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Davenport v. MacLaren

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION
Jan 7, 2021
Case No. 1:14-cv-1012 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 7, 2021)

Opinion

Case No. 1:14-cv-1012

01-07-2021

ERVINE LEE DAVENPORT #179762, Petitioner, v. DUNCAN MACLAREN, Respondent.


Hon. Janet T. Neff

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

The Court has before it Petitioner's Motion for Bond Pending Complete Enforcement of Habeas Relief or Pending Appeal. (ECF No. 31.) Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), I recommend that the motion be DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

On July 18, 2008, following a jury trial, Petitioner was convicted of first-degree murder in the Kalamazoo County Circuit Court and sentenced to a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. On September 25, 2014, after exhausting his state-court appeals, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court alleging a single claim, that Petitioner was denied his right to due process as a result of being shackled during his trial. On September 26, 2017, the Court denied the petition, finding that the prosecution demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that the fact Petitioner was shackled did not contribute to the jury's guilty finding. (ECF No. 11 at PageID.2944-45.)

Petitioner appealed to the Sixth Circuit, which issued a 2-1 opinion reversing this Court's decision and granting Petitioner a conditional writ of habeas corpus for Petitioner's release from prison unless the State of Michigan retries Petitioner within 180 days. Davenport v. MacLaren, 964 F.3d 448, 468 (6th Cir. 2020). On September 15, 2020, the Sixth Circuit issued a published order denying Respondent's petition for rehearing en banc. Davenport v. MacLaren, 975 F.3d 537 (6th Cir. 2020). On November 5, 2020, the Sixth Circuit denied Respondent's motion to stay the mandate to permit time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari and for the Supreme Court to decide it. On December 14, 2020, Respondent filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. (ECF No. 37.)

The Sixth Circuit has clarified that the 180-day period runs from the date the mandate was ultimately issued, November 5, 2020. (ECF No. 33.) Accordingly, the Court has set May 4, 2021, as the date the 180-day period ends. (ECF No. 36.)

Petitioner moves for release pending enforcement of the Sixth Circuit's conditional writ of habeas corpus or appeal pursuant to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 23(a) and (b). Rule 23(b) provides:

(b) Detention or Release Pending Review of Decision Not to Release. While a decision not to release a prisoner is under review, the court or judge rendering the decision, or the court of appeals, or the Supreme Court, or a judge or justice of either court, may order that the prisoner be:

(1) detained in the custody from which release is sought;

(2) detained in other appropriate custody; or

(3) released on personal recognizance, with or without surety.
Fed. R. App. P. 23(b). Rule 23(c) provides:
(c) Release Pending Review of Decision Ordering Release. While a decision ordering the release of a prisoner is under review, the prisoner must—unless the court or judge rendering the decision, or the court of appeals, or the Supreme Court, or a judge or justice of either court orders otherwise—be released on personal recognizance, with or without surety.
Fed. R. App. P. 23(c). Rule 23(c) is more favorable to a petitioner seeking release than Rule 23(b). Rule 23(c) "undoubtedly creates a presumption of release in such cases," Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 774 (1987), whereas the standard under Rule 23(b) is so demanding that "[t]here will be few occasions where a prisoner will meet [it]." Dotson v. Clark, 900 F.2d 77, 79 (6th Cir. 1990).

Although Petitioner cites both provisions in support of his motion, Respondent argues that Rule 23(c) applies because Petitioner has been granted habeas relief. A decision from this Court in Smith v. Berghuis, No. 1:03-CV-87, 2009 WL 1309507 (W.D. Mich. May 11, 2009), indicates that Rule 23(c) governs the issue of release in this case. There, the Sixth Circuit reversed the district court's judgment denying habeas relief and remanded with instructions to order that the petitioner be released from state custody unless the state retried the petitioner within 180 days. The petitioner filed a motion for release in the district court. The motion was referred to a magistrate judge, who issued a report and recommendation that the motion be denied because the petitioner failed to show the existence of special circumstances that Rule 23(b) required. Id. at *1. In his objections, citing Walberg v. Israel, 776 F.2d 134 (7th Cir. 1985), the petitioner argued that Rule 23(c) applied to his request. Walberg was procedurally indistinguishable from Smith—the Seventh Circuit had reversed the district court's denial of the habeas petition and issued a conditional writ of habeas corpus. Although the Walberg court's analysis was somewhat equivocal as to whether Rule 23(b) or Rule 23(c) applied to the petitioner's motion for bail, it ultimately applied Rule 23(c). Walberg, 776 F.2d at 136. The Smith court found that, while Walberg supported the petitioner's argument, it observed that Walberg was distinguishable because the petitioner had filed his motion with the court of appeals. The Smith court reasoned:

If Petitioner is correct that Rule 23(c) applies, and Walberg at least suggests that he might be, the plain language of Rule 23(c) requires that he seek release on bond in "the court ... rendering the decision," which in this case is the Sixth Circuit. This conclusion is consistent with Walberg.
2009 WL 1309507, at *3.

Smith and the instant case are procedurally indistinguishable and, because it appears that Rule 23(c) governs Petitioner's motion for release, the plain language of Rule 23(c) indicates that he should seek relief in the Sixth Circuit, i.e., "the court . . . rendering the decision."

The Sixth Circuit deferred petitioner Smith's subsequent motion for release pending appeal filed in that court to the Supreme Court "in the event the appellant wishes to refile his motion for consideration by the Supreme Court." Smith v. Berghuis, No. 06-1342, Dkt. 97-1 (6th Cir. Nov. 12, 2009). --------

Accordingly, I recommend that the Court deny without prejudice Petitioner's motion for bond (ECF No. 31) to allow him to refile it with the Sixth Circuit. Dated: January 7, 2021

/s/ Sally J. Berens

SALLY J. BERENS

U.S. Magistrate Judge

NOTICE

OBJECTIONS to this Report and Recommendation must be filed with the Clerk of Court within 14 days of the date of service of this notice. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). Failure to file objections within the specified time waives the right to appeal the District Court's order. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).


Summaries of

Davenport v. MacLaren

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION
Jan 7, 2021
Case No. 1:14-cv-1012 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 7, 2021)
Case details for

Davenport v. MacLaren

Case Details

Full title:ERVINE LEE DAVENPORT #179762, Petitioner, v. DUNCAN MACLAREN, Respondent.

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

Date published: Jan 7, 2021

Citations

Case No. 1:14-cv-1012 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 7, 2021)