In Re: Sherman Fields, No. 16-50521 (5th Cir. 2016)
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Movant seeks authorization to file a successive 28 U.S.C. 2255 motion pursuant to Johnson v. United States. Movant seeks application of Johnson to the differently worded "crime of violence" definition in 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(3)(B). The court concluded that, although Johnson announced a new rule of constitutional law that has been made retroactive by the Supreme Court to cases on collateral review, it did not address section 924(c)(3)(B). Even if Johnson does apply to that provision, the Supreme Court has not addressed whether this arguably new rule of criminal procedure applies retroactively to cases on collateral review. Consequently, movant has not demonstrated that he is entitled to authorization to proceed based on Johnson. The court denied the motion for authorization.
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Case: 16-50521 Document: 00513552854 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/17/2016 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit No. 16-50521 In re: SHERMAN LAMONT FIELDS, FILED June 17, 2016 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Movant Motion for an order authorizing the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to consider a successive 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion Before JONES, SMITH, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Sherman Fields, a federal death row prisoner, moves for authorization to file a successive 28 U.S.C § 2255 motion. He may file a successive motion if he makes a prima facie showing that his motion “contain[s]” either “newly discovered evidence that . . . would be sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable factfinder would have found the movant guilty,” or “a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously unavailable.” § 2255(h); Reyes-Requena v. United States, 243 F.3d 893, 897–98 (5th Cir. 2001). Fields was convicted on seven counts, including three under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), one of which carried the death penalty. Section 924(c)(3)(B) states: (3) For purposes of this subsection the term “crime of violence” means an offense that is a felony and Case: 16-50521 Document: 00513552854 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/17/2016 No. 16-50521 .... (B) that by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(B). In Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551, 2555– 57, 2563 (2015), the Supreme Court held that the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), was unconstitutionally vague. Fields seeks application of Johnson to the differently worded “crime of violence” definition quoted above. Johnson announced a new rule of constitutional law that has been made retroactive by the Supreme Court to cases on collateral review. Welch v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 1257, 1264–65 (2016). However, Johnson did not address section 924(c)(3)(B). Moreover, courts of appeals are split on whether to grant permission to file a successive 2255 petition based on the argument that Johnson applies to section 924(c)(3)(B). Compare Berry v. United States, No. 16-71332 (9th Cir. June 2, 2016) (per curiam) (granting permission to file a successive motion); In re Pinder, No. 16-12084, 2016 WL 3081954, at *2 (11th Cir. June 1, 2016) (per curiam) (same); In re Chapman, No. 16-246 (4th Cir. May 3, 2016) (per curiam) (same); Ruiz v. United States, No. 16-1193 (7th Cir. Feb. 19, 2016) (per curiam) (same); Freeman v. United States, No. 15-3687 (2d Cir. Jan. 26, 2016) (per curiam) (same), with Turner v. United States, No. 161145 (1st Cir. May 4, 2016) (per curiam) (denying permission to file a successive motion). This disagreement among lower court judges demonstrates that the Supreme Court has not taken a position on whether Johnson applies to section 924(c)(3)(B). Further, even if Johnson does apply to that provision, the Supreme Court has not addressed whether this arguably new rule of criminal procedure applies retroactively to cases on collateral 2 Case: 16-50521 Document: 00513552854 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/17/2016 No. 16-50521 review. Fields has therefore not demonstrated that he is entitled to authorization to proceed based on Johnson. IT IS ORDERED that Fields’s motion for authorization is DENIED. 3
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