Boatman v. USA

Filing 8

ORDER DISMISSING CASE: Motion to Vacate,Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (2255) filed by Monte Boatman (Doc. 1 ) is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction and the Court declines to issue a certificate of appealability. All other motions are terminated as MOOT. Signed by Judge Staci M. Yandle on 10/14/2016. (mah).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

MONTE BOATMAN

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Petitioner,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

Case No. 16-CV-641-SMY

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
On June 14, 2016, Petitioner Monte Boatman filed a Habeas Petition Under 28 U.S.C. §
2255 challenging his sentence based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. United
States—which applies retroactively on collateral review—that an enhanced sentence under the
residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”) violates due process because the
residual clause is unconstitutionally vague. 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015); Welch v. United States, No.
15-6418, 2016 WL 1551144 (Apr. 18, 2016) (Doc. 1). For the following reasons, Boatman’s
petition is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
Under Rule 4(b) of the Rules Governing § 2255 Proceedings in the United States District
Courts, a judge receiving a § 2255 petition must conduct a preliminary review and, “[i]f it plainly
appears from the motion, any attached exhibits, and the record of prior proceedings that the
moving party is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss the motion and direct the clerk to
notify the moving party.” A preliminary review of Boatman’s petition establishes that it must be
dismissed as an unauthorized second or successive habeas petition.
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”) “governs § 2255
proceedings and imposes tight limits on second or successive petitions.” Vitrano v. United
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States, 721 F.3d 802, 806 (7th Cir. 2013) (citing Suggs v. United States, 705 F.3d 279, 285 (7th
Cir. 2013)). Specifically, AEDPA “allows every prisoner one full opportunity to seek collateral
review.” Vitrano, 721 F.3d at 806 (quoting Johnson v. United States, 196 F.3d 802, 805 (7th Cir.
1999)). Any additional, later-filed petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is a “second or successive”
motion, which a district court may not entertain “unless the prisoner has first obtained
authorization to file from the court of appeals.” United States v. Obeid, 707 F.3d 898, 901 (7th
Cir. 2013) (citing 18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(a); 2255(h)).
Here, Boatman previously filed a § 2255 petition and received a full round of collateral
review (see Boatman v. United States, Case No. 12-cv-1095). The instant Habeas Petition is his
second attempt at relief under § 2255, which requires prior approval from the Seventh Circuit.
There is no indication, however, that Boatman has sought permission from the Seventh Circuit to
file a second or successive § 2255 petition. Therefore, this Court is without jurisdiction to
consider the pending petition, and it must be dismissed. Obeid, 707 F.3d at 901 (citing Nuñez v.
United States, 96 F.3d 990, 991 (7th Cir. 1996)). Accordingly, Boatman’s June 14, 2016 Habeas
Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Doc. 1) is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Proceedings instructs the district court to
“issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant.”
A certificate of appealability may issue only if the petitioner “has made a substantial showing of
the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Miller–El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S.
322, 336 (2003). To meet this requirement, the petitioner must “demonstrate that reasonable
jurists would find the district court’s assessment of his constitutional claims debatable or wrong.”
United States v. Fleming, 676 F.3d 621, 625 (7th Cir. 2012) (quoting Tennard v. Dretke, 542

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U.S. 274, 281 (2004)). The petitioner need not show that his appeal will succeed, but he must
show “something more than the absence of frivolity” or the existence of mere “good faith” on his
part. Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 337, 338.
Here, Boatman did not obtain leave to file a successive § 2255 petition. Accordingly, he
is not entitled to issuance of a certificate of appealability.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: October 14, 2016
s/ Staci M. Yandle
STACI M. YANDLE
United States District Judge

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