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David Franklin v. United States, 09-2096 (2009)

Court: Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Number: 09-2096 Visitors: 53
Judges: Per Curiam
Filed: Dec. 22, 2009
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Chicago, Illinois 60604 Submitted December 22, 2009* Decided December 22, 2009 Before DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge DIANE S. SYKES, Circuit Judge No. 09-2096 DAVID FRANKLIN, Appeal from the United States District Petitioner-Appellant, Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. v. No. 08-cv-678-bbc UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Ba
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                           NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
                             To be cited only in accordance with
                                     Fed. R. App. P. 32.1


              United States Court of Appeals
                                    For the Seventh Circuit
                                    Chicago, Illinois 60604

                                Submitted December 22, 2009*
                                 Decided December 22, 2009

                                             Before

                             DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge

                             DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judge

                             DIANE S. SYKES, Circuit Judge

No. 09‐2096

DAVID FRANKLIN,                                       Appeal from the United States District
     Petitioner‐Appellant,                            Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

       v.                                             No. 08‐cv‐678‐bbc

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                             Barbara B. Crabb,
     Respondent‐Appellee.                             Chief Judge.

                                           O R D E R

        David Franklin pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute. 
See 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).  The district court sentenced him to 295 months’ imprisonment,
and we affirmed the judgment on direct appeal.  United States v. Franklin, 257 F. App’x 997
(7th Cir. 2007).  Franklin then filed this action under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, claiming, as relevant
here, that he was denied effective assistance of counsel.  According to Franklin, counsel
coerced him into pleading guilty by boasting that his “contacts within the legal system”
would ensure a light sentence.  And, Franklin alleged, counsel submitted a “canned” brief



       *
        After examining the briefs and the record, we have concluded that oral argument is
unnecessary.  Thus the appeal is submitted on the briefs and the record.  See FED. R. APP. P.
34(a)(2).
No. 09‐2096                                                                                Page 2

on direct appeal that was “plagiarized from the internet.”  The district court denied relief
but issued a certificate of appealability.

        Franklin asserts on appeal that he would have insisted on proceeding to trial had
counsel not deceived him into accepting a plea agreement.  But during the plea colloquy,
Franklin swore to the district court that, aside from the terms embodied in the plea
agreement, he had been promised nothing to cajole his admission of guilt.  If counsel’s
supposed pledge to deliver a light sentence had been the “decisive factor” in Franklin’s
decision to plead guilty, then the plea colloquy “would have been the opportune time to
raise the issue.”  See Wyatt v. United States, 574 F.3d 455, 459 n.2 (7th Cir. 2009).  Instead
Franklin said nothing about other promises, and the district court credited his sworn
statement in open court that there were no other promises.  So “the game is over.”  See
United States v. Stewart, 198 F.3d 984, 987 (7th Cir. 1999).

       Franklin also asserts that his direct appeal was prejudiced by counsel’s submission of
a “canned” appellate brief “plagiarized from the internet.”  But this allegation alone, even if
proven, does not establish that counsel’s performance was constitutionally defective. 
Franklin’s § 2255 motion does not identify any issue that counsel failed to raise on appeal or
any argument that was raised but poorly briefed.  See Suggs v. United States, 513 F.3d 675,
678 (7th Cir. 2008).

        The allegations Franklin presented to the district court do not entitle him to relief, so
the district court was not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing.  See Menzer v. United
States, 200 F.3d 1000, 1005–06 (7th Cir. 2000).

                                                                                       AFFIRMED.

Source:  CourtListener

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