Opinion
Civil Action 23-2258 (KMW)
08-14-2023
GILBERTO ANZO GUTIERREZ, Petitioner, v. WARDEN, FCI FORT DIX, Respondent.
MEMORANDUM ORDER
Hon. Karen M. Williams United States District Judge
This matter comes before the Court on Petitioner Gilberto Anzo Gutierrez's petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1.) Following an order to answer, the Government filed a response to the petition (ECF No, 5). Petitioner did not file a reply. (ECF Docket Sheet) By way of background, in his petition, Petitioner sought to be declared eligible for and to ultimately receive good time credits under the First Step Act. (ECF No. 1 at 9-11.)
In its response to Petitioner's habeas petition, the Government filed a letter in which it informs the Court that Petitioner has been declared eligible for First Step Act credits and has been awarded the appropriate number of FSA credits available 240 days worth, (ECF No. 5 at 1 -2.) As such, the Government contends that this matter has become moot as Petitioner has received the relief he sought and no longer has a concrete injury sufficient to continue with this matter. (Id.) Petitioner did not file any opposition to the Government's request, nor has he filed a reply. (ECF Docket Sheet.)
Under Article III of the Constitution, federal courts will only have jurisdiction over a matter where there is a live case or controversy to be resolved. See, e.g., Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 7 (1998). “This case-or-controversy requirement subsists through all stages of federal judicial proceedings [and for jurisdiction to exist the] parties must continue to have a ‘personal stake in the outcome of the lawsuit.'” Id. (quoting Lewis v, Continental Bank Corp., 494 U.S. 472, 477-78 (1990)). Thus, where events provide a petitioner with the relief he sought and render a habeas petition incapable of providing meaningful relief, that petition must be dismissed as moot. See, e..g., Rodney v. Mukasey, 340 Fed.Appx. 761, 764 (3d Cir. 2009); Nunes v. Decker, 480 Fed.Appx. 173,175 (3d Cir. 2012); Sanchez v. Att'y Gen., 146 Fed.Appx. 547, 549 (3d Cir. 2005).
In this matter, Petitioner sought only to be made eligible for and to receive credits under the First Step Act. The documents and certifications the Government has provided (ECF No. 5-1) clearly show that Petitioner has now been declared eligible for those credits and has received 240 days of FSA credits. Petitioner does not dispute that this calculation is correct, nor has he presented any argument to suggest that there remains any live case or controversy to be resolved in this matter. As Petitioner has now received the ultimate relief he sought in the form of FSA credits, this Court no longer has any meaningfill opportunity to provide Petitioner with relief. His petition is therefore moot, and shall be dismissed as such.
IT IS THEREFORE on this 14th day of August, 2023, ORDERED that Petitioner's habeas petition (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE as moot; and it is finally
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon the Government electronically and upon Petitioner by regular mail, and shall CLOSE the file.