Can a federal district court deny a habeas application?

Additionally, federal courts have discretion to deny a habeas application on the merits notwithstanding a petitioner's failure to exhaust state remedies. 28 U.S.C. 2254(b)(2). Even if the claim has never been presented to any state court, the district court can deny habeas relief if it does not present a cognizable claim. 28 U.S.C. 2254(b)(2); Acosta-Huerta v. Estelle, 7 F.3d 139, 142 (9th Cir. 1992).

As stated previously, "habeas corpus is the exclusive remedy for a state

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