In the case of Ropati Afatia Seumanu, a habeas corpus petition was filed in the First Appellate District Division Four of the Court of Appeal of the State of California. The court case ID is A169146 and it was filed on March 27, 2024. The lawsuit involves a dismissed petition for habeas corpus relief in a capital case.
The petitioner, Ropati Afatia Seumanu, appealed the dismissal and requested a certificate of appealability (COA) under Penal Code section 1509.1(c). The court decided to issue a COA on one out of nine claims in Seumanu's petition but declined to do so for the remaining claims.
The trial court was the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda with Hon. Thomas Stevens as the judge. Michael R. Snedeker and Lisa R. Short were appointed by the Court of Appeal as counsel for appellant while Rob Bonta, Lance E. Winters, James William Bilderback II, and Alice B. Lustre represented the respondent.
Seumanu is seeking to have his case heard based on what he believes are substantial claims for relief that warrant an appeal. He argues that his trial counsel failed to object to the prosecution’s characterization of a fight he was involved in as a 14-year-old while he was gambling with other juveniles.