Davis v. Director, TDCJ-CID

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE. It is ordered that this application for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed without prejudice. It is ordered that Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability sua sponte. Signed by Judge Ron Clark on 9/22/17. (mrp, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
MICHAEL DAVIS

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v.

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DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:17cv454

MEMORANDUM ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
AND ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT
The Petitioner Michael Davis, proceeding pro se, filed this application for the writ of habeas
corpus under 28 U.S.C. §2254 complaining of the legality of his conviction. This Court ordered that
the matter be referred to the United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1) and
(3) and the Amended Order for the Adoption of Local Rules for the Assignment of Duties to United
States Magistrate Judges.
I. Background
Davis was convicted of possession of a controlled substance on December 7, 2015, receiving
a sentence of 20 years in prison. His conviction was affirmed on August 10, 2016, by the Twelfth
Judicial District Court of Appeals. Davis v. State, slip op. no. 12-15-00315-CR, 2016 WL 4208136
(Tex.App.-Tyler, August 10, 2016, no pet.). Davis did not file a petition for discretionary review.
Instead, Davis previously filed another federal habeas corpus petition challenging this same
conviction. Davis v. Director, TDCJ-CID, civil action no. 6:16cv232 (E.D. Tex.). An answer has
been ordered in that case and the state court records have been filed. That petition remains pending.
II. The Report of the Magistrate Judge and the Petitioner’s Objections
After review of the pleadings, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report recommending that
Davis’ petition for habeas corpus relief be dismissed without prejudice because it duplicates pending
litigation. Davis filed objections stating he had been informed that cause no. 6:16cv232 was being

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dismissed. He also complains that he cannot get his state appellate attorney to tell him if his appeal
is still pending, although he believes that the appeal was affirmed as of August 10, 2016. Davis
states that he wants to appeal his case and complains that he was set up so all of his possessions
could be sold by a girl whom he thought was good but was the devil, but the court still did not find
him innocent.
III. Discussion
As the Magistrate Judge stated, cause no. 6:16cv232 is still pending. No ruling has been
made, nor has a Report issued recommending disposition of the case. The Magistrate Judge
correctly determined that the present case simply duplicates pending litigation and should be
dismissed on that basis. See Pittman v. Moore, 980 F.2d 994, 995 (5th Cir. 1993).
Davis is correct that his direct appeal was affirmed on August 10, 2016. The on-line records
of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals show that Davis did not seek discretionary review of this
affirmance, nor has he sought state habeas corpus relief. He has not shown any basis for filing a
second habeas corpus petition when he already has one pending. Davis’ objections are without
merit.
IV. Conclusion
The Court has conducted a careful de novo review of those portions of the Magistrate Judge’s
proposed findings and recommendations to which the Petitioner objected. See 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)
(District Judge shall “make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified
proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.”) Upon such de novo review,
the Court has determined that the Report of the Magistrate Judge is correct and the Petitioner’s
objections are without merit. It is accordingly
ORDERED that the Petitioner’s objections are overruled and the Report of the Magistrate
Judge (docket no. 5) is ADOPTED as the opinion of the District Court. It is further
ORDERED that the above-styled application for the writ of habeas corpus is DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. It is further

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ORDERED that the Petitioner Michael Davis is DENIED a certificate of appealability sua
sponte. The denial of a certificate of appealability relates only to the dismissal of this case and shall
not affect Davis’ right to pursue his claims in cause no. 6:16cv232, or to seek relief in the courts of
the State of Texas. Finally, it is
ORDERED that any and all motions which may be pending in this action are hereby
DENIED.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 22 day of September, 2017.

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Ron Clark, United States District Judge

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