Court Opinion

ID: 182695
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-01-14 01:02:23+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:26:00.760265
License: Public Domain

DLD-062                                                        NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ___________

                                    No. 10-3868
                                    ___________

                          UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                          v.

                               DANIEL J. HAMM,
                                               Appellant
                     ____________________________________

                   On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                        (D.C. Criminal No. 07-cr-00344-001)
                    District Judge: Honorable John E. Jones, III
                    ____________________________________

                       Submitted for Possible Summary Action
                  Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                  December 9, 2010

             Before: BARRY, FISHER and STAPLETON, Circuit Judges

                          (Opinion filed: January 13, 2011 )
                                     _________

                                     OPINION
                                     _________

PER CURIAM

      In November 2008, after Daniel J. Hamm pleaded guilty to federal drug and

firearms charges, the District Court sentenced him to 170 months in prison. Hamm

appealed, and we affirmed the judgment of sentence in May 2010.
       In September 2010, using the case number for his criminal case, Hamm filed a

“motion for an order for production of documents” in the District Court. He asked the

District Court to enter an order directing the Adams County Court to release documents

from a forfeiture case in which he was involved. Hamm explained that the documents

were relevant to his federal appeal. The District Court denied Hamm’s motion in a short

order, suggesting in a footnote that Hamm may wish to file an original action in Adams

County.

       Shortly thereafter, Hamm returned to the District Court with another “motion for

an order for production of documents.” He stated that his counsel in his federal criminal

prosecution has refused to acknowledge or respond to his requests for copies of

correspondence that he needs to complete his federal appeal. He asked the District Court

to order counsel to produce all relevant correspondence. The District Court, noting that

the criminal matter was closed, denied the motion.

       Hamm filed a notice of appeal, stating that he “seeks to Appeal the order to

produce those needed documents,” and explaining again that he needs documentation to

complete his appeal of the judgment in his federal criminal case. We consider his notice

of appeal, which was timely filed whether this matter is a considered an appeal in a civil

or criminal case, see Fed. R. App. Proc. 4(a)(1)(B) & 4(b)(1)(A)(i), as specifying both

orders denying his motions.

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Upon consideration of the

merits of this matter, we conclude that no substantial issue is presented on appeal.
                                             2
Accordingly, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s orders. See L.A.R. 27.4;

I.O.P. 10.6.

       The District Court properly denied Hamm’s motions. As the District Court noted,

Hamm filed his motions in a closed criminal case. Although Hamm stated that he needed

state court documents and correspondence from his attorney to “complete” his appeal, we

have already affirmed his judgment of sentence. If by “appeal,” he refers to a motion

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 that he may be contemplating filing, Hamm is advised that

specific rules govern the procedures, including discovery, in § 2255 cases. See Rules

Governing Section 2255 Cases in the United States District Courts Rule 6. Accordingly,

at the least, he requested documents either too late (for his criminal appeal) or too early

(for any § 2255 motion). The District Court did not err in denying the requested relief.

                                              3