Source: http://il.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20060822_0000475.CIL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-11-21 23:30:48
Document Index: 171474806

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 851', '§ 2255', '§ 2253', '§ 2253', '§2253', '§ 2253', '§ 2255', '§ 1915']

LEVENCE SIMPSON, PETITIONER,
Before the Court is Petitioner Levence Simpson's (Simpson") Motion for Certificate of Appealability ("COA") [Doc. #58] and Memorandum in Support [Doc. #66]; Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis ("IFP") on Appeal [Doc. #61]; and Motion for Reconsideration of Grounds 13 & 17 pursuant to Rule 15(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure [Doc. #65]. For the reasons that follow, all motions are DENIED.
On October 22, 2004, Simpson filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, raising twenty grounds for relief. All but two of his grounds for relief were denied by Order of this Court on July 13, 2005. See [Doc. #29]. On October 13, 2005, this court conducted an evidentiary hearing regarding the two remaining issues: (1) whether counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to reasonably investigate if the 1993 Peoria County felony drug conviction actually belonged to Simpson, and by failing to apprise him of both the consequences that a prior felony drug conviction would have on his sentence and of the fact that the Government intended to enhance his mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to § 851; and (2) whether counsel rendered ineffective assistance by advising Simpson to reject a plea agreement allegedly proposed by the Government.
Ultimately, the Court entered judgment against Simpson on his two remaining grounds for relief on May 10, 2006. See [Docs. #56 and #57]. In reaching its decision, the Court concluded that even assuming arguendo, that counsel's performance on behalf of Simpson was constitutionally deficient, Simpson still could not show that he suffered prejudice as a result thereof. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984) (stating that it is insufficient to simply prove that counsel's representation was constitutionally deficient; instead, a petitioner must also prove that he suffered prejudice as a result thereof). In other words, he was unable to meet his burden of establishing that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, there was a reasonable probability that he would have received a shorter sentence. See id.
A.Motion for Certificate of Appealability A federal prisoner seeking relief under § 2255 has no absolute entitlement to appeal a district court's denial of his motion. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). Before an appeal may be entertained by a federal court of appeals, a prisoner who was denied relief in the district court must first seek and obtain a COA from a circuit justice or judge. Id.
"A COA will issue only if the requirements of § 2253 have been satisfied." Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336 (2003). Section 2253(c) permits the issuance of a COA only where a petitioner "has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. §2253(c)(2); Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 336.
Although "a COA does not require a showing that the appeal will succeed[,]" it does require "something more than the absence of frivolity or the existence of mere good faith" on behalf of the petitioner. Miller-El, 537 U.S. at 337-38 (internal quotations omitted). As the Supreme Court explained, to obtain a COA under § 2253(c), a petitioner must "show that reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were 'adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.'" Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n4 (1983)).
Here, the Court is convinced that reasonable jurists would not find its denial of Simpson's § 2255 Motion debatable. First of all, as carefully explained by this Court in its Order dated July 13, 2005, all but two of Simpson's grounds for relief were completely devoid of merit. The remaining two grounds were the subject matter of an evidentiary hearing. However, during the hearing it became readily apparent that Simpson was unable to meet the second prong of the Strickland test --- that is, he could not show that he suffered any prejudice as a result of counsel's alleged ineffectiveness. Therefore, the Court finds that there are no grounds for issuing a COA to Simpson.
B. Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP on Appeal
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), the Court is required to screen Simpson's appeal to determine whether it is taken in good faith. See Lee v. Clinton, 209 F.3d 1025, 1026 (7th Cir. 2000). To meet the "good faith" requirement, a court must "find that a reasonable person could suppose that the appeal has some merit." Walker v. O'Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 632 (7th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).
Here, the Court does not believe Simpson's appeal is taken in "good faith," because under the facts of the instant case, a reasonable person could not suppose that his appeal had some merit. As such, Simpson's Motion to Proceed IFP on Appeal must be denied.
C. Motion for Reconsideration of Grounds 13 & 17 pursuant to Rule 15(c) of the Federal ...