Case Name: Byron DAVIS, Petitioner-Appellant v. Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-10-19
Citations: 699 F. App'x 328
Docket Number: No. 16-30530
Parties: Byron DAVIS, Petitioner-Appellant v. Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellee
Judges: Before DENNIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 699
Pages: 328–329

Head Matter:
Byron DAVIS, Petitioner-Appellant v. Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellee
No. 16-30530
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
October 19, 2017
Byron Davis, Pro Se
Mithun Kamath, District Attorney’s Office for the Parish of Orleans, New Orleans, LA, for Respondent-Appellee
Before DENNIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Byron Davis, Louisiana prisoner # 570235, moves this court for a certificate of appealability (COA) to appeal in this 28 U.S.C. § 2254 proceeding. He was convicted of the aggravated rape of a minor victim, and he was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
"This Court must examine the basis of its jurisdiction, on its own motion, if necessary." Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir. 1987). This court has jurisdiction over final decisions and other decisions covered by the collateral order doctrine. See 28 U.S.C. § 1291, 1292; Mohawk Indus., Inc. v. Carpenter, 558 U.S. 100, 103, 106, 116, 130 S.Ct. 599, 175 L.Ed.2d 458 (2009). In this case, the order adopting the magistrate judge's report and recommendation, the final judgment dismissing Davis's § 2254 petition, and the district court's order denying Davis a COA were all vacated. Neither the final judgment nor the other two orders were ever reinstated, and Davis's petition was not dismissed anew.
Absent the entry of a final judgment, we lack jurisdiction over this appeal. See § 1291. Moreover, due to the lack of an order denying a COA, we assume without deciding that we lack jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, which has language similar to former Rule 22 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Cardenas v. Thaler, 651 F.3d 442, 444-45 & n.1 (5th Cir. 2011).
Accordingly, this appeal is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction, and Davis's motion for a COA is DENIED as moot.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.