United States v. Robert Nelson

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States v. Robert Nelson, 714 F. App'x 263 (4th Cir. 2018)

United States v. Robert Nelson

Opinion

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

Robert Isaac Nelson seeks to appeal the district court’s text order dismissing without prejudice his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2012) motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2). Generally, a voluntary dismissal without prejudice under Rule 41(a)(2) is not appealable “because it is not an involuntary adverse judgment” against the appellant. Unioil v. E.F. Hutton & Co., 809 F.2d 548, 555 (9th Cir. 1986), overruled in part on other grounds by In re Keegan Mgmt. Co., Sec. Litig., 78 F.3d 431, 434-35 (9th Cir. 1996).

Nelson’s original pro se § 2255 motion, filed in 2014, challenged his Sentencing Guidelines career offender designation. After the Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. United States, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015) (holding residual clause of Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii) (2012), unconstitutionally vague), appointed counsel supplemented Nelson’s § 2255 motion, arguing that, under Johnson, Nelson’s career offender designation violated his right to due process. Nelson’s § 2255 motion was stayed pending the Supreme Court’s decision in Bedeles v. United States, — U.S. -, 137 S.Ct. 886, 197 L.Ed.2d 145 (2017) (holding advisory Guidelines not subject to vagueness challenge under Due Process Clause and therefore career offender Guideline’s residual clause not void). After Bedeles issued, Nelson’s counsel requested that Nelson’s § 2255 motion be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2). Counsel indicated that Nelson agreed to the dismissal. In a text order, the district court dismissed the § 2255 motion without prejudice.

Because a Rule 41(a)(2) dismissal without prejudice is generally not appealable, we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

DISMISSED

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Isaac NELSON, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished