United States v. Padgett

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States v. Padgett, 119 F. App'x 440 (4th Cir. 2005)

United States v. Padgett

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

John Mark Padgett, a federal prisoner, seeks to appeal the district court’s order denying relief on his motion filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2000). An appeal may not be taken from the final order in a § 2255 proceeding unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1) (2000). A certificate of appealability -will not issue for claims addressed by a district court absent “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2000). A prisoner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find both that his constitutional claims are debatable and that any dispositive procedural rulings by the district court are also debatable or wrong. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000); Rose v. Lee, 252 F.3d 676, 683 (4th Cir. 2001). We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Padgett has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny Padgett’s motion for an expanded 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

*

We note that the district court granted a certificate of appealability as to the issue of the validity of Padgett’s conviction in light of Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234, 122 S.Ct. 1389, 152 L.Ed.2d 403 (2002). Because Padgett failed to raise this issue in his informal brief, we find that it is now waived on appeal. See 4th Cir. R. 34(b).

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. John Mark PADGETT, Defendant—Appellant
Status
Unpublished