Freeney v. United States

District Court, N.D. Texas

Freeney v. United States

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION

ANTHONY KEITH FREENEY, § § Movant, § § v. § Civil Action No. 3:22-CV-171-L-BT § Criminal No. 3:17-CR-664-L-1 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, § § Respondent. §

ORDER

Movant initiated this action by filing a Motion for Extension of Time to File a Motion to Vacate Under

28 U.S.C. § 2255

Due to Covid (Doc. 1), which was received on January 25, 2022. On January 20, 2022, the Findings, Conclusions and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge (“Report”) (Doc. 3) was entered, recommending that the court dismiss without prejudice this action for lack of jurisdiction because Petitioner has not yet filed a § 2255 motion and, as a result, his current request presents no case or controversy. Instead of filing objections to the Report or a § 2255 motion, Petitioner filed another Motion for Extension of Time to File §2255 Motion (Doc. 4), which was received on February 8, 2022. As correctly noted by the magistrate judge, however, section 2255 does not authorize a prospective extension of the statute of limitations. Thus, without a section 2255 habeas motion on file, there is no concrete dispute to be decided in this case, and the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to grant any relief. Having considered Movant’s motion, the file, record in this case, and Report, the court determines that the findings and conclusions of the magistrate judge are correct, and accepts them as those of the court. Accordingly, the court dismisses without prejudice this action for lack of jurisdiction and directs the clerk of the court to terminate Petitioner’s recently filed motion (Doc. 4). Further, considering the record in this case and pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b), Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing §§ 2254 and 2255 proceedings, and

28 U.S.C. § 2253

(c), the court denies a certificate of appealability.” The court determines that Movant has failed to show: (1) that reasonable jurists would find this court’s “assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong;” or (2) that reasonable jurists would find “it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right” and “‘debatable whether [this court] was correct in its procedural ruling.” Slack v. McDaniel,

529 U.S. 473, 484

(2000). In support of this determination, the court accepts and incorporates by reference the Report filed in this case. In the event that Movant files a notice of appeal, he must pay the $505 appellate filing fee or submit a motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. It is so ordered this 18th day of February, 2022.

“Sam A. Lindsay “4 United States District Judge

11 of the Rules Governing §§ 2254 and 2255 Cases provides as follows: (a) Certificate of Appealability. The district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. Before entering the final order, the court may direct the parties to submit arguments on whether a certificate should issue. If the court issues a certificate, the court must state the specific issue or issues that satisfy the showing required by

28 U.S.C. § 2253

(c)(2). If the court denies a certificate, the parties may not appeal the denial but may seek a certificate from the court of appeals under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22. A motion to reconsider a denial does not extend the time to appeal. (b) Time to Appeal. Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a) governs the time to appeal an order entered under these rules. A timely notice of appeal must be filed even if the district court issues a certificate of appealability. Order — Page 2

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