United States v. Dawkins
Opinion
Aaron Lamont Dawkins seeks to appeal the district court’s order denying his motion for reconsideration of the district court’s order denying relief on his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2000) motion. * The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1) (2000); Reid v. Angelone, 369 F.3d 363, 369 (4th Cir. 2004). A certificate of appealability will not issue 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 that any assessment of the constitutional claims by the district court is debatable or wrong and that any dispositive procedural ruling by the district court is likewise debatable. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38, 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, 683-84 (4th Cir. 2001). We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Dawkins has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny 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.
The district court’s order denying § 2255 relief was entered on its docket on December 6, 2005, and Dawkins relayed his motion to alter or amend that order to prison officials for mailing on December 28, 2005, more than ten days later. Dawkins’ motion is therefore properly construed as arising under Fed. R.Civ.P. 60(b). So construed, the motion did not toll the appeal period. Consequently, Dawkins’ July 12, 2006 notice of appeal is timely only as to the court’s May 16, 2006 order denying the motion to alter or amend.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Aaron Lamont DAWKINS, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished