Derrick Loftis v. Almager

Opinion by Judge ADELMAN; Concurrence by Judge SILVERMAN; Dissent by Judge TASHIMA.

OPINION

ADELMAN, District Judge:

Petitioner-Appellant Derrick Loftis seeks a writ of habeas corpus challenging his California conviction of second degree murder. The district court denied the petition, but we issued a certificate of appeal-ability regarding whether there was a sufficient factual basis to support Loftis’s no contest plea and whether his plea was knowing and voluntary. We now affirm.

I. FACTS AND BACKGROUND

The pertinent facts, as set forth in the state appellate court’s opinion, are as follows:

On…