Harper v. NE DOC
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER that upon initial review of the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 6 , the court preliminarily determines that Petitioner's claim, as it is set forth in this Memorandum and Order, is potentially cognizable in fe deral court. By March 24, 2016, Respondent must file a motion for summary judgment or state court records in support of an answer. The clerk of the court is directed to set a pro se case management deadline in this case using the following text: M arch 24, 2016: deadline for Respondent to file state court records in support of answer or motion for summary judgment. The clerk of the court is directed to set a pro se case management deadline in this case using the following text: April 26, 2016: check for Respondent's answer and separate brief. Ordered by Senior Judge Joseph F. Bataillon. (Copy mailed to pro se party)(copy mailed with the amended habeas corpus petition to Respondent and the Nebraska Attorney General) (ADB)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
CLYDE ERNEST HARPER,
Petitioner,
v.
SCOTT FRAKES, BRIAN GAGE,
Respondents.
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8:15CV301
MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER
This matter is before the court on preliminary review of Petitioner Clyde Ernest
Harper’s Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing No. 6) brought pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Liberally construed, Petitioner claims in this action that his right
to due process was violated when he was convicted without receiving an “evidence
hearing.” (Filing No. 6 at CM/ECF p. 5.)
The court determines that Petitioner’s claim, when liberally construed, is
potentially cognizable in federal court. However, the court cautions Petitioner that
no determination has been made regarding the merits of the claim or any defenses to
it or whether there are procedural bars that will prevent Petitioner from obtaining the
relief sought.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:
1.
Upon initial review of the amended habeas corpus petition (Filing No.
6), the court preliminarily determines that Petitioner’s claim, as it is set forth in this
Memorandum and Order, is potentially cognizable in federal court.
2.
The clerk of the court is directed to mail copies of this Memorandum and
Order and the amended habeas corpus petition to Respondent and the Nebraska
Attorney General by regular first-class mail.
3.
By March 24, 2016, Respondent must file a motion for summary
judgment or state court records in support of an answer. The clerk of the court is
directed to set a pro se case management deadline in this case using the following
text: March 24, 2016: deadline for Respondent to file state court records in support
of answer or motion for summary judgment.
4.
If Respondent elects to file a motion for summary judgment, the
following procedures must be followed by Respondent and Petitioner:
A.
The motion for summary judgment must be accompanied by a
separate brief, submitted at the time the motion is filed.
B.
The motion for summary judgment must be supported by any state
court records that are necessary to support the motion. Those
records must be contained in a separate filing entitled:
“Designation of State Court Records in Support of Motion for
Summary Judgment.”
C.
Copies of the motion for summary judgment, the designation,
including state court records, and Respondent’s brief must be
served on Petitioner except that Respondent is only required to
provide Petitioner with a copy of the specific pages of the record
that are cited in Respondent’s brief. In the event that the
designation of state court records is deemed insufficient by
Petitioner, Petitioner may file a motion with the court requesting
additional documents. Such motion must set forth the documents
requested and the reasons the documents are relevant to the
cognizable claims.
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D.
No later than 30 days following the filing of the motion for
summary judgment, Petitioner must file and serve a brief in
opposition to the motion for summary judgment. Petitioner may
not submit other documents unless directed to do so by the court.
E.
No later than 30 days after Petitioner’s brief is filed, Respondent
must file and serve a reply brief. In the event that Respondent
elects not to file a reply brief, he should inform the court by filing
a notice stating that he will not file a reply brief and that the
motion is therefore fully submitted for decision.
F.
If the motion for summary judgment is denied, Respondent must
file an answer, a designation and a brief that complies with terms
of this order. (See the following paragraph.) The documents must
be filed no later than 30 days after the denial of the motion for
summary judgment. Respondent is warned that failure to file
an answer, a designation and a brief in a timely fashion may
result in the imposition of sanctions, including Petitioner’s
release.
5.
If Respondent elects to file an answer, the following procedures must be
followed by Respondent and Petitioner:
A.
By March 24, 2016, Respondent must file all state court records
that are relevant to the cognizable claims. See, e.g., Rule 5(c)-(d)
of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States
District Courts. Those records must be contained in a separate
filing entitled: “Designation of State Court Records in Support
of Answer.”
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B.
No later than 30 days after the relevant state court records are
filed, Respondent must file an answer. The answer must be
accompanied by a separate brief, submitted at the time the answer
is filed. Both the answer and the brief must address all matters
germane to the case including, but not limited to, the merits of
Petitioner’s allegations that have survived initial review, and
whether any claim is barred by a failure to exhaust state remedies,
a procedural bar, non-retroactivity, a statute of limitations, or
because the petition is an unauthorized second or successive
petition. See, e.g., Rules 5(b) and 9 of the Rules Governing
Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts.
C.
Copies of the answer, the designation, and Respondent’s brief
must be served on Petitioner at the time they are filed with the
court except that Respondent is only required to provide
Petitioner with a copy of the specific pages of the designated
record that are cited in Respondent’s brief. In the event that the
designation of state court records is deemed insufficient by
Petitioner, Petitioner may file a motion with the court requesting
additional documents. Such motion must set forth the documents
requested and the reasons the documents are relevant to the
cognizable claims.
D.
No later than 30 days after Respondent’s brief is filed, Petitioner
must file and serve a brief in response. Petitioner must not submit
any other documents unless directed to do so by the court.
E.
No later than 30 days after Petitioner’s brief is filed, Respondent
must file and serve a reply brief. In the event that Respondent
elects not to file a reply brief, he should inform the court by filing
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a notice stating that he will not file a reply brief and that the
merits of the petition are therefore fully submitted for decision.
F.
The clerk of the court is directed to set a pro se case management
deadline in this case using the following text: April 26, 2016:
check for Respondent’s answer and separate brief.
6.
No discovery shall be undertaken without leave of the court. See Rule
6 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts.
DATED this 9th day of February, 2016.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Joseph F. Bataillon
Senior United States District Judge
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