Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_14-cv-08019/USCOURTS-alnd-2_14-cv-08019-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

ALONZO HOUSTON, )

Movant/Defendant, )

v. ) 2:04-cr-179-JHH

 2:14-cv-8019-JHH

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

Respondent. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The court has before it the April 21, 2014 Motion (Doc. #1) to Vacate, Set

Aside, or Correct Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 filed by Alanzo Houston. 

Pursuant to the court’s April 24, 2014 order (Doc. #3), the United States Government

filed a Response, arguing that the Motion should be dismissed in its entirety as

untimely and successive. (Doc. #7.) Houston filed a Response (Doc. # 13) to the

Government’s arguments on June 1, 2014. The Motion (Doc. #1) to Vacate is now

under submission and due to be denied.

The Motion (Doc. #1) is due to be denied is because it is Houston’s second

motion filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Hisfirst motion wasfiled on July 24, 2007, and

that motion was dismissed with prejudice on August 4, 2008. (See 2:07-cv-8023-

FILED

 2014 Aug-28 PM 12:18

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:14-cv-08019-JHH Document 14 Filed 08/28/14 Page 1 of 2
JHH-PWG.) Houston filed the instant Motion on April 21, 2014.

The law is clear that a successive motion pursuant to § 2255 may not be

reviewed by this court unless the defendant first obtains permission – a certificate of

appealability – from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to file the same. 28

U.S.C. § 2255(h); 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A); Jackson v. Crosby, 437 F.3d 1290,

1294-95 (11th Cir. 2006). Houston does not have the required certificate of

appealability. As such, the court’s hands are tied, and it cannot consider the present

motion. Because Houston has not satisfied this requirement, the court is without

jurisdiction to entertain his successive § 2255 motion, and the Motion to Vacate (Doc.

# 1) is due to be denied.

1

A separate order will be entered dismissing this action without prejudice. The

Clerk is DIRECTED to mail a copy of this order to the Movant and the United States

Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.

DONE this the 28th day of August, 2014.

 

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

 The court does not address the government’s argument regarding the timeliness of the 1

motion or Houston’s response.

2

Case 2:14-cv-08019-JHH Document 14 Filed 08/28/14 Page 2 of 2