Court Opinion

ID: 1043275
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-04 19:25:46.285136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:36.179026
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Donald Lee Taylor,
                                                                                    FILED
                                                                                   October 4, 2013
Petitioner Below, Petitioner                                                   RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                 OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs) No. 12-1211 (Randolph County 12-C-72)

Marvin Plumley, Warden, Huttonsville Correctional Center,
Respondent Below, Respondent

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION

        Petitioner Donald Lee Taylor, appearing pro se, appeals the order of the Circuit Court of
Randolph County, entered September 21, 2012, that denied his petition for writ of habeas corpus
that alleged the West Virginia Parole Board abused its discretion in denying him parole.
Respondent Warden, by counsel Steven R. Compton, filed a summary response. Petitioner filed a
reply.

       The Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds that petitioner’s appeal is moot. For these reasons, a memorandum
decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

       Petitioner was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to a life term in prison with
the possibility of parole. On April, 23, 2012, the Parole Board denied parole because of the serious
nature of petitioner’s offense, his past probation and bond violations, his convictions on four
prison disciplinary violations within the past year, and his 138 disciplinary “write-ups” while
incarcerated. In denying parole, the Parole Board noted that petitioner would be re-interviewed in
April of 2013.

        On April 27, 2012, petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus that alleged the West
Virginia Parole Board abused its discretion in denying him parole. The circuit court denied the
petition on September 21, 2012.

        On October 17, 2012, petitioner appealed the denial of his petition to this Court. On appeal,
petitioner seeks his release from prison. Respondent counters that petitioner cannot show that the
Parole Board arbitrarily denied him parole in April of 2012.

       The Division of Corrections has informed this Court that petitioner was released on parole
on May 28, 2013. Petitioner’s release on parole renders his appeal of the April of 2012 denial of
parole moot. “‘Moot questions or abstract propositions, the decision of which would avail nothing
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in the determination of controverted rights of persons or of property, are not properly cognizable
by a court.’ Syl. pt. 1, State ex rel. Lilly v. Carter, 63 W.Va. 684, 60 S.E. 873 (1908).” Syl. Pt. 1,
State ex rel. McCabe v. Seifert, 220 W.Va. 79, 640 S.E.2d 142 (2006). Accordingly, the Court
dismisses as moot petitioner’s appeal.

                                                                                 Dismissed as Moot.

ISSUED: October 4, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

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