UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 6/25/96
TENTH CIRCUIT
GARY LYN MORGAN,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
No. 95-6433
v.
(D.C. No. CV-95-1332)
(W.D. Okla.)
MARY PUNCHES, Warden,
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, KELLY and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R.
34.1.9. The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an
order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th
Cir. R. 36.3.
Gary Lynn Morgan, a pro se prisoner, brought this habeas corpus
proceeding alleging various constitutional violations arising from the loss
of earned credits. The district court adopted the report and
recommendation of a magistrate judge to the extent the report recommended
that habeas relief be denied. Mr Morgan appeals and we affirm. 1
While on preparole status, Mr. Morgan was arrested for concealing
stolen property and burglary. As a result he received two misconduct
reports, was given a hearing, was found guilty, and lost 264 earned credits.
Following a successful appeal on one of the misconduct reports, Mr.
Morgan was given a new hearing on both reports. He was again found
guilty and received the same punishment. Mr Morgan then filed a petition
for writ of mandamus in state district court. After this petition was denied
and the denial was affirmed on appeal, Mr. Morgan filed this petition in
federal court.
In his federal petition, Mr. Morgan alleges that the manner in which
his earned credits were revoked denied him procedural due process and
equal protection. Specifically he asserts that he was denied adequate notice
and that he was treated differently from a co-arrestee who was also a
1
The district court granted in forma pauperis status to defendant for
purposes of appeal.
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preparolee. The magistrate judge determined that Mr. Morgan had not
exhausted his due process claim in state court, and that therefore his
petition was a mixed one which should be dismissed for that reason. The
magistrate judge ruled alternatively that Mr. Morgan had been provided
constitutionally adequate notice and that his due process claim was
therefore without merit. The magistrate judge also held that to the extent
Mr. Morgan was asserting a denial of equal protection arising from the fact
that he was disciplined while his co-arrestee was not, his claim was
meritless. We have carefully reviewed the reasoning and authorities relied
upon by the magistrate judge, and we affirm dismissal of Mr. Morgan’s
petition with respect to the above claims of denial of due process and equal
protection.
In his objections to the report, Mr. Morgan appears to assert that he
was also denied due process because the disciplinary hearing was held
while the state criminal charges were pending and that he therefore chose
not to make statements in the disciplinary proceedings for fear they would
be used against him. Mr. Morgan does not explain how the presumably
exculpatory statements he wanted to make in the disciplinary proceedings
would have adversely affected his criminal defense. This claim, even if it
were properly before us, does not state a constitutional violation.
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Finally, we decline to consider the numerous arguments Mr. Morgan
raises for the first time on appeal. See Oyler v. Allenbrand, 23 F.3d 292,
299 n.8 (10th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 115 S. Ct. 278 (1994)..
We affirm the dismissal by the district court. 2
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephanie K. Seymour
Chief Judge
2
We deny as moot Mr. Morgan’s motion to substitute or add a
respondent.
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