Hoover

MEMORANDUM *

A.C. Newland appeals from the magistrate judge’s decision granting a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition filed by Crossan D. Hoover, Jr., a California state prisoner. See Hoover v. Carey, 508 F.Supp.2d 775 (N.D.Cal.2007). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 686 (c)(3), 1291, and 2253. We review de novo the magistrate judge’s decision to grant Hoover’s petition. See Bean v. Calderon, 163 F.3d 1073, 1077 (9th Cir.1998). We reverse.

A. Insanity Jimj Instruction

The insanity jury instruction given by the state trial court was erroneous under state law. See People v. Hoover, 187 Cal.App.3d 1074 , 231 Cal.Rptr. 203, 206 (Cal.Ct.App.1986). Habeas relief is not, however, available on the basis of this instructional error unless the error prejudiced Hoover. See Calderon v. Coleman, 525 U.S. 141, 145-47 , 119 S.Ct. 500 , 142 L.Ed.2d 521 (1998).

The California Court of Appeal held that the instructional error did not prejudice Hoover. See Hoover, 231 Cal.Rptr. at 206-08, 211 . We defer to that holding because it is neither contrary to clearly established U.S. Supreme Court precedent nor objectively unreasonable. See Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 17-18 , 124 S.Ct.…