Opinion ID: 41971
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Blakely Appeal

Text: 9 Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(c)(1)(A)-(C), a notice of appeal must “specify the party or parties taking the appeal . . . designate the judgment, order, or part thereof being appealed; and . . . name the court to which the appeal is taken.” Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1)(B), a notice of appeal in a civil case in which the United States or its officer or agency is a party must be filed “within 60 days after the judgment or order appealed from is entered.” “If a document filed within the time specified by Rule 4 gives the notice required by Rule 3, it is effective as a notice of appeal.” Smith v. Barry, 502 U.S. 244, 248-49, 112 S. Ct. 678, 682 (1992). However, a notice of appeal for a civil case that is filed after the statutory deadline, even if only one day, is not timely. See NAACP of La. v. Michot, 480 F.2d 547, 548 (5th Cir. 1973) (per curiam). Furthermore, although pro se pleadings are construed liberally, the district court cannot serve as de facto counsel for pro se litigants, informing them of the appropriate procedural steps to take during litigation. GJR Invs., Inc. v. County of Escambia, 132 F.3d 1359, 1369 (11th Cir. 1998). In this case, the district court’s order denying Walther’s motion to include the Blakely issue was dated 9 August 2004. The district court's order of dismissal regarding the rest of Walther's § 2241 petition was dated 27 April 2005. Walther's notice of appeal was filed on 13 May 2005, but only referenced the district court’s 10 27 April 2005 order and the issues contained therein. Walther's brief was mailed on 28 June 2005 and was filed on 1 July 2005. The brief includes all the information necessary to constitute a notice of appeal, but it is dated more than 60 days after the final order denying Walther’s petition was entered. Thus, notice was not timely filed as to the Blakely issue, and we do not have jurisdiction to consider it.