Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04026/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04026-1/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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1 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

TEXARKANA DIVISION 

AMBER YBARRA PETITIONER 

v. Case No. 4:24-cv-04026-SOH-BAB 

 

DEXTER PAYNE, Director 

Arkansas Division of Correction RESPONDENT 

ORDER

On March 28, 2024, Amber Ybarra (“Ybarra”) filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (“Petition”). ECF No. 1.1 On June 5, 2024, the Court dismissed 

Ybarra’s Petition without prejudice. ECF No. 10. 

Before the Court is Respondent’s Motion to Alter Judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of 

Civil Procedure 59(e). ECF No. 11. In the instant motion, Respondent argues the Court’s order 

incorrectly dismissed the Petition without prejudice. Respondent notes the dismissal resulted from 

Petitioner failing to exhaust the required state remedies and contends that such a dismissal is 

equivalent to a determination on the merits. 

Upon review, the Court finds Respondent has shown good cause for the instant motion. 

Petitioner’s petition was dismissed because her claims were procedurally defaulted. See Walker v. 

Lockhart, 852 F.2d 379, 381 (8th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1088 (1989). Dismissal for 

such procedural default functions as a final determination on the merits. See Caton v. Clarke, 70 

F.3d 64, 65 (8th Cir.1995) (per curiam), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1173 (1996). 

1 On June 3, 2024, the Parties consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge to conduct all proceedings in this 

case, including conducting the trial, ordering the entry of a final judgment, and conducting all post-judgment 

proceedings. ECF No. 9. Pursuant to Rule 10 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, a Magistrate Judge may 

perform any of the duties of a District Judge, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636.

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2 

Accordingly, Respondent’s Motion to Alter Judgment (ECF No. 11) is hereby 

GRANTED. Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 1) is hereby DISMISSED 

WITH PREJUDICE. 

 DATED this 10th day of July 2024.

 /s/ Barry A. Bryant 

HON. BARRY A. BRYANT 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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