Source: http://sc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140930_0002888.DSC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-09 05:49:11
Document Index: 267191190

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 636', '§ 2254', '§ 2244', '§ 2244', '§ 2244', '§ 2244', '§ 2254', '§ 2244']

| Cross v. Stevenson
Cross v. Stevenson
Edward L. Cross, #312071, a/k/a Edward Lee Cross, Petitioner,v.Warden Stevenson, Broad River Corr. Inst., Respondent.
Petitioner Edward L. Cross, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Civ. Rule 73.02(B)(2)(c) (D.S.C.), the undersigned is authorized to review such petitions and submit findings and recommendations to the district judge. For the reasons that follow, the undersigned recommends that the district judge dismiss the amended petition in this case without prejudice and without requiring the respondent to file an answer.
The instant amended petition is the second habeas action filed by Petitioner in this court challenging the same conviction.[1] See Cross v. Stevenson, C/A No.: 1:11-2874-RBH (" Cross I "). A review of Cross I reveals that Petitioner was indicted by the York County grand jury in December 2004 for trafficking cocaine. Cross I, Entry #55 at 3. On September 8-9, 2005, a jury tried and convicted Petitioner and the court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment. Id. Petitioner appealed his conviction and sentence to the South Carolina Court of Appeals ("Court of Appeals"), which dismissed the appeal on January 14, 2008. Id. at 3-4. Petitioner unsuccessfully sought rehearing. Id. at 4. Petitioner filed a pro se petition for writ of certiorari with the South Carolina Supreme Court that was denied on September 4, 2008. Id. The remittitur was issued on September 8, 2008. Id. Petitioner filed an application for post-conviction relief ("PCR") on April 29, 2009. Id. The PCR court issued an order on January 25, 2010, denying relief. Id. at 5. Petitioner filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the South Carolina Supreme Court, and on September 9, 2011, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied certiorari. Id. The remittitur issued on September 27, 2011. Id. Petitioner filed Cross I in this court on October 25, 2011. Cross I at Entry #1. This court considered the petition on the merits and granted respondent's motion for summary judgment. Id. at Entry #64. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Petitioner's appeal. Id. at Entry #72. The instant amended petition seeks a writ of habeas corpus on the same conviction.
Under established local procedure in this judicial district, a careful review has been made of this amended petition pursuant to the Rules Governing Section 2254 Proceedings for the United States District Court, the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214, and other habeas corpus statutes. Pro se complaints are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by attorneys. Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978). A federal court is charged with liberally construing a complaint filed by a pro se litigant to allow the development of a potentially meritorious case. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). When a federal court is evaluating a pro se complaint, the plaintiff's allegations are assumed to be true. Fine v. City of N.Y., 529 F.2d 70, 74 (2d Cir. 1975). The mandated liberal construction afforded to pro se pleadings means that if the court can reasonably read the pleadings to state a valid claim on which the plaintiff could prevail, it should do so. Nevertheless, the requirement of liberal construction does not mean that the court can ignore a clear failure in the pleading to allege facts that set forth a claim currently cognizable in a federal district court. Weller v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 901 F.2d 387, 390-91 (4th Cir. 1990).
The instant amended petition seeks a writ of habeas corpus on the same conviction as in Cross I. Under the AEDPA, an individual may not file a second or successive petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 without first receiving permission to do so from the appropriate circuit court of appeals. In re Vial, 115 F.3d 1192, 1194 (4th Cir. 1997). Specifically, 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) requires a prospective applicant to file with the court of appeals a motion for leave to file a second or successive habeas application in the district court. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A). A threejudge panel has thirty days to determine whether "the application makes a prima facie showing that the application satisfies the requirements of [28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)]." 28 U.S.C. §§ 2244(b)(3)(B)-(D). In order for this court to consider a second or successive § 2254 petition, Petitioner must obtain a Pre-Filing Authorization from the Fourth Circuit under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3). See In re Williams, 330 F.3d 277 (4th Cir. 2003); In re Fowlkes, 326 F.3d 542 (4th Cir. 2003). Because there is no showing that Petitioner obtained authorization from the Fourth Circuit to file this successive habeas petition in the district court, this court does not have jurisdiction to consider it. Therefore the undersigned recommends the petition be summarily dismissed.
Accordingly, the undersigned recommends that the district judge dismiss the amended petition without prejudice and without requiring respondent to file a return.