Filed: May 19, 2017
Latest Update: May 19, 2017
Summary: ORDER FRANK D. WHITNEY , Chief District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court upon court-appointed counsel's Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (Doc. No. 8) and Motion to Seal (Doc. No. 9). The Court will grant the Motion to Seal the Amended Motion to Withdraw because the latter discloses privileged attorney-client communications. Additionally, the Court finds that, in accordance with the Western District of North Carolina's Local Civil Rule 83.1(f), counsel has shown good cause to w
Summary: ORDER FRANK D. WHITNEY , Chief District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court upon court-appointed counsel's Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (Doc. No. 8) and Motion to Seal (Doc. No. 9). The Court will grant the Motion to Seal the Amended Motion to Withdraw because the latter discloses privileged attorney-client communications. Additionally, the Court finds that, in accordance with the Western District of North Carolina's Local Civil Rule 83.1(f), counsel has shown good cause to wi..
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ORDER
FRANK D. WHITNEY, Chief District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court upon court-appointed counsel's Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (Doc. No. 8) and Motion to Seal (Doc. No. 9). The Court will grant the Motion to Seal the Amended Motion to Withdraw because the latter discloses privileged attorney-client communications. Additionally, the Court finds that, in accordance with the Western District of North Carolina's Local Civil Rule 83.1(f), counsel has shown good cause to withdraw. Accordingly, the Court will grant the Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel.
The Government has filed a Motion to Dismiss Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence, 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (Doc. No. 5.) The Government contends Petitioner's claim that his sentence under the career-offender provision of the United States Sentencing Guidelines is invalid under United States v. Johnson, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015), is foreclosed by the Supreme Court's more recent decision in Beckles v. United States, 137 S.Ct. 886 (2017). In Beckles, the Supreme Court held that the "the advisory [Sentencing] Guidelines are not subject to vagueness challenges under the Due Process Clause." Id. at 890. As Petitioner is now proceeding without counsel, the Court shall provide him notice of his rights and obligations related to the Government's Motion to Dismiss and of his opportunity to take a voluntary dismissal without prejudice.
I. Roseboro Notice
Petitioner may respond to the Government's Motion to Dismiss, if he so wishes. See Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975). Any response must be filed with the Court within 30 days of the issuance of this Order. Petitioner must also mail a copy of his response to counsel for the Government. Failure to respond or take other action (as discussed below) may result in the Court granting the Government's Motion to Dismiss without further notice.
II. Voluntary Dismissal
Because the Government has filed a motion to dismiss rather than a response to the Motion to Vacate, Petitioner may voluntarily dismiss his § 2255 Motion without prejudice by filing a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal in this Court under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1 A Notice of Voluntary Dismissal would end this case without the Court reaching the merits of the Motion to Vacate or the Government's Motion to Dismiss. See Jackson v. United States, 245 F. App'x. 258 (4th Cir. 2007).
An unfavorable decision on the merits of the Motion to Vacate or Motion to Dismiss would mean any later attempt by Petitioner to obtain habeas relief in federal district court would be considered a "second or successive" habeas action. A petitioner is prohibited from filing a "second or "successive" habeas action in federal district court without first obtaining permission from the Court of Appeals. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 2244(b)(3)(A) and 2255(h). Once this Court enters a judgment in this case, Petitioner will no longer have the option to file a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal.
III. Order
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (Doc. No. 8) is GRANTED;
2. The Motion to Seal the Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (Doc. No. 9) is GRANTED;
3. Counsel is relieved from further representation of Petitioner in this action;
4. Petitioner shall have 30 days from entrance of this Order to file a response to the Government's Motion to Dismiss; and
5. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of the Government's Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 5), along with a copy of this Order, to Petitioner at his place of confinement.