Brown v. Secretary, Department of Corrections et al
Filing
27
ORDER denying 17 Amended Petition and dismissing case with prejudice, with instructions to the Clerk. Signed by Judge Marcia Morales Howard on 4/27/2021. (ACT)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
ULYSSES BROWN,
Petitioner,
v.
Case No. 3:18-cv-772-MMH-MCR
SECRETARY, FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
et al.,
Respondents.
________________________________
ORDER
I. Status
Petitioner Ulysses Brown, an inmate of the Florida penal system,
initiated this action on June 11, 2018,1 by filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas
Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Petition; Doc. 1). Brown is proceeding on an
amended petition (Amended Petition; Doc 17). In the Amended Petition, Brown
challenges two 1983 state court (Duval County, Florida) judgment of
convictions for robbery with a weapon and robbery with a firearm. Brown
raises one ground for relief. See Amended Petition at 7-9.2 Respondents have
submitted a memorandum in opposition to the Petition. See Response to
See Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276 (1988) (mailbox rule).
For purposes of reference, the Court will cite the page number assigned by the
Court’s electronic docketing system.
1
2
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Response; Doc. 19) with exhibits (Resp.
Ex.). Brown filed a brief in reply. See Doc. 24. This case is ripe for review.
II. Relevant Procedural History
On August 5, 1982, the State of Florida (State) charged Brown by way of
Information in Case Number 1982-CF-6820 with robbery with a deadly
weapon. Resp. Ex. 3 at 9. On March 7, 1983, the State charged Brown in Case
Number 1982-CF-6845 by way of Amended Information with robbery with a
firearm. Resp. Ex. 3 at 48-49. Following a trial in Case Number 1982-CF-6845,
a jury found Brown guilty of robbery and made a specific finding that Brown
carried a firearm during the commission of the offense. Id. at 55. On April 25,
1983, Brown entered into a negotiated plea of no-contest in Case Number 1982CF-6820. Id. at 62. That same day, the trial court sentenced Brown in both
cases to a term of incarceration of 120 years in prison, with a three-year
minimum mandatory sentence. Id. at 63-66, 68-71. The trial court retained
jurisdiction over Brown in both cases for review of any Parole Commission
release order for half of the sentence and it also ordered the sentences to run
concurrently. Id. On May 2, 1983, Brown filed a motion to correct illegal
sentence in both cases, in which he challenged the trial court’s determination
to retain jurisdiction over the case. Id. at 74-76, 78-80. The trial court denied
the motions. Id. at 77, 81.
2
On May 10, 1983, with the assistance of counsel, Brown filed a direct
appeal challenging his convictions and sentences in both cases. Id. at 83. On
February 21, 1984, Florida’s First District Court of Appeal (First DCA) found
that the imposition of the three-year minimum mandatory in Case Number
1982-CF-6820 was improper and struck it. Resp. Ex. 7. The First DCA affirmed
the convictions and sentences in all other aspects. Id.
On September 22, 1993, Brown filed a pro se motion to correct illegal
sentence in both cases again arguing the trial court could not retain
jurisdiction over his case for half of his sentence. Resp. Ex. 8 at 1-2. The
postconviction court denied relief. Id. at 3-4. The First DCA affirmed the denial
of relief and on February 10, 1995, it denied Brown’s motion for rehearing.
Resp. Ex. 9. Brown appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, but the court
dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Resp. Ex. 10.
Brown filed another pro se motion to correct an illegal sentence in both
cases on August 13, 1996. Resp. Ex. 11 at 1-20. There, he argued the trial court
incorrectly characterized both offenses as life felonies, the sentences exceeded
the statutory maximum, and the trial court failed to state its justification for
retaining jurisdiction. Id. The postconviction court denied relief. Id. at 31.
Brown moved for rehearing, id. at 32-35, which the postconviction court denied,
id. at 41. On March 27, 1997, the First DCA dismissed Brown’s appeal as
untimely. Resp. Ex. 12.
3
On June 19, 1997, Brown filed in both cases a motion to correct illegal
sentence raising the same claims he previously raised in his August 13, 1996
motion. Resp. Ex. 13 at 1-19. The postconviction court denied relief, finding
that Brown previously raised the claims in his prior motion. Id. at 20-21. On
December 30, 1997, the First DCA affirmed the denial of relief in a written
opinion but struck the portion of the order that barred Brown from filing any
more motions to correct an illegal sentence. Resp. Ex. 14. The First DCA issued
the Mandate on January 15, 1998. Id.
On February 11, 1998, Brown filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus
with the First DCA asserting ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in the
appeal of Case Number 1982-CF-6845. Resp. Ex. 15 at 1-24. He argued his
appellate counsel was deficient for failing to raise a claim that the trial court
erred by refusing to give an instruction on attempted armed robbery and erred
by denying Brown’s motion for new trial, as well as failing to raise claims of
prosecutorial misconduct. Id. On April 6, 1998, the First DCA denied relief on
the petition. Resp. Ex. 16.
On August 31, 1998, Brown filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas
corpus with the Florida Supreme Court. Resp. Ex. 17 at 1-33. In the petition,
he alleged that section 923.03, Florida Statutes, the statute authorizing the
trial court’s continued jurisdiction over Brown’s sentences in both cases, was
unconstitutional. Id. On November 3, 1998, the Florida Supreme Court denied
4
the petition on the merits. Resp. Ex. 18. On February 2, 2000, Brown refiled
the same petition in both criminal cases. Resp. Ex. 19 at 1-25. The
postconviction court ordered Brown to show cause why the petition should not
be deemed frivolous and why sanctions should not be imposed. Id. at 43-45.
Following Brown’s response, id. at 46-52, on October 9, 2000, the postconviction
court dismissed the petition as procedurally barred, without recommending
sanctions, id. at 53-54. Brown moved for rehearing, id. at 55-59, which the
postconviction court denied, id. at 60. Brown appealed, but later moved to
voluntarily dismiss the appeal, and the First DCA dismissed Brown’s appeal
on October 26, 2001. Resp. Ex. 20.
On March 1, 2000, Brown submitted a letter to the postconviction court
in both cases requesting that his presentence investigation report (PSI) be
unsealed. Resp. Ex. 21 at 1-6. The postconviction court denied the request on
March 14, 2000. Id. at 10-11. The First DCA dismissed Brown’s appeal of the
denial of this request for lack of prosecution and denied his motion for
rehearing on May 25, 2001. Resp. Ex. 22.
Unsuccessful in obtaining relief through his criminal cases, on August
21, 2000, Brown filed a civil complaint arguing that his convictions and
sentences in both criminal cases were obtained by extrinsic fraud. Resp. Ex. 23
at 1-20. The circuit court dismissed the complaint, finding Brown’s claims
should have been raised in a postconviction motion in his criminal cases. Id. at
5
36-37. On December 18, 2001, the First DCA per curiam affirmed the dismissal
of the complaint without a written opinion and on January 15, 2002, it issued
the Mandate. Resp. Ex. 26.
Returning to the criminal cases, on January 6, 2002, Brown filed a pro
se motion for correction of sentence in both cases and later supplemented and
amended the motion. Resp. Ex. 27 at 1-56. Brown argued that the trial court
erred in retaining jurisdiction over his cases and his sentences exceeded the
statutory maximum. Id.
The postconviction court denied the motion as
procedurally barred. Resp. Ex. 28 at 145-46. The First DCA per curiam
affirmed the denial of relief on November 23, 2004, and issued the Mandate on
December 21, 2004. Resp. Ex. 29.
On July 7, 2006, Brown again filed in both cases a pro se request to
unseal his PSI. Resp. Ex. 30 at 1-3. The postconviction court denied relief,
noting Brown previously had filed such a request that was denied. Id. at 4-5.
On December 13, 2007, the First DCA per curiam affirmed the denial of relief
and on January 8, 2008, it issued the Mandate. Resp. Ex. 35.
Brown filed a pro se motion to vacate his convictions and sentences in
both cases on October 30, 2006. Resp. Ex. 36 at 1-31. In the motion, he alleged
his sentences were improperly imposed as a result of mistakes in the PSI. Id.
The postconviction court denied the motion. Id. at 99-101. Brown moved for
rehearing, id. at 116-22, which the postconviction court denied, id. at 146-47.
6
The First DCA per curiam affirmed the denial of the motion without a written
opinion on August 7, 2008, and issued the Mandate on September 3, 2008.
Resp. Ex. 39.
Brown filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus in Florida’s Third
Judicial Circuit on February 18, 2008, that was later transferred to the Fourth
Judicial Circuit. Resp. Ex. 41 at 1-10. In the petition, Brown contended that
the trial court lacked jurisdiction in both cases. Id. On March 13, 2008, a civil
circuit court judge in the Fourth Circuit denied Brown’s petition for writ of
habeas corpus. Resp. Ex. 40 at 1-2. The court also denied Brown’s motion for
rehearing. Id. at 9-10. On November 17, 2009, the First DCA affirmed the
denial of the petition, and following an order to show cause, sanctioned Brown
for his “incessant initiation of [frivolous] proceedings” and prohibited him from
filing pro se pleadings in the First DCA related to his conviction and sentences
in both cases. Resp. Ex. 42. On December 15, 2009, the First DCA issued the
Mandate. Id. Undeterred, Brown continued to file pro se pleadings with the
First DCA, which led the First DCA on August 10, 2017, to recommend to the
Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) that it institute disciplinary
proceedings against Brown. Resp. Ex. 43.
On October 3, 2011, Brown filed a pro se motion to correct illegal
sentence in Case Number 1982-CF-6820. Resp. Ex. 44. In the Motion, Brown
alleged that the three-year minimum mandatory sentence was illegal, and the
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trial court erred in retaining jurisdiction over the case. Id. Brown amended the
motion on July 10, 2015, filing it in both cases, and argued only that the trial
court erred in retaining jurisdiction over the cases. Resp. Ex. 45. On June 12,
2017, the postconviction court struck the original motion as moot and granted
the amended motion as to Case Number 1982-CF-6820 but denied relief as to
Case Number 1982-CF-6845. Resp. Ex. 46. Pursuant to the order, the
postconviction court relinquished “jurisdiction over the sentence in Case
Number 82CF-6820 as the sentence was to run concurrent with the sentence
in Case Number 82CF-6845.” Id. Brown moved for rehearing in Case Number
1982-CF-6820, Resp. Ex. 47, which the postconviction court denied, Resp. Ex.
48.
On September 27, 2012, Brown moved for leave to file a pro se petition
for writ of habeas corpus with the First DCA. Resp. Ex. 49. The First DCA
issued an order to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed. Resp. Ex.
50. Following his response, on December 19, 2012, the First DCA dismissed
the petition and recommended the DOC institute disciplinary proceedings
against Brown. Resp. Ex. 51. The First DCA denied Brown’s motion for
rehearing on January 31, 2013. Resp. Ex. 52. Brown appealed to the Florida
Supreme Court, Resp. Ex. 53, but the court dismissed the appeal for lack of
jurisdiction. Resp. Ex. 56.
8
Brown filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus directly with the
Florida Supreme Court on October 3, 2014. Resp. Ex. 57. In the pro se petition,
he again argued the trial court erred in retaining jurisdiction over his cases.
Id. On December 15, 2014, the Florida Supreme Court denied the petition as
procedurally barred. Resp. Ex. 58.
Undeterred, On February 12, 2015, Brown sought to obtain relief
through a “next friend” Gladys Barrington (a non-lawyer). Resp. Ex. 60.
Barrington filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking to argue the trial
court erred in retaining jurisdiction over Brown’s cases. Resp. Ex. 59. The First
DCA denied Barrington’s motion to proceed as “next friend” and dismissed the
petition in accordance with its prior order banning Brown from filing pleadings
not signed by a Florida attorney. Resp. Ex. 61.
In Case Number 1982-CF-6820, Brown filed a pro se motion to withdraw
plea on October 24, 2016. Resp. Ex. 62. He argued that the trial court
improperly retained jurisdiction over both his cases. Id. The circuit court
dismissed the motion as untimely on November 2, 2016. Id.
Brown filed yet another pro se motion to correct illegal sentence in both
cases on July 12, 2017, in which he argued that the postconviction court erred
by resentencing him on June 12, 2017, without him being present. Resp. Ex.
63. The postconviction court denied relief on the motion on August 11, 2017.
Resp. Ex. 64. On April 26, 2018, Brown filed a “revised” motion to correct illegal
9
sentence in both cases, raising the same issue of being resentenced in absentia
and also contending that the postconviction court erred in not allowing him to
select a guidelines sentence. Resp. Ex. 65. The postconviction court again
denied relief and also cautioned Brown that he would face sanctions if he
continued to file frivolous pleadings. Resp. Ex. 66.
On October 16, 2018, Brown filed a pro se motion requesting the
postconviction court to enter a new judgment and sentence document in Case
Number 1982-CF-6820. Resp. Ex. 67. On October 25, 2018, the postconviction
court granted the motion and directed the Clerk to remove from the judgment
and sentence the three-year minimum mandatory and retention of jurisdiction
provisions. Resp. Ex. 68. The Clerk complied and modified the judgment and
sentence document accordingly, with notations indicating the modification to
the minimum mandatory term was nunc pro tunc to April 26, 1984, and the
modification to the retention of jurisdiction provision was nunc pro tunc to
June 12, 2017 . Resp. Ex. 69.
III. One-Year Limitations Period
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA)
amended 28 U.S.C. § 2244 by adding the following subsection:
(d)(1) A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to an
application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in
custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court.
The limitation period shall run from the latest of—
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(A) the date on which the judgment
became final by the conclusion of direct
review or the expiration of the time for
seeking such review;
(B) the date on which the impediment to
filing an application created by State
action in violation of the Constitution or
laws of the United States is removed, if
the applicant was prevented from filing by
such State action;
(C) the date on which the constitutional
right asserted was initially recognized by
the Supreme Court, if the right has been
newly recognized by the Supreme Court
and made retroactively applicable to cases
on collateral review; or
(D) the date on which the factual predicate
of the claim or claims presented could
have been discovered through the exercise
of due diligence.
(2) The time during which a properly filed application
for State post-conviction or other collateral review
with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is
pending shall not be counted toward any period of
limitation under this subsection.
28 U.S.C. § 2244(d).
Respondents contend that the Amended Petition is untimely to the
extent it challenges Case Number 1982-CF-6845.3 Response at 2-30. Brown
Respondents concede that, “due to a new, intervening judgment rendered October
31, 2018, Petitioner’s amended § 2254 petition dated December 28, 2018 is timely with
respect to case number 1982-CF-6820[.]” Response at 3. Notably, the record reflects that on
October 25, 2018, the postconviction court directed the Clerk to modify the judgment and
sentence in Case Number 1982-CF-6820 but did not do the same in Brown’s other case. Resp.
3
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alleges in a conclusory manner in the Amended Petition that it is timely.
Amended Petition at 14. In his Reply, he does not directly address the
timeliness of the Amended Petition other than to contend that Respondents
are trying to defeat his meritorious claim via technicalities. See generally
Reply.
As Brown’s convictions and sentences became final before the April 24,
1996 effective date of AEDPA, the one-year limitations period in Brown’s case
began to run on April 24, 1996, and expired on April 24, 1997. See Ferreira v.
Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., 494 F.3d 1286, 1289 n.1 (11th Cir. 2007) (“The limitations
period would have ended on April 24, 1997, the anniversary date of the
triggering event, which was AEDPA’s effective date.”). Accordingly, as Brown
initiated this action on June 11, 2018, the Amended Petition is due to be
dismissed as untimely unless he can avail himself of the statutory provisions
which extend or toll the limitations period.
The record demonstrates that on the day the statute of limitations began,
Brown did not have any pending motion that would have tolled the statute of
limitations. On August 13, 1996, after 110 days of the statute of limitation had
passed, Brown filed a motion to correct an illegal sentence that tolled the
Exs. 1; 2; 46. Accordingly, the postconviction court did not enter a new judgment from which
to calculate the limitations period in Case Number 1982-CF-6845.
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limitations period. Resp. Ex. 11 at 1-20. As Brown’s appeal of the denial of this
motion was dismissed as untimely, Resp. Ex. 12, the statute of limitations
period began to run again thirty days from August 30, 1996, the date the
postconviction court denied it, which mean the limitations period restarted on
September 30, 1996.4 As 110 days had already passed, Brown had 255 days left
to file a timely petition. Brown did not file any collateral motions in state court
during those 255 days, and the statute of limitations expired on June 12, 1997.
Although Brown filed a pro se motion on June 19, 1997, Resp. Ex. 13 at 1-19,
by then the limitations period had expired. Brown has failed to allege equitable
tolling or that he is actually factually innocent. Accordingly, in light of the
above analysis, this action is untimely as to Brown’s conviction and sentence
in Case Number 1982-CF-6845 and the Amended Petition is due to be
dismissed, in part, as untimely.
IV. Evidentiary Hearing
In a habeas corpus proceeding, the burden is on the petitioner to
establish the need for a federal evidentiary hearing. See Chavez v. Sec’y, Fla.
Dep’t of Corr., 647 F.3d 1057, 1060 (11th Cir. 2011). “In deciding whether to
grant an evidentiary hearing, a federal court must consider whether such a
hearing could enable an applicant to prove the petition’s factual allegations,
The thirtieth day fell on September 29, 1996, but since that day was a Sunday, Brown
had until the next business day to file.
4
13
which, if true, would entitle the applicant to federal habeas relief.” Schriro v.
Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 474 (2007); Jones v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 834
F.3d 1299, 1318-19 (11th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2245 (2017). “It
follows that if the record refutes the applicant’s factual allegations or otherwise
precludes habeas relief, a district court is not required to hold an evidentiary
hearing.” Schriro, 550 U.S. at 474. The pertinent facts of this case are fully
developed in the record before the Court. Because the Court can “adequately
assess [Brown’s] claim[s] without further factual development,” Turner v.
Crosby, 339 F.3d 1247, 1275 (11th Cir. 2003), an evidentiary hearing will not
be conducted.
V. Governing Legal Principles
A. Standard of Review
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA)
governs a state prisoner’s federal petition for habeas corpus. See Ledford v.
Warden, Ga. Diagnostic & Classification Prison, 818 F.3d 600, 642 (11th Cir.
2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1432 (2017). “‘The purpose of AEDPA is to ensure
that federal habeas relief functions as a guard against extreme malfunctions
in the state criminal justice systems, and not as a means of error correction.’”
Id. (quoting Greene v. Fisher, 565 U.S. 34, 38 (2011) (quotation marks
omitted)). As such, federal habeas review of final state court decisions is
14
“‘greatly circumscribed’ and ‘highly deferential.’” Id. (quoting Hill v.
Humphrey, 662 F.3d 1335, 1343 (11th Cir. 2011) (quotation marks omitted)).
The first task of the federal habeas court is to identify the last state court
decision, if any, that adjudicated the claim on the merits. See Marshall v. Sec’y,
Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 828 F.3d 1277, 1285 (11th Cir. 2016). The state court need
not issue a written opinion explaining its rationale in order for the state court’s
decision to qualify as an adjudication on the merits. See Harrington v. Richter,
562 U.S. 86, 100 (2011). Where the state court’s adjudication on the merits is
unaccompanied by an explanation, the United States Supreme Court has
instructed:
[T]he federal court should “look through” the
unexplained decision to the last related state-court
decision that does provide a relevant rationale. It
should then presume that the unexplained decision
adopted the same reasoning.
Wilson v. Sellers, 138 S. Ct. 1188, 1192 (2018). The presumption may be
rebutted by showing that the higher state court’s adjudication most likely
relied on different grounds than the lower state court’s reasoned decision, such
as persuasive alternative grounds that were briefed or argued to the higher
court or obvious in the record it reviewed. Id. at 1192, 1196.
If the claim was “adjudicated on the merits” in state court, § 2254(d) bars
relitigation of the claim unless the state court’s decision (1) “was contrary to,
or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
15
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States;” or (2) “was based on
an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented
in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Richter, 562 U.S. at 97-98.
The Eleventh Circuit describes the limited scope of federal review pursuant to
§ 2254 as follows:
First, § 2254(d)(1) provides for federal review for
claims of state courts’ erroneous legal conclusions. As
explained by the Supreme Court in Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000),
§ 2254(d)(1) consists of two distinct clauses: a
“contrary to” clause and an “unreasonable application”
clause. The “contrary to” clause allows for relief only
“if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to
that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a question of
law or if the state court decides a case differently than
[the Supreme] Court has on a set of materially
indistinguishable facts.” Id. at 413, 120 S. Ct. at 1523
(plurality opinion). The “unreasonable application”
clause allows for relief only “if the state court identifies
the correct governing legal principle from [the
Supreme] Court's decisions but unreasonably applies
that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Id.
Second, § 2254(d)(2) provides for federal review for
claims
of
state
courts’
erroneous
factual
determinations. Section 2254(d)(2) allows federal
courts to grant relief only if the state court’s denial of
the petitioner’s claim “was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. §
2254(d)(2). The Supreme Court has not yet defined §
2254(d)(2)’s “precise relationship” to § 2254(e)(1),
which imposes a burden on the petitioner to rebut the
state court’s factual findings “by clear and convincing
evidence.” See Burt v. Titlow, 571 U.S. ---, ---, 134 S.
16
Ct. 10, 15, 187 L.Ed.2d 348 (2013); accord Brumfield v.
Cain, 576 U.S. ---, ---, 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2282, 192
L.Ed.2d 356 (2015). Whatever that “precise
relationship” may be, “‘a state-court factual
determination is not unreasonable merely because the
federal habeas court would have reached a different
conclusion in the first instance.’”[5] Titlow, 571 U.S. at
---, 134 S. Ct. at 15 (quoting Wood v. Allen, 558 U.S.
290, 301, 130 S. Ct. 841, 849, 175 L.Ed.2d 738 (2010)).
Tharpe v. Warden, 834 F.3d 1323, 1337 (11th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S.
Ct. 2298 (2017). Also, deferential review under § 2254(d) generally is limited
to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the
merits. See Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 182 (2011) (stating the language
in § 2254(d)(1) “requires an examination of the state-court decision at the time
it was made”).
Thus, “AEDPA erects a formidable barrier to federal habeas relief for
prisoners whose claims have been adjudicated in state court.” Burt v. Titlow,
134 S. Ct. 10, 16 (2013). “Federal courts may grant habeas relief only when a
state court blundered in a manner so ‘well understood and comprehended in
existing law’ and ‘was so lacking in justification’ that ‘there is no possibility
fairminded jurists could disagree.’” Tharpe, 834 F.3d at 1338 (quoting Richter,
562 U.S. at 102-03). This standard is “meant to be” a “difficult” one to meet.
The Eleventh Circuit has described the interaction between § 2254(d)(2) and §
2254(e)(1) as “somewhat murky.” Clark v. Att’y Gen., Fla., 821 F.3d 1270, 1286 n.3 (11th Cir.
2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1103 (2017).
5
17
Richter, 562 U.S. at 102. Thus, to the extent that the petitioner’s claims were
adjudicated on the merits in the state courts, they must be evaluated under 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d).
B. Exhaustion/Procedural Default
There are prerequisites to federal habeas review. Before bringing a §
2254 habeas action in federal court, a petitioner must exhaust all state court
remedies that are available for challenging his state conviction. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(b)(1)(A). To exhaust state remedies, the petitioner must “fairly
present[]” every issue raised in his federal petition to the state’s highest court,
either on direct appeal or on collateral review. Castille v. Peoples, 489 U.S. 346,
351 (1989) (emphasis omitted). Thus, to properly exhaust a claim, “state
prisoners must give the state courts one full opportunity to resolve any
constitutional issues by invoking one complete round of the State’s established
appellate review process.” O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999).
In addressing exhaustion, the United States Supreme Court explained:
Before seeking a federal writ of habeas corpus, a state
prisoner must exhaust available state remedies, 28
U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1), thereby giving the State the
“‘“opportunity to pass upon and correct” alleged
violations of its prisoners’ federal rights.’” Duncan v.
Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365, 115 S. Ct. 887, 130 L.Ed.2d
865 (1995) (per curiam) (quoting Picard v. Connor, 404
U.S. 270, 275, 92 S. Ct. 509, 30 L.Ed.2d 438 (1971)). To
provide the State with the necessary “opportunity,”
the prisoner must “fairly present” his claim in each
appropriate state court (including a state supreme
18
court with powers of discretionary review), thereby
alerting that court to the federal nature of the claim.
Duncan, supra, at 365-366, 115 S. Ct. 887; O’Sullivan
v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845, 119 S. Ct. 1728, 144
L.Ed.2d 1 (1999).
Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29 (2004).
A state prisoner’s failure to properly exhaust available state remedies
results in a procedural default which raises a potential bar to federal habeas
review. The United States Supreme Court has explained the doctrine of
procedural default as follows:
Federal habeas courts reviewing the constitutionality
of a state prisoner’s conviction and sentence are guided
by rules designed to ensure that state-court judgments
are accorded the finality and respect necessary to
preserve the integrity of legal proceedings within our
system of federalism. These rules include the doctrine
of procedural default, under which a federal court will
not review the merits of claims, including
constitutional claims, that a state court declined to
hear because the prisoner failed to abide by a state
procedural rule. See, e.g., Coleman,[6] supra, at 747–
748, 111 S. Ct. 2546; Sykes,[7] supra, at 84–85, 97 S.
Ct. 2497. A state court’s invocation of a procedural
rule to deny a prisoner’s claims precludes federal
review of the claims if, among other requisites, the
state procedural rule is a nonfederal ground adequate
to support the judgment and the rule is firmly
established and consistently followed. See, e.g.,
Walker v. Martin, 562 U.S. --, --, 131 S. Ct. 1120, 1127–
1128, 179 L.Ed.2d 62 (2011); Beard v. Kindler, 558
U.S. --, --, 130 S. Ct. 612, 617–618, 175 L.Ed.2d 417
(2009). The doctrine barring procedurally defaulted
6
7
Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991).
Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72 (1977).
19
claims from being heard is not without exceptions. A
prisoner may obtain federal review of a defaulted
claim by showing cause for the default and prejudice
from a violation of federal law. See Coleman, 501 U.S.,
at 750, 111 S. Ct. 2546.
Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S. Ct. 1309, 1316 (2012). Thus, procedural defaults may
be excused under certain circumstances. Notwithstanding that a claim has
been procedurally defaulted, a federal court may still consider the claim if a
state habeas petitioner can show either (1) cause for and actual prejudice from
the default; or (2) a fundamental miscarriage of justice. Ward v. Hall, 592 F.3d
1144, 1157 (11th Cir. 2010). In order for a petitioner to establish cause,
the procedural default “must result from some
objective factor external to the defense that prevented
[him] from raising the claim and which cannot be
fairly attributable to his own conduct.” McCoy v.
Newsome, 953 F.2d 1252, 1258 (11th Cir. 1992)
(quoting Carrier, 477 U.S. at 488, 106 S. Ct. 2639).[8]
Under the prejudice prong, [a petitioner] must show
that “the errors at trial actually and substantially
disadvantaged his defense so that he was denied
fundamental fairness.” Id. at 1261 (quoting Carrier,
477 U.S. at 494, 106 S. Ct. 2639).
Wright v. Hopper, 169 F.3d 695, 706 (11th Cir. 1999).
In the absence of a showing of cause and prejudice, a petitioner may
receive consideration on the merits of a procedurally defaulted claim if the
petitioner can establish that a fundamental miscarriage of justice, the
8
Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478 (1986).
20
continued incarceration of one who is actually innocent, otherwise would
result. The Eleventh Circuit has explained:
[I]f a petitioner cannot show cause and prejudice,
there remains yet another avenue for him to receive
consideration on the merits of his procedurally
defaulted claim. “[I]n an extraordinary case, where a
constitutional violation has probably resulted in the
conviction of one who is actually innocent, a federal
habeas court may grant the writ even in the absence
of a showing of cause for the procedural default.”
Carrier, 477 U.S. at 496, 106 S. Ct. at 2649. “This
exception is exceedingly narrow in scope,” however,
and requires proof of actual innocence, not just legal
innocence. Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171
(11th Cir. 2001).
Ward, 592 F.3d at 1157. “To meet this standard, a petitioner must ‘show that
it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted him’
of the underlying offense.” Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171 (11th Cir.
2001) (quoting Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 327 (1995)). Additionally, “‘[t]o be
credible,’ a claim of actual innocence must be based on reliable evidence not
presented at trial.” Calderon v. Thompson, 523 U.S. 538, 559 (1998) (quoting
Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324). With the rarity of such evidence, in most cases,
allegations of actual innocence are ultimately summarily rejected. Schlup, 513
U.S. at 324.
VI. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
In the Amended Petition, Brown contends that “the trial court violated
his right to due process and representation of counsel as guaranteed and
21
protected under the 14th and 6th Amendments of the United States
Constitution when said court re-sentenced Petitioner in his absence and
without counsel[.]” Amended Petition at 7. The resentencing to which Brown
refers occurred on June 12, 2017, when the postconviction court granted
Brown’s July 10, 2015 motion to correct an illegal sentence in Case Number
1982-CF-6820. Resp. Ex. 46. In that order, the postconviction court
relinquished “jurisdiction over the sentence in Case Number 82CF-6820 as the
sentence was to run concurrent with the sentence in Case Number 82CF-6845.”
Id. Brown contends this was a resentencing at which he had a constitutional
right to be present and represented by counsel. Amended Petition at 7-8.
According to Brown, this constituted a resentencing because the state court
had “judicial discretion as to the new sentences” and the retention of
jurisdiction provision was a term of his negotiated plea agreement. Id. at 7.
Respondents contend this claim is unexhausted because even though
Brown raised a similar claim in state court, he did not appeal the denial of the
claim to the First DCA, thus they argue he did not invoke one complete round
of Florida’s established appellate review process. Response at 39-49. In the
Amended Petition, Brown contends that he could not appeal the denial of relief
on this claim because the First DCA barred him from filing pro se pleadings
related to both his criminal convictions at issue here. Amended Petition at 57, 9. Respondents counter, however, that the reason he was barred from filing
22
is due to his own conduct, namely the filing of frivolous pleadings and abusing
the process. Response at 45-49. As such, Respondents argue that Brown’s
failure to exhaust cannot be excused by the First DCA’s decision to require any
pleadings from Brown challenging his criminal convictions to be signed by a
Florida attorney. Id.
The Court agrees with Respondents that the First DCA’s decision to bar
Brown from filing pro se pleadings does not constitute cause to overcome his
failure to exhaust this claim. See Lynn v. United States, 365 F.3d 1225, 1235
(11th Cir. 2004) (holding that “to show cause for procedural default, Lynn must
show that some objective factor external to the defense prevented Lynn or his
counsel from raising his claims on direct appeal and that this factor cannot be
fairly attributable to Lynn's own conduct.”); Claudio v. Sec'y, DOC, No. 3:13CV-178-J-39JRK, 2015 WL 5996932, at *9 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 14, 2015) (“Again,
his failure [to exhaust] is not excused as it was his own conduct which resulted
in the state courts banning further pro se pleadings, a sanction which the state
courts are specifically authorized to undertake.”). As detailed above, after
repeatedly filing frivolous pleadings, the First DCA gave Brown an opportunity
to challenge the imposition of sanctions and, after failing to show good cause,
the First DCA banned him from filing pro se. Notably, this ban did not prevent
Brown from pursuing an appeal at all, it only prevented him from doing so
without the assistance of counsel. Accordingly, Brown still had the opportunity
23
to fully exhaust this claim and his failure to be able to do so as a pro se litigant
is entirely attributable to his own abusive conduct. Moreover, Brown has
presented no evidence that he is actually factually innocent. As Brown has
failed to establish cause or his actual innocence, this claim is due to be denied
as unexhausted.
Nevertheless, even if properly exhausted, Brown would not be entitled
to relief. Sentencing is a critical stage of criminal proceedings, at which a
defendant is entitled to be present and to have appointed counsel. See Mempa
v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 134 (1967); Gardner v. Florida, 430 U.S. 349, 358 (1967).
However, the United States Supreme Court has not extended this holding to
the modification of a sentence following the granting of a collateral motion.
Accordingly, it cannot be said that the state court’s ruling was contrary to or
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. See Washington
v. Crosby, 324 F.3d 1263, 1265 (11th Cir. 2003) (recognizing that a state court
decision cannot be contrary to clearly established federal law “where no
Supreme Court precedent is on point.”). Accordingly, Brown is not entitled to
federal habeas relief.
Moreover, although the United States Supreme Court has not spoken on
this issue, the Eleventh Circuit has long held that “there is a distinction
between modifications of sentences and proceedings that impose a new
sentence after vacation of the original sentence.” United States v. Taylor, 11
24
F.3d 149, 152 (11th Cir. 1994). “In the former instance, the defendant's
presence is not required, but in the latter, the defendant has a right to be
present[.]” Id.; see also United States v. Jackson, 923 F.2d 1494, 1497 (11th
Cir. 1991) (“In constitutional terms, a remedial sentence reduction is not a
critical stage of the proceedings; so, the defendant's presence is not required.”).
Likewise, in Florida, where the resentencing is ministerial and a court has no
discretion in imposing sentence, the defendant’s presence is not required.
Jordan v. State, 143 So. 3d 335, 338-39 (Fla. 2014). Here, the granting of
Brown’s motion to correct did not result in the vacating of his original sentence
nor did it change the duration of his sentence. Instead, it merely removed a
provision giving the state court jurisdiction over half of his sentence to review
orders from the Parole Board. Accordingly, neither under Eleventh Circuit nor
Florida precedent was Brown entitled to be present with counsel when the
state court modified his sentence. In light of the above analysis, Brown is not
entitled to federal habeas relief and the Amended Petition is due to be denied.
VII. Certificate of Appealability
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)
If Brown seeks issuance of a certificate of appealability, the undersigned
opines that a certificate of appealability is not warranted. The Court should
issue a certificate of appealability only if the petitioner makes “a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To make
25
this substantial showing, Brown “must demonstrate that reasonable jurists
would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims
debatable or wrong,” Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282 (2004) (quoting
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)), or that “the issues presented were
‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further,’” Miller-El v. Cockrell,
537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4
(1983)).
Where a district court has rejected a petitioner’s constitutional claims on
the merits, the petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find
the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.
See Slack, 529 U.S. at 484. However, when the district court has rejected a
claim on procedural grounds, the petitioner must show that “jurists of reason
would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial
of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable
whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling.” Id. Upon
consideration of the record as a whole, the Court will deny a certificate of
appealability.
Therefore, it is now
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1.
The Amended Petition (Doc. 17) is DENIED, and this action is
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
26
2.
The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment denying the Amended
Petition and dismissing this case with prejudice.
3.
If Brown appeals the denial of the Amended Petition, the Court
denies a certificate of appealability. Because the Court has determined that a
certificate of appealability is not warranted, the Clerk shall terminate from the
pending motions report any motion to proceed on appeal as a pauper that may
be filed in this case. Such termination shall serve as a denial of the motion.
4.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case and terminate
any pending motions.
DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, this 27th day of April,
2021.
Jax-8
C:
Ulysses Brown #089244
Counsel of record
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