Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-3_04-cv-00594/USCOURTS-almd-3_04-cv-00594-2/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 DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

EASTERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )

 ) 3:04cv594-MHT

v. ) WO

)

THOMAS JACKSON MADDOX )

ORDER ON MOTION

On January 9, 2006, the movant, Thomas Jackson Maddox, filed a pleading styled as

a “Motion Seeking Permission to File Supplemental Pleading Pursuant to Rule 15(d) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” (Doc. 36.) The court construes Maddox’s pleading to

contain a motion for leave to amend his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to assert claims based on

United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738 (2005).

Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a) instructs that leave of the court to amend pleadings “shall be freely

given when justice so requires.” Nevertheless, a motion to amend may be denied on

“numerous grounds, such as undue delay, undue prejudice to the defendants, and futility of

the amendment.” Maynard v. Bd. of Regents of Universities of Fla. Dept. of Educ., 342 F.3d

1281, 1287 (11 Cir. 2003) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). The claims in th

the instant motion are premised on United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738

(2005). However, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has held that Booker does not apply

retroactively to cases that become final before Booker was decided. See Varela v. United

States, 400 F.3d 864, 866-67 (11 Cir. 2005) (initial § 2255 proceedings); In re Anderson,

th

396 F.3d 1336, 1339-40 (11 Cir. 2005) (second or successive applications). A review of th

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the record reflects that Maddox’s conviction became final before Booker was decided. Thus,

Maddox’s amendment is futile as a matter of law. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that the motion for leave to amend be and is hereby DENIED.

Done this 11 day of January, 2006. th

/s/ Delores R. Boyd

DELORES R. BOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:04-cv-00594-MHT-DRB Document 37 Filed 01/11/06 Page 2 of 2