United States v. Robinson
Opinion
David Moe Robinson seeks to appeal the district court’s orders denying relief on his motions filed under 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp. 2001), and Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b). 1 We dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction because Robinson’s notice of appeal was not timely filed.
In actions where the United States is a party, parties are accorded sixty days after entry of the district court’s final judgment or order to note an appeal, see Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(1)(B), unless the district court extends the appeal period under Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(5), or reopens the appeal period *200 under Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(6). This appeal period is “mandatory and jurisdictional.” Browder v. Dir., Dep’t of Corr., 434 U.S. 257, 264, 98 S.Ct. 556, 54 L.Ed.2d 521 (1978) (quoting United States v. Robinson, 361 U.S. 220, 229, 80 S.Ct. 282, 4 L.Ed.2d 259 (1960)).
The district court’s order denying § 2255 relief was entered on the docket on July 9, 2001. Robinson timely moved to extend the appeal period under Rule 4(a)(5), which the district court granted on October 17, 2001. Robinson therefore had ten days after entry of the order granting the extension of time in which to file his notice of appeal — that is, until October 29, 2001. 2 Despite this extension, Robinson did not file his notice of appeal from the denial of § 2255 relief until November 2, 2001. Because Robinson failed to file a timely notice of appeal after obtaining an extension, we lack jurisdiction to review the district court’s July 9 order denying § 2255 relief.
We also lack jurisdiction to consider Robinson’s appeal of the district court’s order denying Rule 60(b) relief. The district court entered its order on August 14, 2001. Because Robinson failed to obtain an extension or reopening of the sixty-day appeal period, his notice of appeal filed on November 2, 2001, was untimely.
Accordingly, we deny Robinson’s motion for a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED.
. Although styled as a motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e), the motion actually was a motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) because Robinson filed it more than ten days after entry of judgment. See Small v. Hunt, 98 F.3d 789, 797 (4th Cir. 1996).
. The tenth day fell on Saturday, October 27, 2001, so Robinson had until Monday, October 29 to file his notice of appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 26(a).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. David Moe ROBINSON, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished