CUSTIS v. CLARKE (2020)

Ryricka Nikita Custis appeals the district court's order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge, construing Custis’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b), (d) motion for relief from judgment as a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2018) petition, and dismissing it without prejudice as successive.^* Our review of the record confirms that the district court properly construed Custis’ Rule 60(b), (d) motion as a successive § 2254 petition over which it lacked jurisdiction because Custis failed to obtain prefiling authorization from this court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) (2018); McRae, 793 F.3d at 397-400. Accordingly, we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis and affirm the district court's order.

Consistent with our decision in United States v. Winestock, 340 F.3d 200, 208 (4th Cir. 2003), we construe Custis’ notice of appeal and informal brief as an application to file a second or successive § 2254 petition. Upon review, we conclude that Custis’ claims do not meet the relevant standard. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2) (2018). We therefore deny authorization to file a successive § 2254 petition.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   A certificate of appealability is not required to appeal the district court's jurisdictional categorization of a Rule 60(b) motion as an unauthorized, successive habeas petition. United States v. McRae, 793 F.3d 392, 400 (4th Cir. 2015).

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.