Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-3_02-cv-01028/USCOURTS-almd-3_02-cv-01028-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentenc

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1Fears filed his § 2255 motion in this court on August 29, 2002.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

EASTERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )

)

v ) CV NO. 3:02cv1028-T

) WO

NELSON NIKITHA FEARS )

ORDER ON MOTION

On June 29, 2004, movant Nelson Nikitha Fears filed a motion for leave to amend his

28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion1 to assert claims based on Blakely v. Washington, ___ U.S. ___, 124

S.Ct. 2531 (2004). (Doc. 27.)

Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a) instructs that leave of the court to amend pleadings “shall be freely

given when justice so requires.” Nevertheless, a motion to amend may be denied on

“numerous grounds, such as undue delay, undue prejudice to the defendants, and futility of

the amendment.” Maynard v. Bd. of Regents of Universities of Fla. Dept. of Educ., 342 F.3d

1281, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). In In re Dean,

375 F.3d 1287 (11th Cir. 2004), the court held that Blakely is not to be applied retroactively

to cases that become final before that case was decided. A review of the record reflects that

Fears’s convictions became final well before Blakely was decided. Thus, Fears’s amendment

is futile as a matter of law. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that the motion for leave to amend be and is hereby DENIED.

Case 3:02-cv-01028-MHT-DRB Document 38 Filed 05/06/05 Page 1 of 2
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Done this 6th day of May, 2005.

/s/ Delores R. Boyd

DELORES R. BOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:02-cv-01028-MHT-DRB Document 38 Filed 05/06/05 Page 2 of 2