Brewer v. Bryson

Filing 7

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)

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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. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) _________ CV 117-070 ORDER _________ 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 2 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. 3

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