Ellis v. Hansen

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - Upon initial review of the Amended Petition (Filing No. 8 ), the court preliminarily determines that Petitioner's claims are potentially cognizable in federal court. By April 14, 2017, Respondent must file a motion for su mmary 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: April 14, 2017: deadline for Respondent to file state court records in s upport 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: May 15, 2017: check for Respondent's answer and separate brief. 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. Ordered by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf. (Copy mailed to pro se party) (KLF)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA ROY L. ELLIS, Petitioner, v. BRAD HANSEN, Warden, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 8:16CV549 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER The court has conducted an initial review of the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Filing No. 8) to determine whether the claims made by Petitioner are, when liberally construed, potentially cognizable in federal court. It appears Petitioner has made two claims. Condensed and summarized for clarity, the claims asserted by Petitioner are: Claim One: Counsel on direct appeal was ineffective for failing to seek further review by the Nebraska Supreme Court of the denial of the direct appeal by the Court of Appeals. Claim Two: Petitioner was denied due process of law by the trial court because (1) Petitioner was not properly informed that his “no contest” plea could result in an enhanced sentence as a habitual offender, and (b) the trial judge referred to, and improperly relied upon, a pending and, in any event unrelated, murder and rape charge of a child brought against Petitioner as a basis for sentencing.1 1 All other “grounds” are dismissed with prejudice because they are unintelligible or do not state federal claims. At the briefing stage, the Petitioner may provide excuses for lack of exhaustion or procedural default, but these are not “stand Liberally construed, the court preliminarily decides that Petitioner’s claims are potentially cognizable in federal court. However, the court cautions that no determination has been made regarding the merits of these claims or any defenses thereto 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 Petition (Filing No. 8), the court preliminarily determines that Petitioner’s claims are potentially cognizable in federal court. 2. By April 14, 2017, 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: April 14, 2017: deadline for Respondent to file state court records in support of answer or motion for summary judgment. 3. 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 alone” federal claims. Finally, and to reiterate, this petition does not attack Petitioner’s separate conviction, and death sentence, for the murder of Amber Harris. See State v. Ellis, 799 N.W.2d 267 (Neb. 2011) (affirming conviction and death penalty). 2 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. 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 3 an answer, a designation and a brief in a timely fashion may result in the imposition of sanctions, including Petitioner’s release. 4. If Respondent elects to file an answer, the following procedures must be followed by Respondent and Petitioner: A. By April 14, 2017, 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.” 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 4 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 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: May 15, 2017: check for Respondent’s answer and separate brief. 5. 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 28th day of February, 2017. BY THE COURT: s/ Richard G. Kopf Senior United States District Judge 5

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