Opinion
22-CV-618
06-02-2022
JUSTIN P. POSEY, Petitioner, v. DAN CROMWELL, Respondent.
RULE 4 ORDER
NANCY JOSEPH United States Magistrate Judge.
Justin P. Posey, who is currently incarcerated at the Redgranite Correctional Institution, seeks a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Docket # 1.) Posey challenges his judgment of conviction in Outagamie County Case No. 2016CF104. (Id. at 1.) Posey was convicted of two counts of armed robbery. (Id.) Posey was sentenced to six years of incarceration followed by eight years of extended supervision for count one, and to six years and six months of incarceration followed by eight years of extended supervision for count two. (Docket # 1-1 at 1.) Posey alleges that his conviction and sentence are unconstitutional.
Posey has paid the $5.00 filing fee and his petition is ready for screening in accordance with Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. Under Rule 4, I must dismiss a petition summarily if “it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.” During this initial review, I determine whether the petitioner has set forth cognizable constitutional or federal law claims and exhausted available state remedies.
Posey alleges two grounds for relief, namely ineffective assistance of counsel and denial of due process. (Id. at 5, 7.) It appears Posey has exhausted all available state court remedies. (Id.) As Posey's petition appears to set forth cognizable constitutional claims and he appears to have exhausted his state court remedies, summary dismissal under Rule 4 is not appropriate and the respondent will be called upon to serve and file an answer, motion, or other response to the petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a copy of Posey's petition and this order shall be served upon the respondent by service upon the State of Wisconsin Attorney General.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT the respondent is directed to serve and file an answer, motion, or other response to the petition, complying with Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Habeas Corpus Cases, within SIXTY (60) days of the date of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT unless the respondent files a dispositive motion in lieu of an answer, the parties shall abide by the following schedule regarding the filing of briefs on the merits of the petitioner's claim:
1. The petitioner shall have forty-five (45) days following the filing of the respondent's answer within which to file his brief in support of his petition;
2. The respondent shall have forty-five (45) days following the filing of the petitioner's supplemental brief within which to file a brief in opposition. If petitioner does not file a supplemental brief, the respondent has forty-five (45) days from the due date of the petitioner's supplemental brief to file his brief; and
3. The petitioner shall have thirty (30) days following the filing of the respondent's opposition brief within which to file a reply brief, if any.
In the event that respondent files a dispositive motion and supporting brief in lieu of an answer, this briefing schedule will be suspended and the briefing schedule will be as follows:
1. The petitioner shall have forty-five (45) days following the filing of the respondent's dispositive motion and supporting initial brief within which to file a brief in opposition;
2. The respondent shall have thirty (30) days following the filing of the petitioner's opposition brief within which to file a reply brief, if any.
Pursuant to Civil L.R. 7(f), the following page limitations apply: briefs in support of or in opposition to the habeas petition or a dispositive motion filed by the respondent must not exceed thirty (30) pages and reply briefs must not exceed fifteen (15) pages, not counting any statements of facts, exhibits, and affidavits.