Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-3_12-cv-00979/USCOURTS-almd-3_12-cv-00979-1/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 

FORTHE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA 

EASTERN DIVISION 

MARK CEDRIC BASS, #279 120, ) 

 ) 

 Petitioner, ) 

 ) 

vs. ) CASE NO. 3:12-cv-979-WHA 

 ) 

GARY HETZEL, WARDEN, et al., ) (WO) 

 ) 

 Respondents. ) 

ORDER

 This case is before the court on the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Doc. #12), 

entered on October 22, 2015, and the Petitioner’s Objection (Doc. #13), filed on November 9, 

2015. 

 The court has conducted an independent evaluation and de novo review of the file in this 

case and, having done so, finds the objection to be without merit. 

 Petitioner has filed an objection to the Recommendation wherein the Magistrate Judge 

recommends that Petitioner’s application for habeas relief be denied and dismissed. Petitioner 

presented one issue in his petition: he alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to 

challenge whether the State’s DNA expert was properly qualified to testify as an expert witness. 

The Magistrate Judge concluded that Petitioner defaulted his claim for relief. The court agrees. 

 Petitioner, in his objection, essentially re-argues the merits of his ineffectiveness claim. 

To the extent he asserts additional claims for relief, i.e., ineffective assistance of appellate 

counsel, a Brady violation, and actual innocence, he may not amend his petition by presenting 

Case 3:12-cv-00979-WHA-TFM Document 14 Filed 11/30/15 Page 1 of 2
new claims in his objection. See e.g., Gilmour v. Gates, McDonald & Co., 382, F.3d 1312, 

1315 (11th Cir. 2004). 

 For these reasons, the objection is OVERRULED, the court ADOPTS the 

Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, and it is hereby 

 ORDERED that this petition for habeas corpus relief is DENIED, and this case is 

DISMISSED with prejudice. 

 DONE this 30th day of November, 2015. 

 /s/ W. Harold Albritton 

 W. HAROLD ALBRITTON 

 SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 3:12-cv-00979-WHA-TFM Document 14 Filed 11/30/15 Page 2 of 2