Bolton
Bolton v. Knowles
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Ranee Bolton, a California state prisoner, appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition challenging his conviction for possession of stolen property. Bolton contends that the trial court’s admission into evidence of a witness’s preliminary hearing testimony infringed his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation in violation of Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 , 124 S.Ct. 1354 , 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004).
Bolton’s argument is unpersuasive. The Supreme Court recently held that the Crawford rule does not apply retroactively to cases, like this one, that are on collateral review. Whorton v. Bockting, - U.S. -, 127 S.Ct. 1173 , 167 L.Ed.2d 1 (2007). Bolton’s direct review became final in 1999. Therefore, his claim is governed by the standards set forth in Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56 , 100 S.Ct. 2531 , 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980). The state court’s admission of the preliminary hearing testimony was neither contrary to, nor did it involve an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court precedent. See id. at 72-73 , 100 S.Ct. 2531 ; California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149,165-68 , 90 S.Ct. 1930 , 26 L.Ed.2d 489 (1970).