Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-16-30056/USCOURTS-ca5-16-30056-0/pdf.json

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

---

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 16-30056

DARRYL J. STERLING,

Petitioner-Appellant

v.

DARREL VANNOY, WARDEN, LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY,

Respondent-Appellee

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Louisiana

USDC No. 2:11-CV-449

Before CLEMENT, PRADO, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Darryl Sterling, Louisiana prisoner # 306435, seeks a certificate of 

appealability to appeal the district court’s denial of his motion for relief from 

judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).

“This Court must examine the basis of its jurisdiction, on its own motion, 

if necessary.” Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir.1987). A timely 

notice of appeal is a jurisdictional requirement in a civil case. Bowles v. 

Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214 (2007). Sterling had 30 days, or until January 15, 

 

* Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. 

R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

August 23, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 16-30056 Document: 00513648943 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/23/2016
No. 16-30056

2

2016, to file a timely notice of appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). He did 

not file a notice of appeal until after this appeal period expired. He also does 

not certify that he placed his notice of appeal in the prison mail system “on or 

before the last day for filing.” Fed. R. App. P. 25(a)(2)(C). Indeed, the 

certificate of service accompanying Sterling’s notice of appeal states that he 

placed that notice in the prison mail system on January 18, 2016. Finally, 

Sterling “filed no motion to excuse the delay under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5).” 

Henry v. Estelle, 688 F.2d 407, 407 (5th Cir. 1982); see Mann v. Lynaugh, 840 

F.2d 1194, 1198–99 & n.4 (5th Cir. 1988). 

Because Sterling did not file a timely notice of appeal, Sterling’s motion 

for a certificate of appealability is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED for 

lack of jurisdiction. 

 Case: 16-30056 Document: 00513648943 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/23/2016