Brewer v. Bryson
Filing
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ORDER vacating 3 Report and Recommendations; granting 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. The Court Orders Respondents to answer in writing the allegations of the petition within sixty days of the date of this Order. The Court further Orders the Clerk to serve this Order upon Petitioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 07/17/2017. (thb)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
AUGUSTA DIVISION
MICHAEL LANE BREWER,
Petitioner,
v.
HOMER BRYSON, Commissioner,
Georgia Department of Corrections,
Respondent.
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CV 117-070
ORDER
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On June 21, 2017, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254 and a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (Doc. nos. 1, 2.) Based
on the Court’s review of the Georgia Supreme Court’s docket, the Court entered a Report
and Recommendation (“R&R”) recommending Petitioner’s case be dismissed without
prejudice for failure to exhaust state remedies because his application for a certificate of
probable cause (“CPC”) was pending before the Georgia Supreme Court and his motion to
proceed IFP be denied as moot. (See generally doc. no. 3.) Prompted by this Court’s
recommendation for dismissal, Petitioner now presents evidence that on June 30, 2017, after
he filed the present petition, the Georgia Supreme Court denied his application for a CPC and
his claims are now exhausted.
(See generally doc. nos. 5, 6.)
In light of this new
information, the Court hereby VACATES its R&R dated July 5, 2017. (Doc. no. 3.)
Petitioner has submitted an inmate trust account statement showing that he has
insufficient funds to pay the $5.00 filing fee. Therefore, the Court GRANTS Petitioner
leave to proceed IFP. (Doc. no. 2.) Accordingly, process shall issue.
The Court hereby ORDERS Respondents to answer in writing the allegations of the
petition within sixty days of the date of this Order. Pursuant to Rule 5, Rules Governing
Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts, the answer shall include the
following:
1.
certified copy of the trial transcript from Petitioner’s state court
conviction;
2.
certified copy of the transcript from Petitioner’s state habeas corpus
hearings;
3.
decision of the state habeas courts; and,
4.
if Petitioner appealed from the judgment of conviction or from an
adverse judgment or order in a post-conviction proceeding, a copy of
Petitioner’s and Respondent’s brief on appeal and the opinion of the
appellate court, if any, as to each proceeding.
Either with the filing of the answer or within fifteen days, Respondent shall move for
dismissal or explain in writing why the petition cannot be adjudicated by a motion to dismiss.
Copies of all filed exhibits referenced in Respondent’s pleadings must be served on
Petitioner. Rodriguez v. Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 748 F.3d 1073, 1077 (11th Cir. 2014).
Petitioner and Respondent shall submit to the Court their respective briefs of law
within the aforementioned sixty-day period, not to exceed twenty-six typewritten pages,
double-spaced on letter-sized paper. Petitioner and Respondent shall refer to specific pages
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of the trial transcript in which it is contended that constitutional error did or did not occur.
No discovery shall be had by either party without leave of court. Rule 6, Rules
Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts.
Unless and until
Petitioner demonstrates that the state habeas court’s fact-finding procedure was not adequate
to afford a full and fair evidentiary hearing or that the state habeas court did not afford the
opportunity for a full, fair, and adequate hearing, this Court’s consideration of Petitioner’s
habeas petition will be limited to an examination of the evidence and other matters presented
to the state trial, habeas, and appellate courts.
Pursuant to the Memorandum effective December 1, 2015, entry of this Order on the
docket by the Clerk complies with the requirement of service of the petition on the
respondent, the Attorney General, or other appropriate officer. See General Order, MC 415022 (S.D. Ga. Dec. 3, 2015). Pursuant to that Memorandum, service is accepted upon entry
of this Order. The Court further ORDERS the CLERK to serve this Order upon Petitioner.
SO ORDERED this 17th day of July, 2017, at Augusta, Georgia.
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