Michael Spencer v. Richard Kirkland

MEMORANDUM

Michael Spencer was sentenced to state prison for 121 years to life after a jury found him guilty of committing three robberies and being a felon in possession of a firearm. During his trial, Spencer was visibly restrained. Spencer argues that the manner in which he was restrained was an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent and based on an unreasonable determination of the facts. The district court denied Spencer’s request for habeas relief. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 , and we affirm.

Spencer does not challenge the trial court’s finding of a manifest need for physical restraints, and the record supports such a finding. Instead, he argues that the trial court failed to use less restrictive alternatives that would have allowed him increased movement and would have been less obvious to the jury.

The Supreme Court recognizes that “the Constitution forbids the use of visible shackles during [trial], unless that use is ‘justified by an essential state interest’— such as the interest in courtroom security — specific to the defendant on trial.” Deck v. Missouri, 544 U.S. 622, 624 , 125 S.Ct. 2007 , 161 L.Ed.2d 953 (2005). The Court has not,…