UNITED STATES v. RODGERS (2020)

Torrick Johntrelle Rodgers seeks to appeal the district court's order dismissing as successive his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2018) motion.^* Rodgers filed his motion after a state court vacated one of his prior convictions that was used to find him a career offender.

The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(B) (2018). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (2018). When, as here, the district court denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the dispositive procedural ruling is debatable and that the motion states a debatable claim of the denial of a constitutional right. Gonzalez v. Thaler, 565 U.S. 134, 140-41, 132 S.Ct. 641, 181 L.Ed.2d 619 (2012) (citing Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484, 120 S.Ct. 1595, 146 L.Ed.2d 542 (2000)).

We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Rodgers has made the required showing to appeal the order, and the district court erred in dismissing his § 2255 motion as successive. See United States v. Hairston, 754 F.3d 258, 262 (4th Cir. 2014). Accordingly, we grant his motion for a certificate of appealability, deny his other pending motions as moot, vacate the district court's order, and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings. 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.

VACATED AND REMANDED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   While this appeal was pending, the district court issued a second order recognizing that its prior order was erroneous and indicating it will vacate the order on remand.

PER CURIAM:

Vacated and remanded by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.