Court Opinion

ID: 867044
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-05-09 17:24:18.297062+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:50.552290
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-10967       Document: 00512236505         Page: 1     Date Filed: 05/09/2013

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                            May 9, 2013
                                     No. 12-10967
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

JULIUS JUNIOR AJAH,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 4:10-CV-912
                             USDC No. 4:08-CR-14-1

Before SMITH, PRADO, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Julius Junior Ajah, federal prisoner #36907-177, was convicted of
possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and
sentenced to 151 months in prison. Ajah seeks a certificate of appealability
(COA) to appeal the denials of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion and of his motion to
alter or amend that judgment pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 52(b)
and 59(e).

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
    Case: 12-10967      Document: 00512236505     Page: 2   Date Filed: 05/09/2013

                                   No. 12-10967

        A COA is required to appeal “the final order in a proceeding under section
2255.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(B). Because Ajah’s motion sought to alter or
amend the judgment denying his § 2255 motion, a COA is required. See Ochoa
Canales v. Quarterman, 507 F.3d 884, 888 (5th Cir. 2007); United States v.
Hernandez, No. 12-40243, 2013 WL 698396 at *1 (5th Cir. Feb. 26, 2013) (§ 2255
case citing Ochoa Canales). However, the district court did not address whether
a COA was warranted when it denied Ajah’s motion to alter or amend.
        We assume without deciding that we lack jurisdiction over the appeal from
that judgment pursuant to Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing § 2255
Proceedings, which has language similar to former Rule 22 of the Federal Rules
of Appellate Procedure. See United States v. Youngblood, 116 F.3d 1113, 1114
(5th Cir. 1997). We decline to remand this case to the district court for a COA
ruling because Ajah has not briefed, and thus has abandoned on appeal, any
challenge to the district court’s denial of that motion. See United States v.
Alvarez, 210 F.3d 309, 310 (5th Cir. 2000); Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25
(5th Cir. 1993). The appeal from the denial of the motion to alter or amend is
DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction, and Ajah’s motion for a COA is DENIED as
moot.
        In the alternative, even if we assume that we have jurisdiction over the
appeal without the district court’s ruling on a COA, we would deny a COA as to
the motion to alter or amend. To obtain a COA, Ajah must make “a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); Miller-El
v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336 (2003). Because Ajah has failed to brief any
arguments regarding the denial of his motion to alter or amend, he has not made
the required showing, and Ajah’s motion for a COA is DENIED.
        Although Ajah filed a notice of appeal within 60 days of the entry of the
entry of the judgment denying his § 2255 motion, he withdrew that appeal. In
light of the district court’s unchallenged determination that Ajah’s motion to
alter or amend pursuant to Rules 52(b) and 59(e) motion was untimely, Ajah’s

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                                No. 12-10967

notice of appeal was untimely as to the judgment denying his § 2255 motion. See
FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(4)(A)(ii), (iv). Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction over an
appeal of that judgment. See Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214 (2007). The
appeal from the denial of the § 2255 motion is DISMISSED for lack of
jurisdiction, and Ajah’s motion for a COA is DENIED as MOOT.

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