Sueing

MEMORANDUM **

Perry Sueing appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 2253, and we affirm.

Sueing contends that the district court erred when it determined that the ineffective assistance of counsel claim contained in his § 2254 petition was procedurally defaulted. Our review of the district court’s decision is de novo, and we may affirm on any ground supported by the record, even if it differs from the rationale of the district court. See Nguyen v. Garcia, 477 F.3d 716 , 722 n. 9 (9th Cir.2007). We conclude that the ineffective assistance of counsel claim raised in Sueing’s § 2254 petition is procedurally defaulted because he failed to raise this particular claim in state court and may not raise it in state court now because of an independent and adequate state rule. See Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 , 735 n. 1, 111 S.Ct. 2546 , 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991) (holding that claim is procedurally defaulted if the petitioner failed to exhaust state remedies and state rule would not permit the state court to address issue now); see also Ariz. R.Crim. P. 32.2(a)(3); Stewart v. Smith, 536…