Avilez v. Director of TDCJ-CID

Filing 29

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re 28 MOTION to Alter Judgment filed by Elpidio B Avilez. ORDERED that Petitioner's motion for relief from judgment (docket entry #28) is DENIED. All motions not previously ruled upon are DENIED. Signed by Judge Richard A. Schell on 3/29/2012. (kls, )

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SHERMAN DIVISION ELPIDIO B. AVILEZ, #1011021 § VS. § DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID § CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:04cv451 MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Petitioner filed a motion for relief from judgment. A review of the history of this case reveals that, on June 21, 2005, this case was dismissed as time-barred. On December 21, 2007, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Petitioner’s motion for certificate of appealability. On April 7, 2011, this Court denied Petitioner’s first motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Rule 60(b). In the instant motion (docket entry #28), Petitioner again asks that the Court grant relief from judgment. Petitioner’s § 2254 petition was denied because it was not timely filed. He now argues that the judgment is void, relying on the holding of Jimenez v. Quarterman, 555 U.S. 113, 129 S. Ct. 681, 172 L. Ed.2d 475 (2009). In Jimenez, the Court held that direct review is not concluded until the availability of a direct appeal is exhausted. Id. 129 S. Ct. at 686. More specifically, when determining time limitations, the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review must reflect the conclusion of an out-of-time direct appeal or the expiration of the time for seeking review of that appeal. Id. at 686-87. Essentially, Jimenez stands for the proposition that when a petitioner is granted an out-of-time appeal, the pendency of his direct appeal is restored – thus extending the 1 limitations period. However, Jimenez was decided after Petitioner’s case had been dismissed as time-barred, and he has not shown, nor has this Court found, that Jimenez is to be applied retroactively. Furthermore, the Fifth Circuit has repeatedly held that the new method of calculating the limitations period announced in Jimenez is not the kind of extraordinary circumstance that warrants relief under Rule 60(b). See, e.g., Hernandez v. Thaler, 630 F.3d 420, 422 (5th Cir. 2011). It is accordingly ORDERED that Petitioner’s motion for relief from judgment (docket entry #28) is DENIED. All motions not previously ruled upon are DENIED. . SIGNED this the 29th day of March, 2012. _______________________________ RICHARD A. SCHELL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 2

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