Espinoza v. Ryan

NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT APR 01 2010 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS JESUS ESPINOZA, No. 07-55120 Petitioner - Appellant, D.C. No. CV-05-02719-GPS v. MEMORANDUM * STUART J. RYAN, Respondent - Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California George P. Schiavelli, District Judge, Presiding Submitted March 16, 2010 ** Before: SCHROEDER, PREGERSON, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges. California state prisoner Jesus Espinoza appeals from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition. We have jurisdiction * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). EF/Research pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm. Espinoza contends that the trial court violated his due process rights by mis- instructing the jury regarding the elements of voluntary manslaughter. We agree with the district court that the instructional error did not have a “substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” See Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 623 (1993). AFFIRMED. EF/Research 2 07-55120