Opinion
No. 77-1834. Summary Calendar.
Rule 18, 5 Cir.; see Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York et al., 5 Cir., 1970, 431 F.2d 409, Part I.
January 10, 1978. Rehearing Denied February 6, 1978.
Robert J. Littlefield (court appointed), Decatur, Ga., for petitioner-appellant.
Arthur K. Bolton, Atty. Gen., B. Dean Grindle, Jr., John C. Walden, Asst. Attys. Gen., Atlanta, Ga., for respondent-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Before COLEMAN, GODBOLD, and TJOFLAT, Circuit Judges.
Since the district court has not ruled on the appellant's motion for a certificate of probable cause, this appeal was improvidently docketed. Lacking such certificate, this Court is without jurisdiction to consider the appeal. Rule 22(b), Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure; 28 U.S.C. § 2253; Welch v. Texas Board of Parole and Pardon, 5 Cir. 1972, 460 F.2d 298; Hines v. Pitcher, 5 Cir. 1971, 440 F.2d 792. This Court may not make the initial determination of whether a certificate of probable cause should be granted. Lee v. Washington Parish, 5 Cir. 1973, 476 F.2d 285; Stewart v. Beto, 5 Cir. 1971, 451 F.2d 185. Therefore, the appeal is dismissed without prejudice and the cause remanded to allow the district court to rule upon appellant's motion for a certificate of probable cause.
DISMISSED and REMANDED.