FOSTER v. MOORE, et al

Filing 63

ORDER granting 61 Motion Appoint and Permit Federal Defender Counsel to Exhaust Relief in State Court. Signed by CHIEF JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on 3/31/2017. (aow)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
PANAMA CITY DIVISION
CHARLES K. FOSTER,
Petitioner,
v.

Case No.: 5:03cv108/MCR
Capital Case

JULIE L. JONES, Secretary,
Florida Department of Corrections,
et al,
Respondents.
___________________________________/
ORDER
Before this Court is an Expedited Motion for Appointment and Motion to
Permit Federal Defender Counsel to Exhaust Relief in State Court filed on behalf of
Petitioner by the Capital Habeas Unit (“CHU”) of the Federal Public Defender Office
for the Northern District of Florida. (ECF No. 61). The CHU seeks appointment as
substitute counsel and permission to exhaust relief in state court in light of Hurst v.
Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and Hall v. Florida, 134 S. Ct. 1986 (2014).
Petitioner’s motion indicates that Respondent does not object to the CHU’s
appointment as substitute counsel but opposes granting the CHU permission to
Case No.: 5:03cv108/MCR

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exhaust relief in state court. (See ECF No. 61 at 27). Respondent, however, has not
filed a response in opposition within the deadline required by the rules of this Court.
See N.D. Fla. Loc. R. 7.1(E).
Substitution of Counsel
Petitioner, a death-sentenced inmate, filed an initial petition for a writ of
habeas corpus and a supplemental memorandum in support in 2003. (ECF Nos. 5,
15). Petitioner’s petition was dismissed as untimely in December of 2004, and a
certificate of appealability was denied by this Court and by the Eleventh Circuit Court
of Appeals. (See ECF Nos. 28, 51, 57). While Petitioner currently has no litigation
pending in this Court, Mary Catherine Bonner was appointed and remains counsel of
record for Petitioner. (See ECF No. 7). According to Petitioner’s motion, Ms.
Bonner has indicated that she is unable to represent him in any future litigation in
either state or federal court. (ECF No. 61, 1-3). The CHU has specialized knowledge
and resources concerning capital litigation, and the Court finds that the interests of
justice require that substitute counsel be provided to Petitioner. See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3599(a)(2) and (e); see also Harbison v. Bell, 556 U.S. 180 (2009); Martel v. Clair,
565 U.S. 648, 657-62 (2012).

Case No.: 5:03cv108/MCR

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Exhaustion of State Court Relief
This Court has permitted the CHU to represent petitioners in state court to
exhaust relief under Hurst when the petitioner had no available state counsel who
could furnish adequate representation.

See Bailey v. Jones, Case No.

5:14cv333/MCR, ECF No. 51; Grim v. Jones, Case No. 3:08cv2/MCR, ECF No. 64;
Archer v. Jones, Case No. 3:06cv312/MCR, ECF No. 78.

In addition to Ms.

Bonner’s unavailability, Petitioner’s prior state-appointed counsel, James McDermott,
died in 2009. Because Petitioner does not have available state counsel, the CHU may
represent Petitioner in exhausting claims under Hurst and Hall in state court as long
as a different attorney has not been appointed. If Petitioner is represented by a stateappointed attorney, the CHU may, and should, monitor state proceedings and
coordinate with Petitioner’s state attorney.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED:
1.

Petitioner’s Expedited Motion for Appointment and Motion to Permit

Federal Defender Counsel to Exhaust Relief in State Court, ECF No. 61, is
GRANTED.
2.

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Office of the Federal Public Defender for

the Northern District of Florida, 227 N. Bronough Street, Suite 4200, Tallahassee,

Case No.: 5:03cv108/MCR

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Florida, 32301, and Billy H. Nolas, specifically, are appointed as substitute counsel
for Petitioner pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3599.
3.

The Clerk’s Office is directed to remove Ms. Bonner from the list of

individuals who receive notice of electronic filing.
4.

The Federal Public Defender CHU may represent Petitioner in state

exhaustion proceedings in light of Hurst and Hall under the conditions set out in this
Order.
DONE and ORDERED this 31st day of March, 2017.

M. Casey Rodgers
M. CASEY RODGERS
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case No.: 5:03cv108/MCR