F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
MAR 14 2001
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
TERRY L. HEDGER,
Petitioner-Appellant,
v. No. 00-3165
(D.C. No. 97-3118-DES)
DAVID MCKUNE, Warden, Lansing (D. Kan.)
Correctional Facility; ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF KANSAS,
Respondents-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before HENRY , BRISCOE , and MURPHY , 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This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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.
Petitioner Terry L. Hedger appeals from the district court’s denial of his
counseled habeas petition, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Under the
provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, petitioner must
obtain a certificate of appealability (COA) before his appeal can proceed before
this court. See Slack v. McDaniel , 529 U.S. 473, 478 (2000); 28 U.S.C.
§ 2253(c)(1)(A). Because the district court denied petitioner’s motion for a COA,
petitioner must demonstrate “a substantial showing of the denial of a
constitutional right” before a COA can issue. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2).
In his habeas application before the district court, petitioner asserted four
claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with his criminal trial. 1
He contended that counsel was ineffective for failing to 1) request a self-defense
instruction, 2) object to testimony by Detective Allen concerning an overheard
conversation between petitioner and his attorney, 3) investigate the availability of
additional witnesses to events before the shooting, and 4) object to certain
statements and declarations made by his wife. The district court rejected these
issues on the merits. On appeal, he has abandoned the ineffective assistance of
counsel claim based on counsel’s alleged failure to adequately investigate the
availability of additional witnesses, but adds another claim of error, contending
1
Petitioner was convicted of second degree murder of his wife following a
shooting incident at their home.
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that the district court erred in failing to hold an evidentiary hearing on the claim
concerning Detective Allen’s testimony.
Our review of petitioner’s appellate arguments, along with the record on
appeal, including decisions of the state appellate court and the district court, in
light of the applicable law convinces us that, for the substantially the reasons
stated by the district court in its decision denying habeas relief, petitioner has not
“made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” Id.
Petitioner’s motion for a COA is DENIED and this appeal is DISMISSED.
Entered for the Court
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
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