Berghofer

Filing 7

ORDER Denying 1 Motion to Expunge 45 year old conviction. Signed by District Judge Sean F. Cox. (JMcC)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION

In re: Gary S. Berghofer

Sean F. Cox
United States District Court Judge
Miscellaneous Case No. 16-51592

_______________________________/
ORDER DENYING
MOTION FOR EXPUNGEMENT
On October 31, 2016, Gary Berghofer (“Berghofer”) initiated this Miscellaneous case in
federal court by filing a pro se letter, wherein he asks this Court to expunge his criminal
conviction from Criminal Case No. 71-46186. This Court ordered the Government to file a
response and the Government filed a response opposing the motion. The Court finds that oral
argument would not aid the decisional process. See Local Rule 7.1(f)(2), U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Michigan. As explained below, this Court lacks jurisdiction to expunge
Berghofer’s criminal conviction and therefore ORDERS that Berghofer’s request is DENIED.
BACKGROUND
Due to the age of the case at issue, records for Criminal Case No. 71-46186 are not
available on the Court’s electronic filing system. Papers attached to Berghofer’s letter, however,
appear to indicate that, in that criminal action, Berghofer pleaded guilty to a drug offense and
was sentenced to one year imprisonment.
Berghofer now asks this Court to expunge his criminal conviction because the conviction
is impeding his ability to find employment. Berghofer has provided no legal authority for his
requested relief.

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Nevertheless, this Court ordered the Government to file a response to Berghofer’s
motion. The Government filed its response on December 28, 2016, asserting that this Court
lacks jurisdiction to grant the relief requested by Berghofer.
ANALYSIS
As courts of limited jurisdiction, federal courts possess only those powers authorized by
the Constitution and federal statutes and may not expand such powers by judicial decree. United
States v. Lucido, 612 F.3d 871, 873 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co.
of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994)). In Lucido, the Sixth Circuit identified three possible
circumstances in which a federal court could have jurisdiction to expunge a criminal conviction:
1) when the court has original jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231; 2) if a statute authorizes
expungement of the conviction under the circumstances; or 3) if the court has authority under its
ancillary jurisdiction. Lucido, 612 F.3d at 873. None of those circumstances exist here.
First, although the judge that presided over Berghofer’s 1971 criminal case had original
jurisdiction over that case pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231, that jurisdiction ended long ago, when
the final judgment was entered and the case was closed.
Second, this Court lacks jurisdiction because there is no statutory authority that
authorizes expungement under these circumstances, and Berghofer fails to identify any.
Third, ancillary jurisdiction is also lacking because Berghofer’s criminal case was
resolved more than four decades ago and there is no allegation that Berghofer’s arrest or
conviction was invalid or illegal.
CONCLUSION & ORDER
Accordingly, this Court lacks jurisdiction to grant the relief requested by Berghofer.

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That is, this Court lacks the authority to expunge Berghofer’s criminal conviction. The Court
therefore ORDERS that Berghofer’s request is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 9, 2017

S/ Sean F. Cox
Sean F. Cox
U. S. District Judge

I hereby certify that on January 9, 2017, the foregoing document was served on counsel of record
via electronic means and upon Gary S. Berghofer via First Class mail at the address below:
Gary S. Berghofer
25736 Aysen Dr.
Punta Gorda, FL 33983
S/ J. McCoy
Case Manager

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