Opinion
Case No. 8:13-mc-98-T-30AEP
12-06-2013
CALVIN BOLDEN, Petitioner, v. MICHAEL D. CREWS, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, Respondent.
ORDER
Calvin Bolden, a prisoner incarcerated at Avon Park Correctional Institution, Avon Park, Florida, initiated this cause, pro se, by filing a Motion for Extension of Time (Dkt. 1) in which Bolden requests the Court grant him a 45 day extension of time within which to file a petition for the writ of habeas corpus.
Bolden failed to file any underlying pleading, complaint, or petition. Rule 3, Fed. R. Civ. P., provides that "[a] civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court." Local Rule 1.03(c) (M.D. Fla.) provides, in pertinent part, that "[n]o application for any order of court shall be made until the case or controversy in which the matter arises has been docketed and assigned by the Clerk as prescribed by subsection (b) of this rule. . . ."
And, because Petitioner has not filed a federal habeas petition challenging his confinement, and there are no adverse parties and no disputes for the Court to adjudicate, Petitioner essentially seeks an advisory opinion regarding the timeliness of a federal habeas petition that he may file in the future. This Court lacks authority to render advisory opinions. See Preiser v. Newkirk, 422 U.S. 395, 401 (1975) ("The exercise of judicial power under Art. III of the Constitution depends on the existence of a case or controversy. . .a federal court [lacks] the power to render advisory opinions. . . .") (internal citation omitted). See also United States v. Leon, 203 F.3d 162, 163 (2d Cir. 2000) (holding that a federal court lacks jurisdiction to consider a motion to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 when no such petition has actually been filed, "because there is no 'case' or 'controversy' within the meaning of Article III of the Constitution.").
ACCORDINGLY, the Court ORDERS that:
1. This case is DISMISSED without prejudice to Petitioner filing a petition for the writ of habeas corpus.
2. The Clerk of Court shall forward the court-approved form used to initiate a § 2254 case and one Affidavit of Indigency form with Petitioner's copy of this Order.
3. The Clerk of Court shall close this case.
DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida on December 6, 2013.
_________________
JAMES S. MOODY, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SA: sfc
Copy to: Calvin Bolden