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holding that the Eighth Amendment does not prohibit executing those who are "mentally ill" but not insane under Ford
Summary of this case from Coble v. DretkeOpinion
No. 06-10153.
February 8, 2006.
Richard Alley, Fort Worth, TX, for Movant.
On Motion for Authorization to File Successive Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court Before the Northern District of Texas.
Before GARZA, DeMOSS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
Robert James Neville moves pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2) for authorization to file a successive petition for writ of habeas corpus. He asserts that Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242, 153 L.Ed.2d 335 (2002) and Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 125 S.Ct. 1183, 161 L.Ed.2d 1 (2005) created a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive by the Supreme Court, making the execution of mentally ill persons unconstitutional. No such rule of constitutional law was created, however, by either Atkins or Roper. See, e.g., In re Woods, 155 Fed.Appx. 132, 136 (5th Cir. 2005) (declining to grant a successive habeas petition to consider the defendant's alleged mental illness because the new constitutional rule created in Atkins does not cover mental illness). He, therefore, cannot satisfy the requirements as set forth by AEDPA needed to grant authorization to file a successive habeas petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2).
Twenty years ago, Ford v. Wainwright established that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the execution of the insane. 477 U.S. 399, 410, 106 S.Ct. 2595, 91 L.Ed.2d 335 (1986). Neville, however, does not assert that he is insane.
In addition, Neville does not present a prima facie case that he is mentally ill. He puts forward only two pieces of evidence. First, he points to the testimony of a medical doctor presented during the punishment phase of Neville's trial. The doctor testified that Neville has lupus, which can make him act erratically and irrationally. Second, Neville points to several affidavits submitted by Neville's former counsel. These attorneys attest that they believe that Neville has mental deficiencies and that they believe that Neville might be mentally retarded. Neither the doctor's testimony regarding Neville's lupus nor his former attorneys' impressions of his mental state constitute "a sufficient showing of possible merit to warrant a fuller exploration by the district court." In re Morris, 328 F.3d 739, 740 (5th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation omitted).
These affidavits do not address whether Neville has a mental illness. These affidavits were prepared for the Texas state court proceedings in which Neville argued that he was mentally retarded. The Texas court found that he failed to make a prima facie case of retardation and, therefore, denied his motion for leave to file a writ of mandamus. In his briefs to this court, Neville no longer argues that he is mentally retarded, but rather now claims mental illness.
Therefore, we DENY Neville's petition to file a successive petition for a writ of habeas corpus and DENY Neville's motion for a stay of execution.