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JDDL

WO MDR

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America, 

Plaintiff,

v.

Carlos Perez-Medina, 

Defendant/Movant. 

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No. CR 98-817-PHX-SMM

No. CV 07-1512-PHX-SMM (MHB)

ORDER

Movant Carlos Perez-Medina, who is confined in the Corrections Corporation of

America’s Florence Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona, has filed a pro se “Motion for

Time Reduction by an Inmate in Federal Custody, (28 U.S.C. § 2255)” (“Motion”). The

Court will deny the Motion with leave to amend.

I. Failure to Use the Court-Approved Form

The Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts

allow the Court, by local rule, to prescribe a form to be used for filing a § 2255 motion. See

Rule 2(c), Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings, foll. 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Under this

Court’s local rule, Movant must use the court-approved form when he files a pro se motion

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See LRCiv 3.5(a). Movant has not used the court-approved

form. 

The Court may, in its discretion, forgo the requirement that a movant use a courtapproved form. See LRCiv 3.5(a). The Court will require use of the court-approved form

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because Movant’s Motion does not substantially comply with the court-approved form.

Therefore, the Motion will be denied with leave to file an amended motion within 30 days.

II. Leave to Amend

Within 30 days, Movant may submit an amended motion on the court-approved form.

The Clerk of Court will mail Movant a court-approved form to use for filing an amended

motion. Movant must submit the amended motion on the court-approved form and sign it

under penalty of perjury. If Movant fails to file an amended motion within 30 days from the

date of filing of this Order, the Court will dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice

to Movant. If Movant fails to use the court-approved form, the Court may strike the

amended motion and dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice to Movant. 

Movant must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is an “Amended

Motion.” The amended motion must be retyped or rewritten in its entirety on a courtapproved form and may not incorporate any part of the original Motion by reference.

Movant must describe each ground for relief and the facts supporting each ground. 

An amended motion supersedes an original motion. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d

1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546

(9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will treat an original motion as nonexistent.

Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any ground for relief that was raised in the original Motion is

waived if it is not raised in an amended motion. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th

Cir. 1987).

III. Warnings

A. Address Changes

Movant must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule

83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Movant must not include a motion for other

relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this

§ 2255 action.

. . . .

. . . .

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B. Copies

Movant must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See

LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the filing being stricken

without further notice to Movant.

C. Possible dismissal

If Movant fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these

warnings, the Court may dismiss this § 2255 action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963

F.2d at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order

of the Court).

IT IS ORDERED: 

(1) Movant’s “Motion for Time Reduction by an Inmate in Federal Custody, (28

U.S.C. § 2255)” (Doc. #30 in CR 98-817-PHX-SMM) is denied with leave to amend.

Movant has 30 days from the date of filing of this Order to file an amended motion in

compliance with this Order.

(2) If Movant fails to file an amended motion within 30 days, the Clerk of Court

must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this § 2255 action, without

prejudice.

(3) The Clerk of Court must mail Movant a court-approved form for filing a

Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence By a Person in Federal Custody (28 U.S.C.

§ 2255).

DATED this 21st day of August, 2007.

Case 2:98-cr-00817-SMM Document 32 Filed 08/22/07 Page 3 of 15
Revised 3/9/07 1

Instructions for Filing a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence

by a Person in Federal Custody (Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255)

in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

1. Who May Use This Form. To use this form, you must be a person who is serving a sentence

under a judgment against you in a federal court. You also may use this form to challenge a

federal judgment that imposed a sentence to be served in the future. You are asking for relief

from the conviction or the sentence. This form is your motion for relief. In this motion, you

may challenge only one judgment. If you want to challenge more than one judgment, you must

file a separate motion for each judgment. This form should not be used in death penalty cases.

If you were sentenced to death, you are entitled to the assistance of counsel and you should

request the appointment of counsel.

2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.5(a) requires that motions to vacate

must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or neatly handwritten. All

questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If

needed, you may attach additional pages. The form, however, must be completely filled in to

the extent applicable. You do not need to cite law. If you want to file a brief or arguments, you

must attach a separate memorandum.

3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of

a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury.

4. No Filing Fee. No fee is required with this motion.

5. Original and Judge’s Copy. You must send an original and one copy of your motion and of

any other document submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court

if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be

identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten.

6. Where to File. You must file the form in the United States District Court that entered the

judgment that you are challenging. When you have completed the form, mail the original and

one copy to the Clerk of the United States District Court at the division where you were

sentenced:

Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: OR Tucson Division:

U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. District Court Clerk

U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130 U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500

401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 405 West Congress Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010

7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and respondents in writing of

any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your mailing

address may result in the dismissal of your case.

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8. Certificate of Service. You must provide the respondent with a copy of any document you

submit to the Court (except the initial motion to vacate). Each original document (except the

initial motion to vacate) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document

stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the respondent and the address to which

it was mailed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not

include a certificate of service may be stricken. A certificate of service should be in the

following form:

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed

this (month, day, year) to:

Name: 

Address: 

 Attorney for Respondent

 

(Signature)

9. Amended Motion to Vacate. If you need to change any of the information in the initial

motion to vacate, you must file an amended motion. The amended motion must be written on

the court-approved motion to vacate form. You may file one amended motion without leave

(permission) of Court before the respondent has answered your original motion to vacate. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). After the respondent has filed an answer, you must file a motion for leave

to amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended motion to vacate. LRCiv 15.1. An amended

motion may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior motion. LRCiv 15.1(a)(2). Any

grounds not included in the amended motion to vacate are considered dismissed.

10. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff

of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written

pleading or motion. 

11. Grounds for Relief. You must raise all grounds for relief that relate to this conviction or

sentence. Any grounds not raised in this motion will likely be barred from being raised at a later

date.

FINAL NOTE

You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your

motion being stricken or dismissed by the Court. All questions must be answered concisely in

the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach additional pages. But

the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages,

be sure to identify which section of the motion is being continued and number all pages.

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Revised 3/9/07 1 510

Name and Prisoner/Booking Number

Place of Confinement

Mailing Address

City, State, Zip Code

(Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America, ) No. CR 

) (Enter your criminal case number)

Plaintiff, )

) No. CV 

vs. ) (To be supplied by the Clerk)

)

 , ) MOTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255

(Full name of Movant. Include the name under ) TO VACATE, SET ASIDE OR

which you were convicted.) ) CORRECT SENTENCE BY A

) PERSON IN FEDERAL CUSTODY

Defendant/Movant. )

)

1. (a) Name and location of court that entered the judgment of conviction you are challenging: 

(b) Criminal docket or case number: 

2. Date of judgment of conviction: 

3. In this case, were you convicted on more than one count or crime? Yes G No G

4. Identify all counts and crimes for which you were convicted and sentenced in this case: 

Case 2:98-cr-00817-SMM Document 32 Filed 08/22/07 Page 6 of 15
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5. Length of sentence for each count or crime for which you were convicted in this case: 

6. (a) What was your plea?

Not guilty G

Guilty G

Nolo contendere (no contest) G

(b) If you entered a guilty plea to one count or charge, and a not guilty plea to another count or charge,

give details: 

(c) If you went to trial, what kind of trial did you have? (Check one) Jury G Judge only G

7. Did you appeal from the judgment of conviction? Yes G No G

If yes, answer the following:

(a) Date you filed: 

(b) Docket or case number: 

(c) Result: 

(d) Date of result: 

(e) Grounds raised: 

Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court.

8. Did you file a petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court? Yes G No G

If yes, answer the following:

(a) Date you filed: 

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(b) Docket or case number: 

(c) Result: 

(d) Date of result: 

(e) Grounds raised: 

Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court.

9. Other than the direct appeals listed above, have you filed any other petitions, applications or motions

concerning this judgment of conviction in any court? Yes G No G

If yes, answer the following:

(a) First petition, application or motion.

(1) Date you filed: 

(2) Name of court: 

(3) Nature of the proceeding: 

(4) Docket or case number: 

(5) Result: 

(6) Date of result: 

(7) Grounds raised: 

Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court.

(b) Second petition, application or motion.

(1) Date you filed: 

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(2) Name of court: 

(3) Nature of the proceeding: 

(4) Docket or case number: 

(5) Result: 

(6) Date of result: 

(7) Grounds raised: 

Attach, if available, a copy of any brief filed on your behalf and a copy of the decision by the court.

(c) Did you appeal the action taken on your petition, application or motion?

(1) First petition: Yes G No G

(2) Second petition: Yes G No G

(d) If you did not appeal from the action your petition, application or motion, explain why you did not:

12. For this motion, beginning on the next page, state every ground on which you claim that you are being

held in violation of the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. Attach additional pages if you have

more than four grounds. State the facts supporting each ground.

CAUTION: If you fail to set forth all the grounds in this motion, you may be barred from presenting

additional grounds at a later date.

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GROUND ONE: 

(a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):

(b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground One to the court of appeals? Yes G No G

(c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 

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GROUND TWO: 

(a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):

(b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Two to the court of appeals? Yes G No G

(c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 

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GROUND THREE: 

(a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):

(b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Three to the court of appeals? Yes G No G

(c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 

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GROUND FOUR: 

(a) Supporting FACTS (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):

(b) Did you present the issue raised in Ground Four to the court of appeals? Yes G No G

(c) If you did not raise this issue in a direct appeal, explain why: 

Case 2:98-cr-00817-SMM Document 32 Filed 08/22/07 Page 13 of 15
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Please answer these additional questions about this motion: 

13. Do you have any motion, petition, or appeal now pending (filed and not decided yet) in any court for the

judgment you are challenging? Yes G No G

If yes, give the date of filing, the name and location of the court, the docket or case number, the type of

proceeding, and the issues raised: 

14. Do you have any future sentence to serve after you complete the sentence imposed by the judgment you

are challenging? Yes G No G

If yes, answer the following:

(a) Name and location of the court that imposed the sentence to be served in the future: 

(b) Date the sentence was imposed: 

(c) Length of the sentence: 

(d) Have you filed, or do you plan to file, any motion, petition or application that challenges the judgment

or sentence to be served in the future? Yes G No G

15. TIMELINESS OF MOTION: If your judgment of conviction challenged in this motion became final more

than one year ago, you must explain why the one-year statute of limitations in 28 U.S.C. § 2255 does not bar

your motion.* 

*Section 2255 provides in part that:

A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to a motion under this section. The limitation period shall run

from the latest of —

(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final;

Case 2:98-cr-00817-SMM Document 32 Filed 08/22/07 Page 14 of 15
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(2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in

violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the movant was

prevented from making such a motion by such governmental action;

(3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if that

right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to

cases on collateral review; or

(4) the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims presented could have been

discovered through the exercise of due diligence.

16. Movant asks that the Court grant the following relief: 

or any other relief to which Movant may be entitled. (Money damages are not available in § 2255 cases.)

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct and that this Motion under 28

U.S.C. § 2255 was placed in the prison mailing system on (month, day, year).

Signature of Movant

Signature of attorney, if any Date

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