JONES v. USA

Filing 5

Entry Granting Motion to Stay Proceedings - Accordingly, the United States' motion for stay of proceedings in light of Welch [dkt. 4] is granted. The action is stayed until the end of the current Supreme Court term or until Welch is decided; whichever date is later. If Welch is decided this term, the parties shall submit further stipulations or arguments as to the effect of that decision. They shall do so within fourteen (14) days of the decision. (See order). Signed by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on 2/25/2016. (JLS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
ERIC JONES,

Petitioner,

vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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Case No. 1:16-cv-00342-TWP-TAB

Entry Granting Motion to Stay Proceedings
The defendant was sentenced to an enhanced sentence based on the residual clause of the
Armed Career Criminal Act. He now challenges that enhancement in this action pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2255.
The parties have stipulated that based on Price v. United States, 795 F.3d 731 (7th Cir.
2015), in which the Seventh Circuit ruled that Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015)
announced a new rule of constitutional law and applies retroactively, the defendant’s sentence is
unlawful in that it exceeded the otherwise applicable statutory maximum penalty of ten years of
incarceration. The defendant has served approximately 50 months toward his sentence.
The United States moved for a stay of proceedings based on the grant of certiorari in Welch
v. United States, No. 15-6418, 2016 WL 90594 (U.S. Jan. 8, 2016), which will decide whether
Johnson announced a new substantive rule of constitutional law that applies retroactively to cases
that are on collateral review. The defendant opposes the government’s motion for stay of
proceedings.
The ruling in Welch is anticipated before the end of the current Supreme Court term.
Because this is not a case in which the parties have stipulated that the defendant is now entitled to
immediate release based on Price, the pivotal factor of irreparable harm is not present.

Accordingly, the United States’ motion for stay of proceedings in light of Welch [dkt. 4] is
granted. The action is stayed until the end of the current Supreme Court term or until Welch is
decided; whichever date is later. If Welch is decided this term, the parties shall submit further
stipulations or arguments as to the effect of that decision. They shall do so within fourteen (14)
days of the decision.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: 2/25/2016

Distribution:
Electronically registered counsel