Flint Fitzgerald Johnson, Jr. v. Frank L. Perry
Filing
UNPUBLISHED PER CURIAM OPINION filed. Motion disposition in opinion--denying Motion to proceed in forma pauperis (FRAP 24) [1000028461-2] Originating case number: 1:16-cv-00244-TDS-JLW Copies to all parties and the district court/agency. [1000089160]. Mailed to: Flint Fitzgerald Johnson Jr. PAMLICO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 601 North 3rd Street Bayboro, NC 28515-0000. [17-6111]
Appeal: 17-6111
Doc: 14
Filed: 05/26/2017
Pg: 1 of 3
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 17-6111
FLINT FITZGERALD JOHNSON, JR.,
Petitioner - Appellant,
v.
FRANK L. PERRY, Secretary N.C. Dept. of Public Safety,
Respondent - Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, at
Greensboro. Thomas D. Schroeder, District Judge. (1:16-cv-00244-TDS-JLW)
Submitted: May 19, 2017
Decided: May 26, 2017
Before NIEMEYER, DUNCAN, and AGEE, Circuit Judges.
Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Flint Fitzgerald Johnson, Jr., Appellant Pro Se. Clarence Joe DelForge, III, NORTH
CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Peter Andrew Regulski, Assistant Attorney
General, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
Appeal: 17-6111
Doc: 14
Filed: 05/26/2017
Pg: 2 of 3
PER CURIAM:
Flint Fitzgerald Johnson, Jr., seeks to appeal the district court’s order granting
Respondent’s motion to dismiss Johnson’s 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2012) petition as
successive and unauthorized, and denying Johnson’s summary judgment motion. The
order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of
appealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A) (2012); Jones v. Braxton, 392 F.3d 683,
688 (4th Cir. 2004). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent “a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2012). When
the district court denies relief on the merits, a prisoner satisfies this standard by
demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find that the district court’s assessment of the
constitutional claims is debatable or wrong. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484
(2000); see Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38 (2003). When the district court
denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the
dispositive procedural ruling is debatable, and that the petition states a debatable claim of
the denial of a constitutional right. Slack, 529 U.S. at 484-85.
We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Johnson has not
made the requisite showing. * Accordingly, we deny Johnson’s application to proceed in
*
The district court correctly found that Johnson had a prior § 2254 petition
dismissed with prejudice. See Johnson v. Keller, 1:10-cv-00373-TDS-WWD (M.D.N.C.,
PACER Nos. 12-13). Although we were unaware of the dismissal with prejudice when
we previously denied as unnecessary Johnson’s 28 U.S.C. § 2244 (2012) motion for
prefiling authorization to file a successive § 2254 petition, allowing Johnson to litigate
his habeas claims without § 2244 authorization “would subvert the purpose of the
[Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act]’s gatekeeping provisions: to restrict
(Continued)
2
Appeal: 17-6111
Doc: 14
Filed: 05/26/2017
Pg: 3 of 3
forma pauperis, deny a certificate of appealability, and dismiss the appeal. We dispense
with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in
the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED
habeas petitioners from taking multiple bites at the apple.” Dunn v. Singletary, 168 F.3d
440, 442 (11th Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, Johnson must
first obtain this Court’s authorization to file a successive habeas petition in the district
court.
3
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?