Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_07-cv-00004/USCOURTS-almd-2_07-cv-00004-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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Maner lists the date of his murder conviction as January 29, 1976, which apparently represents the

date of his initial conviction for this offense. Petition for Habeas Corpus Relief at 2. However, the

conviction imposed in 1976 was reversed on direct appeal. See Maner v. Oliver, Civil Action No. 79-206-N

(M.D. Ala. 1980) - Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge at 1. The murder conviction on which Maner

is now incarcerated and, therefore, the conviction presently under attack transpired in the Circuit Court of

Montgomery County on September 28, 1977. Id. 

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHERN DIVISION

JESSE L. MANER, #113975, )

)

 Petitioner, )

)

v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:07-CV-0004-WKW

)

ARNOLD HOLT, et al., )

)

 Respondents. )

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE

This cause of action is before the court on a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas

corpus relief filed by Jesse L. Maner [“Maner”], a state inmate, on January 3, 2007. In this

petition, Maner challenges a murder conviction entered against him by the Circuit Court of

Montgomery County, Alabama in September of 1977.1

 The trial court imposed a sentence

of life imprisonment for this conviction. 

DISCUSSION

A review of this court’s records reveals that Maner has filed three previous habeas

petitions pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging his 1977 murder

conviction. See Maner v. State of Alabama, Civil Action No. 78-269-N (M.D. Ala. 1978);

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Maner v. Oliver, Civil Action No. 79-206-N (M.D. Ala. 1980); Maner v. McDonnell, et al.,

Civil Action No. 2:05-CV-51-F (M.D. Ala. 2005). In each of the first two prior habeas

actions, the court decided the claims raised by Maner adversely to him on the merits. With

respect to the third application for habeas corpus relief, this court summarily dismissed the

petition in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) as Maner had not

obtained an order from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals authorizing this court to

consider a successive application for habeas relief. 

As herein above indicated, 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) requires that “[b]efore a second

or successive application permitted by this section is filed in the district court, the applicant

shall move in the appropriate court of appeals for an order authorizing the district court to

consider the application.” “A motion in the court of appeals for an order authorizing the

district court to consider a second or successive application shall be determined by a threejudge panel of the court of appeals” and may be granted “only if [the assigned panel of

judges] determines that the application makes a prima facie showing that the application

satisfies the requirements of [28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2)].” 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(B) and (C).

It is clear from the pleadings filed by Maner that he has not received an order from

a three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals authorizing this court to

consider a successive application for habeas relief. “Because this undertaking [is Maner’s

fourth] habeas corpus petition and because he had no permission from [the Eleventh Circuit]

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The court notes that any § 2254 petition filed by Maner is likewise subject to the one-year period

of limitation contained in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Moreover, the court finds that there are no circumstances

present in this case which “would entitle [Maner] in the interest of justice to transfer [pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1631] or stay . . . because the limitations period had already expired before he filed” the instant habeas

action. Guenther v. Holt, 173 F.3d 1328, 1330-1331 (11th Cir. 1999). 

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to file a [fourth] habeas petition, . . . the district court lack[s] jurisdiction to grant the

requested relief.” Gilreath v. State Board of Pardons and Paroles, 273 F.3d 932, 933 (11th

Cir. 2001). Consequently, the present petition for habeas corpus relief is due to be

summarily dismissed. Id. at 934.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the undersigned Magistrate Judge

that:

1. The 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas corpus relief filed by Jesse L. Maner on

January 3, 2007 be DENIED.

2. This cause of action be DISMISSED in accordance with the provisions of 28

U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) as Maner has failed to obtain the requisite order from the Eleventh

Circuit Court of Appeals authorizing this court to consider a successive habeas application.2

It is further 

ORDERED that on or before January 25, 2007 the parties may file objections to the

Recommendation. Any objections filed must specifically identify the findings in the

Magistrate Judge's Recommendation to which the party is objecting. Frivolous, conclusive

or general objections will not be considered by the District Court. The parties are advised

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that this Recommendation is not a final order of the court and, therefore, it is not appealable.

Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and advisements in the

Magistrate Judge's Recommendation shall bar the party from a de novo determination by the

District Court of issues covered in the Recommendation and shall bar the party from

attacking on appeal factual findings in the Recommendation accepted or adopted by the

District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Nettles v.

Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982). See Stein v. Reynolds Securities, Inc., 667 F.2d

33 (11th Cir. 1982). See also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981, en

banc), adopting as binding precedent all of the decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed

down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981.

DONE, this 12 day of January, 2007.

/s/ Susan Russ Walker 

SUSAN RUSS WALKER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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