U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2016

Kenneth Johnson v. United States

Kenneth Johnson v. United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided October 27, 2016 · Smith, Clement, Graves
670 F. App'x 245

Kenneth Johnson v. United States

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Kenneth Johnson, federal prisoner # 38827-177, who was convicted of aiding and. abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, appeals the dismissal of his purported 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition. Johnson failed to file a notice of appeal within 60 days of’ the entry of the judgment of dismissal, See Fed, R. Ajpp, P. 4(a)(l)(B)(i). The judgment was entered on August 28, 2015, so the 60th day was October 27, 2015. The notice of appeal was filed the next day, October 28, giving Johnson the benefit of the prison mailbox rule.

Nothing in the notice of appeal can be reasonably construed as a motion for extension of time to appeal based on excusable neglect or good cause. See Fed, R. App. P. 4(a)(5). Although the notice of appeal states that the judgment was served on September 21, 2015, it cannot be treated as a motion to reopen the time to appeal based on a claim that Johnson did not receive notice of the entry of judgment within 21 days of entry, see Fed, R. App. P. 4(a)(6)(A), because Johnson did not move to reopen within 14 days after receiving notice of the entry.

The time limit for filing a notice of appeal of a civil judgment is jurisdictional, Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 208-14, 127 S.Ct. 2360, 168 L.Ed.2d 96 (2007), so we lack jurisdiction to consider the appeal, which is therefore DISMISSED. Johnson’s motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED.

*

Pursuant to 5th CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th CIR. R. 47.5.4.

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