Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00645/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00645-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 540
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Mandamus and Other
Cause of Action: 28:1651 Petition for Writ of Coram Nobis

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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANTHONY LEON GREENHILL, )

 )

Petitioner, )

 )

v. )

)

 )

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

 )

Respondent. )

____________________________________) 

1:07-CV-00645 AWI NEW (DLB) HC 

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION 

Petitioner is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of coram nobis.

DISCUSSION

Coram nobis is an extraordinary writ that is usually available only to petitioners who

have fully served their sentences. See United States v. Monreal, 301 F.3d 1127, 1131, 1132 (9th Cir.

2002); Telink, Inc. v. United States, 24 F.3d 42, 45 (9th Cir.1994). “The United States Supreme

Court has held that district courts have the power to issue the writ under the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C.

§ 1651(a).” Matus-Leva v. United States, 287 F.3d 758, 760 (9th Cir.2002) (citing United States v.

Morgan, 346 U.S. 502, 506-07, 74 S.Ct. 247 (1954)). To warrant coram nobis relief, the petitioner

must establish that: (1) a more usual remedy is not available; (2) valid reasons exist for not attacking

the conviction earlier; (3) adverse consequences exist from the conviction sufficient to satisfy the

Case 1:07-cv-00645-AWI-LJO Document 7 Filed 07/23/07 Page 1 of 2
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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 2

case or controversy requirement of Article III; and (4) the error is of a fundamental character. See

Monreal, 301 F.3d at 1132, Matus-Leva, 287 F.3d at 760.

Although this Court has the inherent power to issue the writ, such a remedy is only available

to challenge federal convictions. Yasui v. United States, 772 F.2d 1496, 1498 (9th Cir. 2002 1985). 

As the Ninth Circuit explained:

The writ of error coram nobis fills a void in the availability of post-conviction remedies in

federal criminal cases. A convicted defendant who is in federal custody and claims that his

sentence “was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States ... or is

otherwise subject to collateral attack” may move to have his sentence vacated, set aside, or

corrected under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. But a defendant who has served his sentence and been

released from custody has no statutory avenue to relief from the lingering collateral

consequences of an unconstitutional or unlawful conviction based on errors of fact. 

Yasui, 772 F.2d at 1498.

Here, Petitioner is challenging two state convictions. Accordingly, coram nobis is not an

available remedy, and the petition must be dismissed. 

RECOMMENDATION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus

be DISMISSED with prejudice.

This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii, United

States District Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 72-304

of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. 

Within thirty (30) days (plus three days for mailing) after being served with a copy, any party may

file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be

captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The Court will then

review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(C). The parties are advised

that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District

Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: July 21, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00645-AWI-LJO Document 7 Filed 07/23/07 Page 2 of 2