Rhines v. Young, No. 18-2376 (8th Cir. 2019)
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At issue was whether the district court erred in concluding that it has no authority under 18 U.S.C. 3599 and the All Writs Act, 18 U.S.C. 1651(a), to order South Dakota prison officials to allow petitioner to meet with mental health experts retained by appointed counsel for purposes of preparing a clemency application.
The Eighth Circuit held that circumstances underlying the issue have changed, and a decision on this narrow issue was no longer needed. The court held that, at the present time, with South Dakota clemency proceedings commenced and the time for granting or denying imminent, the issues raised by petitioner in this appeal were either moot or have not been fully exhausted. Accordingly, the court dismissed the appeal.
Court Description: Per Curiam - Before Loken, Gruender and Kelly, Circuit Judges] Civil case - All Writs Act. Rhines, a South Dakota prisoner scheduled for execution, raises the question whether the district court erred in concluding it had no authority under either the All Writs Act or 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3599 to order South Dakota prison officials to allow Rhines to meet with mental health experts for the purpose of preparing a clemency application. At the present time, with South Dakota clemency proceedings commenced and the time for granting or denying clemency imminent in light of the scheduled execution, the issues raised by Rhines in this appeal are either moot or have not been fully exhausted, and the appeal is dismissed. Judge Kelly, concurring. [ October 24, 2019
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