F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FEB 11 1999
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
MARCEL LAMAR JACKSON,
Petitioner - Appellant, No. 98-5164
v. (N.D. Oklahoma)
RONALD J. CHAMPION, sued as (D.C. No. CV-97-398-K)
Ron Champion,
Respondent - Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before ANDERSON , KELLY , and BRISCOE , 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)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case 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This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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.
Marcel Jackson seeks a certificate of appealability to challenge the district
court’s order dismissing his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition as untimely. Because
Jackson has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right,
see 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), we deny the certificate.
Jackson’s Oklahoma convictions became final on appeal on October 5,
1994. Jackson sought state post-conviction relief, which was denied; this denial
was affirmed on appeal on December 19, 1995. He filed the present petition on
April 24, 1997. After the district court dismissed the petition as untimely
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d), Jackson filed a “Combined Motion to Alter or
Amend Judgment and Motion for Certificate of Appealability,” which the district
court construed as a motion to reconsider, and which it then denied.
Largely for the reasons set out in the district court’s orders, R. Vol. I, Tabs
12 & 16, we agree that the petition is untimely under § 2244(d) and the rule of
United States v. Simmonds , 111 F.3d 737, 744-46 (10th Cir. 1997), and Miller v.
Marr , 141 F.3d 976, 977 (10th Cir. 1998).
We note that Jackson claims he is actually innocent of the crimes for which
he is incarcerated. Although Jackson presented this claim to the district court, the
court did not address it specifically, and therefore we do so here. We have
intimated that actual innocence may be grounds for equitable tolling of the
§ 2244(d)(1) limitations period. See Miller , 141 F.3d at 978. However, we have
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also emphasized that prisoners must diligently pursue their claims in order to
avail themselves of equitable tolling. See id. Because Jackson had from
December 19, 1995, until April 23, 1997, to file his petition and gives no reason
for his delay, we conclude that Jackson has not been diligent in pursuing his
claims, and we decline to apply equitable tolling.
Accordingly, we DENY the certificate of appealability and DISMISS the
petition.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephen H. Anderson
Circuit Judge
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