Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-07-02253/USCOURTS-ca10-07-02253-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 

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FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

July 28, 2008

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

LAWRENCE MASSENGILL,

 Petitioner - Appellant,

v.

ERASMO BRAVO, Warden, Lea County

Correctional Facility; ATTORNEY

GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF NEW

MEXICO,

 Respondents - Appellees.

 No. 07-2253

(D.C. No. 04-CV-456-RB/WDS)

 

ORDER

Before LUCERO, TYMOVICH and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges.

This is an appeal from an order of the U.S. District Court for the District of New

Mexico dismissing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2254. The case was briefed and was argued to this court on July 23, 2008. 

Appellant’s counsel has now filed a “Suggestion of Death,” indicating that counsel

just learned that the appellant, Lawrence Massengill, died on July 16, 2008, while

incarcerated in a New Mexico state prison facility.

The death of a petitioner during the appeal from a decision in a habeas corpus

proceeding renders the appeal moot. Knapp v. Baker, 509 F.2d 922 (5 Cir. 1975); th

United States ex rel. Lynch v. Fay, 284 F.2d 301 (2 Cir. 1960); Hann v. Hawk, 205 F.2d nd

Appellate Case: 07-2253 Document: 01012975470 Date Filed: 07/28/2008 Page: 1 
2

839 (8 Cir. 1953); 16A Fed. Proc., L. Ed. § 41:63 (“A petitioner’s attack on a criminal th

conviction or sentence is rendered moot by the death of the petitioner.”)

The appeal having been rendered moot by the death of Mr. Massengill, this appeal

is dismissed. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court

ELISABETH A. SHUMAKER

Clerk of Court

by:

Douglas E. Cressler

Chief Deputy Clerk

Appellate Case: 07-2253 Document: 01012975470 Date Filed: 07/28/2008 Page: 2