Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01047/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01047-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN EPPS, No. 2:04-cv-01047-MCE-KJM P

Petitioner, 

vs. ORDER

TOM L. CAREY,

Respondent.

 /

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for a writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On September 26, 2007, judgment was entered in this court

denying the petition. On November 1, 2007, petitioner filed a notice of appeal. Before petitioner

can appeal this decision, a certificate of appealability must issue. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); Fed. R

.App. P. 22(b).

Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b) requires the district court judge who rendered

a judgment denying such petition to “either issue a certificate of probable cause or state the

reasons why such a certificate should not issue.”

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Case 2:04-cv-01047-MCE -KJM Document 43 Filed 03/14/08 Page 1 of 2
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 On January 14, 2008 the magistrate judge assigned to this case ordered petitioner to

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indicate when he gave his notice of appeal to prison officials for mailing in order to determine if

petitioner mailed his notice of appeal within thirty days of judgment thereby rendering it timely. 

See Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 270 (1988). Although the order was properly served on

petitioner, the order was returned to the court because plaintiff no longer resides at the address he

provided to the court. 

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The timely filing of a notice of appeal is a jurisdictional requirement. Scott v. Younger,

739 F.2d 1464, 1466 (9th Cir. 1984). Here, the time limit for filing a notice of appeal 

following entry of judgment is thirty days. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a). Petitioner's notice of appeal

in this action was filed more than thirty days after entry of judgment. 

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held that the issuance of a

certificate of probable cause cannot vest the court of appeals with jurisdiction if jurisdiction is

not proper in that court. Hayward v. Britt, 572 F.2d 1324, 1325 (9th Cir. 1978). The rationale of

Hayward applies with equal force to a certificate of appealability. For these reasons, the court

declines to issue a certificate of appealability.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 13, 2008

________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:04-cv-01047-MCE -KJM Document 43 Filed 03/14/08 Page 2 of 2