Opinion
Civil Action 7:22cv00115
07-29-2022
LEON JOHNSON, Petitioner, v. J. C. STREEVAL, Respondent.
ORDER STAYING CASE
Elizabeth K. Dillon, United States District Judge
Leon Johnson, a federal inmate proceeding pro se, filed this action as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Respondent was ordered to respond but has moved to stay the case pending the Supreme Court's decision on a threshold legal question. (Dkt. No. 4.) Johnson has filed a response in opposition to the motion to stay (Dkt. No. 9), which the court also has considered. For the reasons set forth below, the court concludes that the motion to stay should be granted.
In his petition, Johnson argues that, after his direct appeal and first 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion, the controlling law in the circuit where he was convicted changed and later was deemed retroactive. Under the new law, he contends that he would no longer be subject to a mandatory life sentence, but instead his mandatory minimum sentence would be ten years. (See generally Pet., Dkt. No. 1.) He seeks relief under the Fourth Circuit's decision in United States v. Wheeler, 886 F.3d 415 (4th Cir. 2018), which sets forth this circuit's test to determine when 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of a sentence, entitling a federal defendant to file a § 2241 petition instead. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e) (allowing a habeas petition where the remedy of a § 2255 motion “is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention”). Respondent states that “[s]ince at least 2018, the Department of Justice has taken the position” that Wheeler was wrongly decided. (Mot. Stay 1, Dkt. No. 4.)
On May 16, 2022, the Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of certiorari in Jones v. Hendrix, No. 21-857, from a decision of the Eighth Circuit. The Eighth Circuit decision addressed the scope of relief available under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and § 2255(e). Jones v. Hendrix, 8 F.4th 683 (8th Cir. 2021). The Eighth Circuit recognized the existing circuit split as to whether a change in case law that arguably renders a defendant's conduct non-criminal, combined with the successive motions bar in § 2255, renders § 2255's remedy inadequate or ineffective, thereby allowing a habeas petition under § 2241. Id. at 686. Joining the Tenth and Eleventh Circuits- and breaking with decisions of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits-the Eighth Circuit concluded that such a scenario did not render § 2255 inadequate or ineffective. Id. at 687.
The court believes it likely that the Supreme Court's decision in Jones will resolve this circuit split or at least offer some guidance to the lower courts as to the appropriate scope of relief under § 2255(e) and § 2241. As such, the decision is likely to be relevant to the legal analysis necessary to decide this case.
Because the Jones case is likely to have a direct bearing on the proper legal analysis this court should employ in this case, the court finds that a stay would serve the interest of judicial efficiency and that a stay is otherwise appropriate. Accord Spaulding v. Streeval, No. 7:22-cv-118, (W.D. Va. June 29, 2022) (order staying § 2241 petition pending decision in Jones v. Hendrix); Pryor v. Streeval, No. 7:22-cv-193, 2022 WL 2110849 (W.D. Va. June 10, 2022) (same). It is therefore ORDERED that respondent's the motion to stay (Dkt. No. 4) is GRANTED, and this matter is STAYED pending a decision in Jones v. Hendrix, No. 21-857 (U.S.).
It is further ORDERED that respondent shall file a response to the petition not later than 30 days after the Supreme Court issues its decision in Jones v. Hendrix. Petitioner may file a reply not later than 30 days after the respondent's response is filed.