Norris v. USA, No. 2:2012cv00077 - Document 6 (D. Ariz. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER denying 3 Motion for Recusal. Movant's "Motion for Time Reduction by an Inmate in Federal Custody, (28 U.S.C. § 2255)" (Doc. 1 in CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV)) is denied with leave to amend. Movant has 30 days from the date o f filing of this Order to file an amended motion in compliance with this Order.If Movant fails to file an amended motion within 30 days, the Clerk of Courtmust, without further notice, terminate Document 131 in CR 08-1523-PHX-GMS and enter a judgment of dismissal of the civil action opened in connection with this § 2255 action (CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV)), without prejudice. (See document for further details). Signed by Judge G Murray Snow on 2/27/12.(LAD)
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Norris v. USA Doc. 6 1 WO KM 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 United States of America, Movant, 10 11 v. 12 Webster W. Norris, III, Defendant/Movant. 13 14 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV) No. CR 08-1523-PHX-GMS ORDER 15 Movant Webster W. Norris, III, who is confined in the Federal Correctional 16 Institution-Herlong in Herlong, California, has filed a pro se Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or 17 Correct Conviction and Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 18 § 2255 . The Court will deny the Motion with leave to amend. 19 I. Failure to Use the Court-Approved Form 20 The Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts 21 allow the Court, by local rule, to prescribe a form to be used for filing a § 2255 motion. See 22 Rule 2(c), Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings, foll. 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Under this 23 Court’s local rule, Movant must use the court-approved form when filing a pro se motion 24 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See LRCiv 3.5(a). Movant has not used the court-approved 25 form. 26 The Court may, in its discretion, forgo the requirement that a movant use a court- 27 approved form. See LRCiv 3.5(a). The Court will require use of the court-approved form. 28 Therefore, the Motion will be denied with leave to file an amended motion within 30 days. JDDL Dockets.Justia.com 1 II. Failure to Allege a Constitutional Violation 2 A motion filed pursuant to § 2255 is for a person “claiming the right to be released 3 upon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the 4 United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the 5 sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to 6 collateral attack.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Movant does not allege that his conviction or sentence 7 violated the Constitution or laws of the United States, that the Court was without jurisdiction 8 to impose the sentence, or that his sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law. 9 III. Leave to Amend 10 Within 30 days, Movant may submit an amended motion on the court-approved form. 11 The Clerk of Court will mail Movant a court-approved form to use for filing an amended 12 motion. Movant must submit the amended motion on the court-approved form and sign it 13 under penalty of perjury. If Movant fails to file an amended motion within 30 days from the 14 date of filing of this Order, the Court will dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice 15 to Movant. If Movant fails to use the court-approved form, the Court may strike the 16 amended motion and dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice to Movant. 17 Movant must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is an “Amended 18 Motion.” The amended motion must be retyped or rewritten in its entirety on a court- 19 approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original Motion by reference. 20 Movant must describe each ground for relief and the facts supporting each ground. 21 22 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 23 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will treat an original motion as nonexistent. 24 Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any ground for relief that was raised in the original Motion is 25 waived if it is not raised in an amended motion. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th 26 Cir. 1987). 27 ... 28 JDDL An amended motion supersedes an original motion. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d ... -2- 1 IV. Motion for Recusal 2 On January 12, 2012, Movant filed a Motion for Recusal (Doc. 3). A motion to recuse 3 a judge, whether it is based on 28 U.S.C. § 455(a), 28 U.S.C. §455(b)(1) or 28 U.S.C. § 144, 4 must demonstrate that any alleged bias or impartiality stems from extrajudicial conduct, i.e., 5 a litigant may not seek recusal based on a prior adverse ruling in the case. See Hasbrouck v. 6 Texaco, Inc., 830 F.2d 1513 (9th Cir. 1987) (citing In re Beverly Hills Bancorp, 752 F.2d 7 1334, 1341 (9th Cir. 1984)) (28 U.S.C. § 455(a) and (b)(1)); United States v. Studley, 783 8 F.2d 934, 939 (9th Cir. 1986) (same); United States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 583 9 (1966) (28 U.S.C. § 144). 10 Movant states that he “believes the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning 11 a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceedings.” 12 However, Movant offers no factual allegations to support this claim. Moveover, the 13 undersigned judge did not preside over Movant’s criminal trial.1 Although Plaintiff does not 14 specify which judge he wishes to have recused, it appears that Movant’s request for recusal 15 is moot. The Court will deny the Motion. 16 V. Warnings 17 A. Address Changes 18 Movant must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 19 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Movant must not include a motion for other 20 relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this 21 § 2255 action. 22 B. Copies 23 Movant must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See 24 LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the filing being stricken 25 without further notice to Movant. 26 27 28 JDDL 1 This case, which was originally assigned to then United States District Judge Mary Murguia, was randomly assigned to the undersigned Judge after Judge Murguia’s elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. -3- 1 C. Possible Dismissal 2 If Movant fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these 3 warnings, the Court may dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 4 F.2d at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order 5 of the Court). 6 IT IS ORDERED: 7 (1) 8 9 Movant’s Motion for Recusal (Doc. 3 in CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV)) is denied. (2) Movant’s “Motion for Time Reduction by an Inmate in Federal Custody, (28 10 U.S.C. § 2255)” (Doc. 1 in CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV)) is denied with leave to amend. 11 Movant has 30 days from the date of filing of this Order to file an amended motion in 12 compliance with this Order. 13 (3) If Movant fails to file an amended motion within 30 days, the Clerk of Court 14 must, without further notice, terminate Document 131 in CR 08-1523-PHX-GMS and enter 15 a judgment of dismissal of the civil action opened in connection with this § 2255 action 16 (CV 12-077-PHX-GMS (ECV)), without prejudice. 17 (4) The Clerk of Court must mail Movant a court-approved form for filing a 18 Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence By a Person in Federal Custody (28 U.S.C. 19 § 2255). 20 DATED this 27th day of February, 2012. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 JDDL -4- Instructions for Filing a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255) in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona 1. Who May Use This Form. To use this form, you must be a person who is serving a sentence under a judgment against you in a federal court. You also may use this form to challenge a federal judgment that imposed a sentence to be served in the future. You are asking for relief from the conviction or the sentence. This form is your motion for relief. In this motion, you may challenge only one judgment. If you want to challenge more than one judgment, you must file a separate motion for each judgment. This form should not be used in death penalty cases. If you were sentenced to death, you are entitled to the assistance of counsel and you should request the appointment of counsel. 2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.5(a) requires that motions to vacate must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or neatly handwritten. All questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If needed, you may attach additional pages. The form, however, must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. You do not need to cite law. If you want to file a brief or arguments, you must attach a separate memorandum. 3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury. 4. No Filing Fee. No fee is required with this motion. 5. Original and Judge’s Copy. You must send an original and one copy of your motion and of any other document submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten. 6. Where to File. You must file the form in the United States District Court that entered the judgment that you are challenging. When you have completed the form, mail the original and one copy to the Clerk of the United States District Court at the division where you were sentenced: OR Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130 401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson Division: U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500 405 West Congress Street Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010 7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and respondents in writing of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case. Revised 3/9/07 1 8. Certificate of Service. You must provide the respondent with a copy of any document you submit to the Court (except the initial motion to vacate). Each original document (except the initial motion to vacate) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the respondent and the address to which it was mailed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not include a certificate of service may be stricken. A certificate of service should be in the following form: I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed this (month, day, year) to: Name: Address: Attorney for Respondent (Signature) 9. Amended Motion to Vacate. If you need to change any of the information in the initial motion to vacate, you must file an amended motion. The amended motion must be written on the court-approved motion to vacate form. You may file one amended motion without leave (permission) of Court before the respondent has answered your original motion to vacate. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). After the respondent has filed an answer, you must file a motion for leave to amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended motion to vacate. LRCiv 15.1. An amended motion may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior motion. LRCiv 15.1(a)(2). Any grounds not included in the amended motion to vacate are considered dismissed. 10. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written pleading or motion. 11. Grounds for Relief. You must raise all grounds for relief that relate to this conviction or sentence. Any grounds not raised in this motion will likely be barred from being raised at a later date. FINAL NOTE You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your motion being stricken or dismissed by the Court. All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the motion is being continued and number all pages. 2 Name and Prisoner/Booking Number Place of Confinement Mailing Address City, State, Zip Code (Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.) IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA United States of America, Plaintiff, vs. (Full name of Movant. Include the name under which you were convicted.) Defendant/Movant. ) ) ) ) ) ) , ) ) ) ) ) ) No. CR (Enter your criminal case number) No. CV (To be supplied by the Clerk) MOTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 TO VACATE, SET ASIDE OR CORRECT SENTENCE BY A PERSON IN FEDERAL CUSTODY 1. (a) Name and location of court that entered the judgment of conviction you are challenging: (b) Criminal docket or case number: 2. Date of judgment of conviction: 3. In this case, were you convicted on more than one count or crime? Yes G No G 4. Identify all counts and crimes for which you were convicted and sentenced in this case: Revised 3/9/07 1 510 5. Length of sentence for each count or crime for which you were convicted in this case: 6. (a) What was your plea? Not guilty Guilty Nolo contendere (no contest) G G G (b) If you entered a guilty plea to one count or charge, and a not guilty plea to another count or charge, give details: Jury G (c) If you went to trial, what kind of trial did you have? (Check one) Yes G 7. Did you appeal from the judgment of conviction? Judge only G No G If yes, answer the following: (a) Date you filed: (b) Docket or case number: (c) Result: (d) Date of result: (e) Grounds raised: Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court. 8. Did you file a petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court? If yes, answer the following: (a) Date you filed: 2 Yes G No G (b) Docket or case number: (c) Result: (d) Date of result: (e) Grounds raised: Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court. 9. Other than the direct appeals listed above, have you filed any other petitions, applications or motions concerning this judgment of conviction in any court? Yes G No G If yes, answer the following: (a) First petition, application or motion. (1) Date you filed: (2) Name of court: (3) Nature of the proceeding: (4) Docket or case number: (5) Result: (6) Date of result: (7) Grounds raised: Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court. (b) Second petition, application or motion. (1) Date you filed: 3 (2) Name of court: (3) Nature of the proceeding: (4) Docket or case number: (5) Result: (6) Date of result: (7) Grounds raised: Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court. (c) Did you appeal the action taken on your petition, application or motion? Yes G No G (2) Second petition: Yes G No G (1) First petition: (d) If you did not appeal from the action your petition, application or motion, explain why you did not: 12. For this motion, beginning on the next page, state every ground on which you claim that you are being held in violation of the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. Attach additional pages if you have more than four grounds. State the facts supporting each ground. CAUTION: If you fail to set forth all the grounds in this motion, you may be barred from presenting additional grounds at a later date. 4 GROUND ONE: (a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.): (b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground One to the court of appeals? (c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 5 Yes G No G GROUND TWO: (a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.): (b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Two to the court of appeals? (c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 6 Yes G No G GROUND THREE: (a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.): (b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Three to the court of appeals? (c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 7 Yes G No G GROUND FOUR: (a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.): (b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Four to the court of appeals? (c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 8 Yes G No G Please answer these additional questions about this motion: 13. Do you have any motion, petition, or appeal now pending (filed and not decided yet) in any court for the judgment you are challenging? Yes G No G If yes, give the date of filing, the name and location of the court, the docket or case number, the type of proceeding, and the issues raised: 14. Do you have any future sentence to serve after you complete the sentence imposed by the judgment you are challenging? Yes G No G If yes, answer the following: (a) Name and location of the court that imposed the sentence to be served in the future: (b) Date the sentence was imposed: (c) Length of the sentence: (d) Have you filed, or do you plan to file, any motion, petition or application that challenges the judgment or sentence to be served in the future? Yes G No G 15. TIMELINESS OF MOTION: If your judgment of conviction challenged in this motion became final more than one year ago, you must explain why the one-year statute of limitations in 28 U.S.C. § 2255 does not bar your motion.* *Section 2255 provides in part that: A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to a motion under this section. The limitation period shall run from the latest of — (1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final; 9 (2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the movant was prevented from making such a motion by such governmental action; (3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or (4) the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence. 16. Movant asks that the Court grant the following relief: or any other relief to which Movant may be entitled. (Money damages are not available in § 2255 cases.) I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct and that this Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 was placed in the prison mailing system on (month, day, year). Signature of Movant Signature of attorney, if any Date 10
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