The Honorable Stephen J. Murphy, III, United States District Judge for the Eastern District *

of Michigan, sitting by designation. 

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION

File Name: 10a0677n.06

No. 08-4654

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

MATTHEW L. HILL,

Petitioner-Appellee,

v.

MICHAEL SHEETS, Warden,

Respondent-Appellant.

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ON APPEAL FROM THE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT

COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN

D I S T R I C T O F O H I O

Before: GRIFFIN and WHITE, Circuit Judges; MURPHY, District Judge.*

HELENE N. WHITE, Circuit Judge. In this habeas corpus proceeding, Warden Michael

Sheets appeals the district court’s order vacating petitioner Matthew Hill’s sentence and directing

that Hill either be resentenced or released as a remedy for the violation of his constitutional rights

under Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). We DISMISS the petition for lack of

jurisdiction.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

We accept the state appellate court’s summary of the case: 

On February 2, 2004, Appellant entered the residence of Danny Thornhill.

An altercation occurred between Appellant and Thornhill. During this altercation,

Thornhill was struck repeatedly with a handgun. Thornhill fled the residence,

followed by Appellant who fired at least two shots at Thornhill. By the time police

arrived, Appellant had fled from the scene. 
No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

At sentencing, the trial court explained its reasons for the sentence:

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The Court also finds that, given your prior criminal history going back to a

juvenile, which includes robbery, thefts, the normal run-a-way type offenses as well

as aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, you have hurt

people in the past and obviously you have not learned from it; including a domestic

violence in 2003 and discharging a firearm in 2004, and then you go break into a

person’s house and end up shooting at him on the street.

Based on that, the Court finds, first of all, that a prison sentence is

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On February 11, 2004, the Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted Appellant

on the following charges: one count of Aggravated Robbery with a gun specification,

in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 2911.01(A)(1) and 2941.145, a felony of

the first degree; one count of Aggravated Burglary with a gun specification, in

violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 2911.11(A)(2) and 2941.145, a felony of the

first degree; two counts of Felonious Assault with a gun specification, in violation

of Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.11(A)(2) and 2941.145, a felony of the second

degree; one count of Theft of a Firearm, in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section

2913.02(A)(1) and 2941.145, a felony of the fourth degree; and one count of

Aggravated Burglary with a gun specification, in violation of Ohio Revised Code

Section 2911.11(A)(1) and 2941.145, a felony of the first degree.

On February 18, 2004, appellant appeared for arraignment and pled “not

guilty” to all counts set forth in the Indictment. 

On August 3, 2004, a jury heard the case. At the conclusion of the trial, the

jury deliberated and returned a verdict of “guilty” on the two counts of Felonious

Assault with a gun specification, in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section

2903.11(A)(2) and 2941.145, both felonies of the second degree. The [j]ury found

Appellant “not guilty” on all other counts.

Appellant was sentenced on September 20, 2004. At the sentencing hearing,

the trial court heard the report of the presentence investigator and the arguments of

counsel for the respective parties before pronouncing sentence. Ultimately, the trial

court sentenced Appellant to serve a prison sentence of eight years on each count of

Felonious Assault and three years on each gun specification, all sentences to be

served consecutive to one another for a total sentence of 22 years. This sentence is

the maximum sentence that Appellant could have received for the crimes for which

he was convicted.[ ]

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No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

appropriate. The Court also finds that the minimum sentence would demean the

seriousness of the offense and also not adequately protect society, and the maximum

sentence is necessary to protect society because you create the greatest likelihood of

committing further crimes of similar nature. You have throughout your history so

far. Therefore, the Court will impose an 8-year sentence on each of the felonies of

the second degree.

The Court also finds that your criminal history shows that consecutive terms

are needed to protect the public. Therefore, the Court will order the 8-year sentences

be served consecutively. Given your nature and your history and all that you have

done so far, the Court finds that it’s needed to protect the public.

The Court also imposes the 3-year gun specifications. Each of the gun

specifications must – by law must be served consecutively.

 Four days later, the trial court issued a written entry of judgment further explaining the sentence:

The Court finds that the presumption for second degree felonies is a prison

term and that a gun specification is a mandatory consecutive sentence.

The Court after consideration of purposes and principles under Revised Code

§ 2929.11, and the factors under § 2929.12 and § 2929.13(D), finds that the offenses

were facilitated by the defendant’s relationship with the victim, that he has a prior

adjudication, a history of criminal convictions, has failed to respond in the past to

probation, has failed to acknowledge a pattern of alcohol/drug abuse related to the

offenses, and shows no genuine remorse. The Court further finds that the Defendant

as a juvenile was convicted of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Aggravated Vehicular

Homicide, and Robbery; as an adult he has a conviction for domestic violence, and

was ordered to attend an anger management class. Based upon the factors found, the

Court finds that the presumption for prison has not been rebutted.

The Court further finds that a minimum sentence would demean the

seriousness of the offenses, and would not adequately protect society. The Court in

further consideration of the Defendant’s record finds that he has numerous prior

crimes of violence, that he has a continuing pattern of violent acts, and that he poses

the greatest likelihood of committing future crimes and in order to punish the

defendant and protect the public maximum consecutive sentences are not only

warranted, but are not disproportionate to the danger the defendant poses. The Court

further finds that the offenses herein as well as the gun specifications are not of allied

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No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

similar import and the defendant shall be sentenced on both counts and both gun

specifications.

(emphasis removed.)

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Although the remaining procedural history in state court is complex, resolution of this appeal

does not require that we describe it in detail. It is sufficient to note that Hill challenged his

conviction in both direct-appeal and post-conviction proceedings, raising several grounds including

that his sentence violated Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). See also State v. Foster, 845

N.E.2d 470 (Ohio 2006).

In June 2007 Hill, pro se, filed a federal habeas petition in the district court. He raised two

claims: 1) that his sentence was unconstitutional because the trial judge decided sentencing factors

instead of the jury, and 2) that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a doublejeopardy claim on direct appeal. The Warden argued that Hill’s claims were procedurally defaulted

and meritless.

In July 2008, a magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation, finding that Hill had

procedurally defaulted his claimsin state court, but that the ineffective assistance of Hill’s appellate

counsel in failing to raise a Blakely claim provided cause and prejudice excusing the default. The

magistrate judge concluded that Hill’s Blakely claim had merit (and that his double-jeopardy claim

did not) and recommended conditionally granting the petition on the Blakely claim. Over the

Warden’s objections, the district court adopted the report and recommendation. The court’s

November 4, 2008, order vacated Hill’s sentence and directed that he “be released from incarceration

unless the state resentences him within sixty (60) days.” The Warden appealed.
No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

The timing was as follows: On November 28, 2008, Hill submitted pro se motions for 2

presentence investigation and appointment of counsel “following the issuance of a Writ of Habeas

Corpus by the United States District Court for Ohio on November 5, 2008, remanding defendant Hill

for resentencing in this Court.” Also on November 28, 2008, the Warden filed the stay motion in

federal district court. (R. 27.) Hill submitted his pro se brief opposing the motion on December 9,

2008. Hill filed his pro se state-court sentencing memorandum on December 16, 2008. On

December 17, 2008, the federal district court granted the stay. On December 22, 2008, the state

court held a hearing regarding resentencing and continued the matter to “more fully research the

details of the case.” The court, apparently unaware of the stay, cited Hill’s favorable habeas-corpus

judgment in federal court as the basis for resentencing. On December 29, 2008, the state court, still

apparently unaware of the stay, again referenced Hill’s favorable federal habeas judgment, and

resentenced Hill. Counsel for both Hill and the State of Ohio were present at both December statecourt resentencing hearings.

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 Two days after filing his notice of appeal, the Warden moved for a stay of final judgment

pending appeal, which the district court granted. By that time, Hill had filed pro se motions in state

court to begin the resentencing process. Hill was resentenced in state court on December 29, 2008, 2

by a different sentencing judge, to the same 22-year sentence. 

On appeal, Hill filed a motion for counsel, which was granted, as were the parties’ motions

to take judicial notice of Hill’s resentencing. 

DISCUSSION

First and foremost, this appeal presents a jurisdictional issue. As this court has explained,

Article III, Section 2 of the United States Constitution authorizes the federal judiciary

only to hear cases or controversies, and therefore federal courts may not exercise

jurisdiction when the controversy has been mooted, that is to say, when the issues

presented are no longer live or the parties lack a legally cognizable interest in the

outcome. 

Gentry v. Deuth, 456 F.3d 687, 693 (6th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

In Gentry, this court held that a prisoner’s release did not moot her habeas petition where her status
No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

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as a convicted felon would cause her to face “collateral consequences,” such as not being able vote

or hold public office, and being subject to federal criminal laws and restrictions that apply only to

felons. Id. at 694-95. The Gentry court distinguished the petitioner’s habeas claim, which

challenged her conviction, from those of individuals who had challenged only their sentences, or

conditions of confinement, and received full relief from any constitutional error once they were

released. Id. at 694; see also James v. Singletary, 995 F.2d 187, 188-89 (11th Cir. 1993) (federal

habeas petition challenging sentencing mooted when state courts resentenced petitioner). 

The district court’s order conditionally granting Hill’s petition vacated his sentence and

directed that he “be released from incarceration unless the state resentences him within sixty (60)

days.” Because the state resentenced Hill, he has obtained one of the two individually sufficient

options for relief ordered by the district court. Further, because Hill obtained habeas relief with

regard to his sentencing claim alone, he does not have a cognizable interest in avoiding the collateral

consequences of his conviction. As the Warden himself noted in his motion for stay, “[t]o

resentence Hill would effectively moot this litigation.” We agree. The appeal before us is moot. 

In their briefs, both parties assert that Hill’s resentencing was “void” pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2251(b). That statute states in relevant part: 

§ 2251 Stay of State court proceedings

(a) In general.– 

(1) Pending matters.– A justice or judge of the United States before

whom a habeas corpus proceeding is pending, may, before final

judgment or after final judgment of discharge, or pending appeal, stay

any proceeding against the person detained in any State court or by or
No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

This is precisely what the Warden had asked the district court to do. The Warden’s stay 3

motion consistently (and only) referred to the district court’s own November 4, 2008, order of final

judgment. The Warden’s stay motion was entitled “Respondent Sheets’ Motion for Stay of Court’s

November 4, 2008[,] Judgment.” Nor did the Warden’s motion cite § 2251 in its stay request. 

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under the authority of any State for any matter involved in the habeas

corpus proceeding. 

 . . . 

(b) No further proceedings.– After the granting of such a stay, any such proceeding

in any State court or by or under the authority of any State shall be void. If no stay

is granted, any such proceeding shall be as valid as if no habeas corpus proceedings

or appeal were pending.

28 U.S.C. § 2251 (bold removed).

Despite the parties’ concessions, it does not appear that 28 U.S.C. § 2251(b) applies here.

The stay provision allows federal courts to stay state-court proceedings. See § 2251(a)(1) (a federal

judge “may . . . stay any proceeding against the person detained in any State court”); 17B CHARLES

ALAN WRIGHT, ARTHUR MILLER, EDWARD H. COOPER, & VIKRAM DAVID AMAR,

FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, § 4268.4 (referring to § 2251, stating “[b]oth before

and after judgment the district court has authority to stay all state-court proceedings that have the

effect of defeating or impairing the federal court’s jurisdiction.”); McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849,

857 (1994) (“The federal habeas corpus statute grants any federal judge ‘before whom a habeas

corpus proceeding is pending’ power to stay a state-court action ‘for any matter involved in the

habeas corpus proceeding.’”) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2251, emphasis removed). Despite the parties’

assertions to the contrary, it is plain that the district court’s order did not stay any state-court

proceeding; rather, the court stayed its own judgment. See Opinion and Order, R.30 at 1 (“On 3

November 4, 2008 final judgment was entered . . . . This matter now is before the Court on
No. 08-4654

Hill v. Sheets

Nor does it appear that Hill’s resentencing violates the district court’s order. The order 4

granting the stay clearly envisioned affording the State time to resolve the appeal before being

compelled to resentence or release Hill. See R. 30 at 3, 2 (“By granting the request for a stay,

respondent will be able to obtain appellate review of this Court’s decision.”) (“the Court agrees that

respondent will suffer some injury absent a stay. If the Court doesn’t stay execution of the

conditional writ of habeas corpus, and the State of Ohio is required to re-sentence petitioner,

respondent’s appeal of this Court’s decision may be rendered moot.”). However, the order does not

purport to prevent the state from changing course and voluntarily participating in a resentencing

proceeding before resolution of the appeal.

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respondent’s request for a stay of final judgment . . . . respondent’s request for a stay [] is granted.”).

Thus, Hill’s resentencing is not void under 28 U.S.C. § 2251(b). 

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CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the appeal is moot. We DISMISS for lack of jurisdiction.