Opinion
No. 4:16-CV-980 JCH
07-11-2016
STEVEN P. JAMES, Movant, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on movant's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The motion is denied without prejudice.
Movant argues that his sentence is unconstitutional after Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). The motion is successive. James v. United States, 4:10-CV-1791 JCH. He has filed an application for permission to file a successive motion to vacate in the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which remains pending. James v. United States, No. 16-2622 (8th Cir.). Movant seeks to hold the instant case in abeyance pending the decision of the Court of Appeals.
The requirement that prisoners obtain authorization from the circuit court before filing a second or successive petition in the district court is jurisdictional. Burton v. Stewart, 127 S. Ct. 793, 796 (2007).
"Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. The requirement that jurisdiction be established as a threshold matter springs from the nature and limits of the judicial power of the United States and is inflexible and without exception." Kessler v. Nat'l Enterprises, Inc., 347 F.3d 1076, 1081 (8th Cir. 2003) (quotation marks omitted; emphasis added).
Because movant has not received permission from the Court of Appeals to file this action, this Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the motion or to hold this matter in abeyance. Therefore, the motion is denied, and this action is dismissed without prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (dismissal is required, not discretionary).
Movant will not be prejudiced by the dismissal of this action. The Court will hear his successive petition if and only if the Court of Appeals authorizes its filing.
Finally, movant has not met the burden for issuing a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that movant's motion to stay [ECF No. 4] is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that movant's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED without prejudice.
An Order of Dismissal will be filed separately.
Dated this 11th day of July, 2016.
/s/ Jean C. Hamilton
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE