that his 50-year sentence for two counts of murder and thirteen counts of attempted murder constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendments. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 , and affirm.

Where a state court summarily denies a habeas petition by issuing a one-line disposition, as the California Supreme Court did here, a federal court must nonetheless afford § 2254(d)(1) deference to that disposition under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Harrington v. Richter, - U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 770, 784 , 178 L.Ed.2d 624 (2011).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Williams an evidentiary hearing, since “review under 2254(d)(1) is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the merits.” Cullen v. Pinholster, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1388, 1398-99 , 179 L.Ed.2d 557 (2011). And the…