Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO.: 2:16-cv-18
05-13-2016
JEFFERSON L. BIVINGS, Petitioner, v. J.V. FLOURNOY, Respondent.
ORDER and MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner Jefferson Bivings ("Bivings"), who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup, Georgia, filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (Doc. 1.) Respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss, (doc. 7). For the reasons which follow, I RECOMMEND that the Court GRANT Respondent's Motion to Dismiss, DISMISS Bivings' Section 2241 Petition, CLOSE this case, and DENY Bivings in forma pauperis status on appeal.
BACKGROUND
Bivings was convicted in the Eastern District of Tennessee of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. (Doc. 7-1, pp. 3, 12; Doc. 7-3.) Bivings qualified as a career offender under the Sentencing Guidelines based on his prior drug convictions and was subject to a sentence of 262 to 327 months' imprisonment based on the advisory Guidelines range. (Doc. 7, p. 2.) He was sentenced to 200 months' imprisonment after the sentencing court granted the government's motion for downward departure based on Bivings' substantial assistance. (Id.) Bivings did not file a direct appeal.
Bivings recently filed a motion for sentence reduction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), which the trial court denied. Order, United States v. Bivings, 3:06cr147-9 (E.D. Tenn. Apr. 22, 2016), ECF No. 439. Bivings also has filed a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 based on the same arguments he makes in this Petition, and that motion is currently pending. Mot., United States v. Bivings, 3:06cr147-9 (E.D. Tenn. Apr. 14, 2016), ECF No. 437.
Bivings filed a notice of change of address in his criminal case, but he neglected to do so in this case. Not., United States v. Bivings, 3:06cr147-9 (E.D. Tenn. Apr. 14, 2016), ECF No. 438.
DISCUSSION
In his current Petition, Bivings contends his enhanced sentence under the career offender provision of the Sentencing Guidelines can no longer stand, in light of the United States Supreme Court's decision in Johnson v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (June 26, 2015). (Doc. 1, p. 2.) Bivings asserts that the Supreme Court struck down the language in the Armed Career Criminal Act's ("ACCA") residual clause as void for vagueness, and that Act's language is identical to the language found in the residual clause of the career offender provision of the Guidelines. (Id. at pp. 2-3.) Bivings claims he is entitled to relief pursuant to Johnson. (Id. at p. 3.)
The ACCA "defines 'violent felony' as follows: 'any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year . . . that—'(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or (ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.' § 924(e)(2)(B) (emphasis added). The closing words of this definition, italicized above, have come to be known as the Act's residual clause." Johnson, ___ U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 2555-56.
Respondent argues Bivings cannot proceed under Section 2241 in this Court because he cannot satisfy Section 2255(e)'s savings clause, as he has the ability to file a first Section 2255 motion in the Eastern District of Tennessee. (Doc. 7, pp. 3-4.) Alternatively, Respondent contends that, even if this Court had jurisdiction over Bivings' claims, those claims would fail. (Id. at p. 5.)
I. Whether Bivings can Proceed Pursuant to Section 2241
Section 2241 habeas corpus petitions "'are generally reserved for challenges to the execution of a sentence or the nature of confinement, not the validity of the sentence itself or the fact of confinement.'" Vieux v. Warden, 616 F. App'x 891, 896 (11th Cir. 2015) (quoting Bryant v. Warden, FCC Coleman-Medium, 738 F.3d 1253, 1288 (11th Cir. 2013) (emphasis omitted)). Ordinarily, an action in which an individual seeks to collaterally attack "the validity of a federal sentence must be brought under § 2255," in the district of conviction. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a); Turner v. Warden Coleman FCI (Medium), 709 F.3d 1328, 1333 (11th Cir. 2013).
Rather than filing a Section 2255 motion, Bivings filed this petition for habeas corpus relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. To utilize Section 2241 to attack the validity of a federal sentence or conviction, a petitioner must show that the remedy afforded under Section 2255 is "inadequate or ineffective" to challenge the validity of a conviction and/or sentence. Taylor v. Warden, FCI Marianna, 557 F. App'x 911, 913 (11th Cir. 2014). 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e) expressly limits the circumstances under which a Section 2241 petition may be filed.
As noted above, Bivings has since filed a Section 2255 motion in the district of his conviction.
Under Section 2255(e)'s "savings clause," a prisoner may file a Section 2241 petition if an otherwise available remedy under Section 2255 is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention. Specifically, Section 2255(e) provides:
An application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motion pursuant to this section, shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless
it also appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.28 U.S. C. § 2255(e) (emphasis added). The above-emphasized portion of Section 2255(e) is referred to as the "savings clause."
In Bryant, the Eleventh Circuit articulated the requirements a petitioner must meet in order to proceed under the savings clause with a Section 2241 petition that raises sentencing claims. 738 F.3d 1253. The petitioner must establish that: (1) binding circuit precedent squarely foreclosed the claim "throughout his sentence, direct appeal, and first § 2255 proceeding"; (2) "subsequent to his first 2255 proceeding," a Supreme Court decision overturned that circuit precedent; (3) the rule announced in that Supreme Court decision applies retroactively on collateral review; (4) as a result of the new rule, the petitioner's current sentence exceeds the statutory maximum penalty authorized by Congress; and (5) the savings clause reaches the petitioner's claim. Bryant, 738 F.3d at 1274 (synthesizing the savings clause tests discussed in Wofford v. Scott, 177 F.3d 1236 (11th Cir. 1999); Gilbert v. United States, 640 F.3d 1293 (11th Cir. 2011); and Williams v. Warden, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 713 F.3d 1332, 1343 (11th Cir. 2013)); see also Jeanty v. Warden, 757 F.3d 1283, 1285 (11th Cir. 2014); Mackey v. Warden, FCC Coleman, 739 F.3d 657, 661-62 (11th Cir. 2014) (approving the Bryant test factors and concluding that petitioner had satisfied all prongs thereof).
A petitioner must satisfy all five of these requirements to obtain relief. Bryant, 738 F.3d at 1274. This threshold showing is a jurisdictional requirement, and where it is absent, federal courts lack authority to consider the merits of a petitioner's Section 2241 claims. Williams, 713 F.3d at 1338; Daniels v. Warden, FCC Coleman, 538 F. App'x 850, 852 (11th Cir. 2013) ("[A] petitioner may not argue the merits of his claim until he has 'open[ed] the portal' to a § 2241 proceeding by demonstrating that the savings clause applies to his claim."). Moreover, "[t]he petitioner bears the burden of coming forward with evidence affirmatively showing the inadequacy or ineffectiveness of the § 2255 remedy." Smith v. Warden, FCC Coleman-Low, 503 F. App'x 763, 765 (11th Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). "A petitioner may not argue the merits of his claim until he has opened the portal to a § 2241 proceeding by demonstrating that the savings clause of § 2255(e) applies to his claim." Id. (citation omitted).
As noted above, Bivings relies upon the Supreme Court's decision in Johnson to support his savings clause argument. In Johnson, the Supreme Court held that "imposing an increased sentence under the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act violates the Constitution's guarantee of due process[.]" ___ U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. 2551, 2563. However, the Court also emphasized that its "decision does not call into question application of the Act to the four enumerated offenses, or the remainder of the Act's definition of a violent felony." Id.
The Court notes Bivings does not assert he is proceeding under the savings clause of Section 2255. However, using the savings clause is the only way Bivings could have to potentially use Section 2241 to reach his claims.
Bivings' Johnson claims do not satisfy the Bryant factors because he cannot show that the savings clause reaches those claims. Specifically, the remedy afforded by Section 2255 is not inadequate or ineffective to raise these claims. Bivings has a remedy under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to file a Section 2255 motion in the Eastern District of Tennessee. On this front, the Court notes that the United States Supreme Court recently decided in Welch v. United States, ___ U.S. ___ 2016 WL 1551144 (Apr. 18, 2016), that Johnson applies retroactively to cases on collateral review. While the Sixth Circuit has not spoken to this issue, the Eleventh Circuit has already recognized Welch's holding and Johnson's application to cases on collateral review. In re Robinson, ___ F.3d ___, No. 16-11304, 2016 WL 1583616 (11th Cir. Apr. 19, 2016).
Additionally, a Section 2255 motion is not "inadequate or ineffective" under the savings clause merely because Bivings may be unable to comply with procedural restrictions. Jones v. Warden, FCC Coleman Medium, 520 F. App'x 942, 945 (11th Cir. 2013) (noting the mere fact that a Section 2255 motion is procedurally barred does not make that Section's remedy inadequate or ineffective); see also Hill v. Morrison, 349 F.3d 1089, 1091 (8th Cir. 2003) (stating a petitioner "has the burden of demonstrating Section 2255's relief" is 'unavailable or ineffective[ ]', and to do so, there must be more than a procedural barrier to bringing a Section 2255 motion. . . . This court has held a § 2255 motion is not 'inadequate or ineffective' merely because '§ 2255 relief has already been denied[ ]'") (internal citations omitted)). The fact that Bivings' claims could be barred by the statute of limitations does not satisfy Section 2255(e)'s savings clause. Jones, 520 F. App'x at 945. Rather, "[w]hat makes the § 2255 proceeding 'inadequate or ineffective' for [a petitioner] is that he had no 'genuine opportunity' to raise his claim in the context of a § 2255 motion." Zelaya v. Sec'y, Fla. Dep't of Corr., 798 F.3d 1360, 1370 (11th Cir. 2015). Since Bivings has available to him the ability to proceed with his first Section 2255 motion, which he has now done, he cannot show that Section 2255's remedy is "inadequate or ineffective" to challenge his sentence. Mays v. United States, ___ F.3d ___, No. 14-13477, 2016 WL 1211420, at *1 (11th Cir. Mar. 29, 2016) (holding that Johnson applies retroactively in the first post-conviction context, reversing the district court's denial of defendant's motion, and remanding for resentencing).
For all of these reasons, Bivings has not satisfied the requirements of Section 2255(e)'s savings clause. Consequently, he cannot "open the portal" to argue the merits of his Section 2241claim. Dean v. McFadden, 133 F. App'x 640, 642 (11th Cir. 2005).
Because the Court need not address the relative merits of Bivings' claims due to his failure to satisfy the savings clause, the Court will not discuss whether Bivings' previous convictions fall within the career offender provision of the Sentencing Guidelines. --------
Bivings is reminded that the filing of Section 2255 motions is governed by a statute of limitations period, and of particular significance is Section 2255(f)(3). "It is important to note that 28 U.S.C. 2255(f)(3) requires that a § 2255 motion relying on a newly-recognized right must be filed within one year from 'the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court[.]'" King v. Werlich, No. 16-CV-300-DRH-CJP, 2016 WL 1583936, at *3 (S.D. Ill. Apr. 20, 2016) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(3)). Johnson was decided by the Supreme Court on June 26, 2015. "Further, the one-year period prescribed by 2255(f)(3) runs from the date of the Supreme Court's ruling initially recognizing the right asserted[ ] and not from the date the newly recognized right was found to be retroactive." Id. (emphasis in original) (citing Dodd v. United States, 545 U.S. 353, 358 (2005)).
However, the Court makes no comment on the efficacy of any argument that Johnson applies to a defendant's claim in a Section 2255 motion that a sentence based on the residual clause of the career offender provision of the Sentencing Guidelines (rather than the residual clause of the ACCA) is unconstitutional. See United States v. Matchett, 802 F.3d 1185, 1189 (11th Cir. 2015) (rejecting the argument that the definition of "crime of violence" in the Sentencing Guidelines is unconstitutionally vague in light of Johnson, as the vagueness doctrine "applies only to laws that prohibit conduct and fix punishments, not advisory guidelines[ ]"); see also Lynn v. United States, Nos. 3:15-CV-571, 3:09-CR-77, 2016 WL 1258487, at *1 n.1 (E.D. Tenn. Mar. 30, 2016) (stating Johnson's effect on the residual clause of the career offender provision of the Guidelines is "doubtful" and quoting United States v. Smith, 73 F.3d 1414, 1417-18 (6th Cir. 1996) ("[T]he Sentencing Guidelines are not subject to a vagueness challenge.")); but see Lucas v. United States, CIV. 15-5082-JLV, 2016 WL 552471, *3 (D.S.D. Feb. 10, 2016) (noting the "nearly identical language and interpretation of the residual clauses of the ACCA and the sentencing guideline," and finding the residual clause of the career offender provision to be unconstitutionally vague).
Based on these reasons, I RECOMMEND the Court GRANT Respondent's Motion to Dismiss and DISMISS Bivings' Section 2241 Petition. II. Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis
The Court should also deny Bivings leave to appeal in forma pauperis. Though Bivings has, of course, not yet filed a notice of appeal, it would be appropriate to address these issues in the Court's order of dismissal. Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3) (trial court may certify that appeal of party proceeding in forma pauperis is not taken in good faith "before or after the notice of appeal is filed"). An appeal cannot be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3). Good faith in this context must be judged by an objective standard. Busch v. Cty. of Volusia, 189 F.R.D. 687, 691 (M.D. Fla. 1999). A party does not proceed in good faith when he seeks to advance a frivolous claim or argument. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). A claim or argument is frivolous when it appears the factual allegations are clearly baseless or the legal theories are indisputably meritless. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 (1989); Carroll v. Gross, 984 F.2d 392, 393 (11th Cir. 1993). Stated another way, an in forma pauperis action is frivolous and, thus, not brought in good faith, if it is "without arguable merit either in law or fact." Napier v. Preslicka, 314 F.3d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 2002); see also Brown v. United States, Nos. 407CV085, 403CR001, 2009 WL 307872, at *1-2 (S.D. Ga. Feb. 9, 2009).
Based on the above analysis of Bivings's Petition and the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss, there are no non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal, and an appeal would not be taken in good faith. Thus, the Court should DENY in forma pauperis status on appeal.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, I RECOMMEND that the Court GRANT Respondent's Motion to Dismiss, (doc. 7), DISMISS Bivings' Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, (doc. 1), CLOSE this case, and DENY Bivings leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
The Court ORDERS any party seeking to object to this Report and Recommendation to file specific written objections within fourteen (14) days of the date on which this Report and Recommendation is entered. Any objections asserting that the Magistrate Judge failed to address any contention raised in the pleading must also be included. Failure to do so will bar any later challenge or review of the factual findings or legal conclusions of the Magistrate Judge. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985). A copy of the objections must be served upon all other parties to the action. The filing of objections is not a proper vehicle through which to make new allegations or present additional evidence.
Upon receipt of objections meeting the specificity requirement set out above, a United States District Judge will make a de novo determination of those portions of the report, proposed findings, or recommendation to which objection is made and may accept, reject, or modify in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the Magistrate Judge. Objections not meeting the specificity requirement set out above will not be considered by a District Judge. A party may not appeal a Magistrate Judge's report and recommendation directly to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Appeals may be made only from a final judgment entered by or at the direction of a District Judge. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to serve a copy of this Report and Recommendation upon Bivings and Respondent.
SO ORDERED and REPORTED and RECOMMENDED, this 13th day of May, 2016.
/s/_________
R. STAN BAKER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA