Court Opinion

ID: 161093
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 06:59:48+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:41:39.827305
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                    United States Court of Appeals
                                                                            Tenth Circuit
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                           MAY 14 2001
                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                      PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                Clerk

    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                Plaintiff-Appellee,

    v.                                                   No. 00-6225
                                                   (D.C. No. CIV-00-204-A)
    THADDEUS BLACK,                                      (W.D. Okla.)

                Defendant-Appellant.

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT           *

Before EBEL , PORFILIO , and LUCERO , Circuit Judges.

         Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c), we previously granted defendant

a certificate of appealability (COA) on the issue of whether the district court

erred in failing to conduct an evidentiary hearing on defendant’s claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel. On April 20, 2001, the government filed a brief

stating that a remand to the district court for an evidentiary hearing is necessary.

*
      The case is unanimously ordered submitted without oral argument pursuant
to Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This order and judgment is not
binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata,
and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and
judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms
and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
      We agree with the government’s position. Accordingly, this matter is

remanded to the district court for an evidentiary hearing on defendant’s claim that

his trial counsel was ineffective in withdrawing the objections to the two and six

ounces of crack cocaine and in agreeing to stipulate to a base offense level of 34

for Count 3. If defendant qualifies for the appointment of counsel under

18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g), the district court shall also appoint counsel for defendant

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Rule 8(c).

      Defendant has also applied for a COA on his claim that his counsel was

ineffective in withdrawing the objection to the two-level upward adjustment for

obstruction of justice. We deny defendant’s application on this issue because it is

undisputed that defendant submitted false documentation to the probation officer

that could potentially have influenced the sentencing process. Under USSG

§ 3C1.1, this is sufficient grounds for a two-level upward adjustment for

obstruction of justice, and defendant is therefore unable to establish that his

counsel was ineffective in withdrawing the objection.

      Finally, on October 20, 2000, defendant filed a motion in the district court

to withdraw his guilty plea based on an alleged due process violation. On

October 20 and 23, 2000, defendant also filed related motions in this court

entitled “Motion Requesting the Court of Appeals to Determine if the District

Court Lacked Subject-Matter Jurisdiction and Review of His F. R. Crim. P. Rule

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32(e) Issue” and “Motion to Show Cause for Failure to Raise Involuntariness of

His Plea of Guilty Below.” We deny defendant’s motions as moot.    1

      For the foregoing reasons, the order and judgment entered by the district

court on May 15, 2000, denying defendant’s motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 are

VACATED in part, and this matter is REMANDED to the district court for

further proceedings consistent with this order and judgment.

                                                    Entered for the Court

                                                    Carlos F. Lucero
                                                    Circuit Judge

1
       On December 15, 2000, the district court transferred defendant’s district
court motion to this court for consideration as a second or successive motion
under § 2255. On December 29, 2000, this court docketed defendant’s motion as
a separate appeal, case No. 00-6450, and issued a written notice to defendant
directing him to file a motion for permission to file a second or successive § 2255
motion within thirty days. Defendant failed to file a motion for permission within
the thirty-day period, and case No. 00-6450 was dismissed on February 7, 2001.

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