                                                                         F I L E D
                                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                                          Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                          NOV 4 1998
                                     TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                     PATRICK FISHER
                                                                              Clerk

 PHILLIP EUGENE GARDNER,

           Petitioner - Appellant,
 vs.
                                                        No. 98-5065
 RON CHAMPION,                                    (D.C. No. 97-CV-148-K)
                                                        (N.D. Okla.)
           Respondent - Appellee.


                              ORDER AND JUDGMENT *


Before PORFILIO, KELLY, and HENRY, Circuit Judges. **


       Petitioner-Appellant Phillip Eugene Gardner, an inmate appearing pro se,

appeals from the denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Mr. Gardner’s habeas petition alleges: (1) disproportionate

sentencing and (2) he was denied a direct appeal of his convictions through

ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon recommendation of the magistrate judge,


       *
        This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This 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.
       **
         After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1.9. The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
the district court dismissed the petition without prejudice for failure to exhaust

state remedies. The district court also denied a certificate of appealability.

      In reaching its ruling, the district court permitted supplemental briefing on

the issue of futility of available state remedies. The court found that an available

state remedy exists because the state court could hear Mr. Gardner’s claims if he

articulates “sufficient reason” for inadequately having raised his claim previously.

      Before Mr. Gardner may proceed on appeal, he must secure a certificate of

appealability from this court. See 28 U.S.C. §2253(c)(1)(A). Raising the same

issues he raised in the district court, petitioner argues that this court should grant

a certificate of appealability because the district court erred by: (1) not liberally

construing his pro se pleadings, (2) finding that further state court litigation

would not be futile, and (3) disposing of his habeas claims on non-exhaustion

grounds without holding an evidentiary hearing.

      Upon consideration of the record and petitioner’s brief, we conclude that

petitioner has failed to make “a substantial showing of the denial of a

constitutional right. See 28 U.S.C. §2253(c)(2). We DENY petitioner’s request

for a certificate of appealability. The appeal is DISMISSED.

                                         Entered for the Court

                                         Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
                                         Circuit Judge



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