Davis v. Commissioner of Correction
Summary of the case Davis v. Commissioner of Correction
The petitioner appealed two habeas court decisions dismissing his writs of habeas corpus related to convictions of robbery, threatening, accessory to kidnapping with a firearm, and theft of a firearm. The court found no substantial showing of a constitutional rights violation or abuse of discretion in denying certification to appeal. The habeas court's dismissals were based on witness credibility, and the findings were not contested on appeal.
Key Issues of the case Davis v. Commissioner of Correction
- Denial of constitutional rights
- Abuse of discretion in denying appeal certification
Key Facts of the case Davis v. Commissioner of Correction
- Petitioner convicted of robbery and theft of firearm
- Habeas court dismissals based on witness credibility
Decision of the case Davis v. Commissioner of Correction
The appeals are dismissed.
Opinions
PER CURIAM. The petitioner appeals from two decisions of the habeas court dismissing his writs of habeas coipus. Bo tli cases were argued before this court on the same day. Appeal 14303 arises out of the petitioner’s convictions of robbery in the first degree, threatening, and accessory to kidnapping with a firearm in April, 1991.
The genesis of appeal 14183 is the petitioner’s convictions of robbery in the first degree and theft of firearm in August, 1991. A common issue is presented by both appeals and we therefore consider them together. After a review of the records and briefs, and after considering the oral arguments, we conclude that the petitioner has not made a substantial showing in either case that he has been denied a state or federal constitutional right or sustained the burden of persuasion that the denial of certification to appeal was a clear abuse of discretion or that an injustice has been done. See Simms v. Warden, 230 Conn. 608, 612, 646 A.2d 126 (1994); Simms v.
Warden, 229 Conn. 178, 189, 640 A.2d 601 (1994); see also Lozada v. Deeds, 498 U.S. 430, 431-32, 111 S. Ct. 860, 112 L. Ed. 2d 956 (1991).
The habeas court’s dismissals of the petitioner’s claims were predicated on the credibility of the witnesses. The habeas court’s findings were not contested on appeal; the petitioner did not file motions to correct or motions for articulation. See Bush v. Commissioner of Correction, 37 Conn.
App. 930, 657 A.2d 724 (1995). Our review of the underlying historical facts found by the habeas court leads us to conclude that they are not clearly erroneous. McKnight v. Commissioner of Correction, 35 Conn.
App. 762, 765, 646 A.2d 305, cert. denied, 231 Conn. 936, 650 A.2d 173 (1994). The appeals are dismissed.1 In appeal 14303, the petitioner also has requested that, should we “not find abuse of discretion or error in the habeas court’s decision regarding the right to appeal,” we “should exercise [our] supervisory authority as set forth in the Practice Book [§] 4138 (6) to allow a late appeal.” We deem this request to be improper as part of this appeal and take no action.