Case Name: Kenneth H. NEWKIRK, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Anton BELL; Commonwealth, Respondents-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-12-19
Citations: 500 F. App'x 261
Docket Number: No. 12-7793
Parties: Kenneth H. NEWKIRK, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Anton BELL; Commonwealth, Respondents-Appellees.
Judges: Before MOTZ, WYNN, and FLOYD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 500
Pages: 261–262

Head Matter:
Kenneth H. NEWKIRK, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Anton BELL; Commonwealth, Respondents-Appellees.
No. 12-7793.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: Dec. 13, 2012.
Decided: Dec. 19, 2012.
Kenneth H. Newkirk, Appellant Pro Se.
Before MOTZ, WYNN, and FLOYD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Dismissed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Kenneth H. Newkirk appeals the district court's order dismissing without prejudice his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2006) petition for failure to comply with the court's order. The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of ap-pealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A) (2006). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent "a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2006). When the district court denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the dispositive procedural ruling is debatable, and that the petition states a debatable claim of the denial of a constitutional right. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484-85, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000).
We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Newkirk has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED.