Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-07-06218/USCOURTS-ca10-07-06218-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Michael Wayne Howell
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

In re: MICHAEL WAYNE HOWELL,

Movant.

No. 07-6218

ORDER

Filed September 12, 2007

Before LUCERO, McCONNELL, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.

Michael Wayne Howell seeks authorization under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)

to file a second or successive habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging

the State’s intention to put him to death. Mr. Howell alleges that he is mentally

retarded and that his execution is barred by the Supreme Court’s decision in

Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002).

Under § 2244(b)(2)(A), a second or successive habeas petition may be

authorized if it involves “a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to

cases on collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously

unavailable.” Based upon our review of the materials submitted, we conclude that

Mr. Howell “has made the ‘prima facie showing,’ required by § 2244(b)(3)(C),

that his claim satisfies the conditions for proceeding on a second or successive

habeas petition under the new-rule-of-law provision in § 2244(b)(2)(A),” Ochoa

v. Sirmons, 485 F.3d 538, 539 (10th Cir. 2007).

Accordingly, we GRANT Mr. Howell authorization to pursue a second or

successive habeas petition raising an Atkins challenge to his death sentence. This

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decision is not appealable and may not be the subject of a petition for rehearing or

a petition for a writ of certiorari. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(E). Steven M. Presson

is appointed to represent Mr. Howell under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A in this court in

connection with this motion for authorization to file a second or successive

habeas petition. Also in connection with this proceeding, Mr. Presson is relieved

of the obligation of submitting additional hard copies of his motions to the court. 

The e-submissions already on file shall constitute the original pleadings in this

matter.

Entered for the Court,

Elisabeth A. Shumaker, Clerk of Court

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