Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_01-cv-01550/USCOURTS-alnd-2_01-cv-01550-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

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Over the course of proceedings in this court, Dobyne has alleged a number of claims in four 1

petitions: i.e., his original “Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody” (doc.

no. 1); an “Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody” (doc. no. 5);

a “Revised Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus” (doc. no. 34); and the “Final Amended

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus” (doc. no. 41). 

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

WILLIE C. DOBYNE, )

 )

Petitioner, )

 )

vs. ) Civil Action No. CV 01-S-1550-S

 )

CHARLIES JONES, Warden, )

 )

Respondent. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On August 12, 2002, the petitioner, Willie C. Dobyne, filed a “Final Amended

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus” by a person in custody under a judgment of a

court of the State of Alabama. See doc. no. 41; 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Dobyne was

1

convicted of capital murder on May 6, 1992, and sentenced to death on June 24,

1992, in the Circuit Court for Bibb County, Alabama. Prior to filing the present case,

Dobyne unsuccessfully pursued relief from his conviction by way of direct and

collateral review. 

FILED

 2007 Oct-19 PM 02:08

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:01-cv-01550-CLS Document 83 Filed 10/19/07 Page 1 of 3
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This court entered a Memorandum Opinion on April 13, 2007, in which

Dobyne was granted evidentiary hearings regarding his Juror Misconduct and Eighth

Amendment (Atkins) mental retardation claims, with “[a]ll other issues raised in

Dobyne’s final amended petition [being] held in abeyance, pending the conclusion

of the evidentiary hearings on the issue addressed above.” Doc. no. 63 at 72-73. 

Dobyne now has filed a motion to dismiss his habeas petitions with prejudice

pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See doc. no. 82.

In support of that motion, counsel for Dobyne represents, among other things, that:

2. On September 19, 2007, the parties entered into an agreement

for Mr. Dobyne to be re-sentenced to life without parole in exchange for

his relinquishing any and all further attacks upon his conviction and

sentence. 

3. On September 25, 2007, the parties filed in the Circuit Court

of Bibb County, Alabama: Mr. Dobyne’s Petition for Relief from

Sentence of Death pursuant to Rule 32, Alabama Rules of Criminal

Procedure (attached as Appendix A); the State’s Answer to Mr.

Dobyne’s Petition (attached as Appendix B); the parties’ Joint Motion

and Agreement (attached as Appendix C); an affidavit from undersigned

counsel (attached as [A]ppendix D); and the Agreement of the Parties

Regarding Petitioner’s Statement (attached as [A]ppendix E). 

4. On October 4, 2007, the Circuit Court of Bibb County issued

an order (attached as Appendix F) granting the parties’ joint motion,

vacating Mr. Dobyne’s death sentence, and re-sentencing him to life

imprisonment without parole. 

Case 2:01-cv-01550-CLS Document 83 Filed 10/19/07 Page 2 of 3
See supra note 1. 2

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5. Pursuant to the parties’ agreement, and as a result of the

Circuit Court’s October 4th Order, Petitioner moves to dismiss his

petition filed under 28 U.S. § 2254. 

Id. at 1-2. 

Careful examination of the Appendices attached to Dobyne’s motion assures

the court that the representations of counsel have been fully executed. Therefore,

pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Dobyne’s motion

to dismiss, with prejudice, his previously-filed petition for writ of habeas corpus, as

thrice amended, is due be granted. 2

A separate Order shall entered contemporaneously herewith. 

DONE this 19th day of October, 2007.

______________________________

United States District Judge

Case 2:01-cv-01550-CLS Document 83 Filed 10/19/07 Page 3 of 3