UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-040

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0149/AR.  U.S. v. Christopher J. KING.  CCA 20011103.

No. 05-0150/AR.  U.S. v. Robert W. GERACI Jr.  CCA 20010051.

No. 05-0151/AR.  U.S. v. John W. PYLES.  CCA 20010967.

No. 05-0152/AR.  U.S. v. Corey B. WOODS.  CCA 20021016.

No. 05-0153/AR.  U.S. v. Derrick D. HARDY.  CCA 20040528.

No. 05-0154/AR.  U.S. v. Naomi, A. LEON.  CCA 20020695.

No. 05-0155/MC.  U.S. v. Shawn C. ARMWOOD.  CCA 200001164.

No. 05-0156/NA.  U.S. v. David E. CRAWFORD.  CCA 200100806.

 

MISCELLANEOUS DOCKET - FILINGS

 

Misc. No. 05-8010/AR.  United States, Appellee, v. Raphelito G. WELLINGTON, Appellant.  CCA 9900782.  Writ-appeal petition for review of the decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals on application for extraordinary relief was filed under Rule 27(b) on November 2, 2004, and placed on the docket this date.

 

INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS

 

No. 04-0216/AF.  U.S. v. Carl L. KEY.  CCA 34965.  Appellee's motion to extend time to comply with the Court’s order granted up to and including January 3, 2005; and absent extraordinary circumstances, no further extension of time will be granted in this case.

 

No. 04-0336/AF.  U.S. v. Bradley K. RHODES.  CCA 34697.  Appellant's motion to submit corrected pages granted.

 

No. 04-0734/NA.  U.S. v. Thomas J. SMITH.  CCA 200201003.  Appellant's motion for leave to file supplement to petition for grant of review out of time granted; Appellee's motion for leave to file opposition to Appellant's motion out of time granted; and Appellee’s motion to dismiss petition for grant of review denied.  Appellee shall file an answer to the supplement to petition for grant of review on or before December 30, 2004.

 

No. 05-0032/NA.  U.S. v. Joseph E. SNYDER.  CCA 200300729.

Appellant's motion out of time to extend time to file supplement to petition for grant of review granted to December 20, 2004.

 

No. 05-0071/NA.  U.S. v. John C. HOLLNAGEL.  CCA 200301562.  Appellee's motion to dismiss petition for grant of review denied.  Appellee shall file an answer to the supplement to petition for grant of review on or before December 30, 2004.

 

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-039

Monday, November 29, 2004

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0146/AF.  U.S. v. Robert B. MALONE.  CCA S30118.

No. 05-0147/AF.  U.S. v. Matthew S. BRESNAHAN.  CCA 35778.

No. 05-0148/AF.  U.S. v. Darien E. MUNOZ.  CCA S30252.

 

INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS

 

No. 03-0394/AF.  U.S. v. Hector R. GONZALEZ, Jr.  CCA 34691.  Appellee's motion to extend time to file an answer to the supplement to petition for grant of review granted to January 5, 2005.

 

No. 05-0072/MC.  U.S. v. Christopher E. PARKER.  CCA 200102191.  Appellant's motion to extend time to file supplement to petition for grant of review granted to December 27, 2004.

 

No. 05-0073/AR.  U.S. v. Joshua L. KRELL.  CCA 20020266.  Appellant's motion to extend time to file supplement to petition for grant of review granted to December 29, 2004.

 

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-038

Friday, November 26, 2004

 

ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW

 

No. 04-0428/AF.  U.S. v. Javier CENDEJAS.  CCA 34864.  Review granted on the following issue:

 

WHETHER THE AIR FORCE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ERRED BY FAILING TO SET ASIDE APPELLANT'S CONVICTION FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DESPITE THE COURT'S CONCLUSION THAT THE CONVICTION WAS BASED ON CONSTITUTIONAL ERROR.

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-037

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 99-0911/MC.  U.S. v. Douglas A. ANDERSON.  CCA 9700058.*/

No. 05-0139/MC.  U.S. v. Gerald R. PFLUEGER.  CCA 200400213.

No. 05-0140/NA.  U.S. v. Christopher D. MORA.  CCA 200100234.

No. 05-0141/AR.  U.S. v. Daron HASLEM.  CCA 20040375.

No. 05-0142/AR.  U.S. v. David L. LOWE, Jr.  CCA 20040211.

No. 05-0143/AF.  U.S. v. Larry J. TEEL, Jr.  CCA S30503.

No. 05-0144/AF.  U.S. v. Erin M. WEIR.  CCA 35838.

No. 05-0145/AF.  U.S. v. John W. HOLMES.  CCA 35411.

 

____________

 

*/  Second petition filed in this case.

 

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

CORRECTED DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-036

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

 

APPEALS - SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS

 

No. 03-0141/AF.  U.S. v. Clifford MASON.  CCA 34677.  On consideration of the petition for grant of review of the decision of the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, said petition is hereby granted on the following issues:

 

I. WHETHER THE SENTENCE AS REASSESSED BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS WAS NO GREATER THAN THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSED IF THE PREJUDICIAL ERROR HAD NOT BEEN COMMITTED.

 

II. WHETHER THE AIR FORCE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY UNDER ARTICLE 66(c), UCMJ, BY AFFIRMING A SENTENCE THAT WAS NOT CORRECT IN LAW AND FACT AND WAS GREATER THAN THAT INTENDED TO BE APPROVED BY THE CONVENING AUTHORITY.

 

     After reviewing the record, we have determined that the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals abused its discretion in fulfilling its obligation to “assure that the [reassessed] sentence is no greater than that which would have been imposed if the prejudicial error had not been committed.”  United States v. Sales, 22 M.J. 305, 308 (C.M.A. 1986)(quoting United States v. Suzuki, 10 M.J. 248, 249 (C.M.A. 1985)).  Accordingly, the decision of that court is affirmed as to the findings and reversed as to the sentence.  The sentence is set aside.  The record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force.  A rehearing on sentence is authorized.*  (See also ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW this date.)

 

*CRAWFORD, Judge (dissenting):  I dissent for the reasons set forth in my separate opinions in United States v. Lajaunie, 60 M.J. 280, 281-83 (C.A.A.F. 2004)(order) (Crawford, C.J., dissenting) and United States v. Eversole, 53 M.J. 132, 138-40 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (Crawford, C.J., dissenting).

 

ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW

 

No. 03-0141/AF.  U.S. v. Clifford MASON.  CCA 34677.  (See also APPEALS – SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS this date.)

 

No. 04-0264/AR.  U.S. v. Michael B. HAYS.  CCA 20001100.  Review granted on the following issues:

 

I. WHETHER THE ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ERRED IN AFFIRMING A FINDING OF GUILTY OF SOLICITATION OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE WHERE: (1) THE COURT USED AN OVERBROAD DEFINITION OF SOLICITATION; AND (2) THE EVIDENCE WAS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A FINDING THAT APPELLANT SOLICITED "JOHN DAVIS" TO COMMIT CARNAL KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE APPELLANT'S ACTS DID NOT AMOUNT TO SOLICITATION.

 

II. WHETHER THE ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ERRED IN AFFIRMING A CONVICTION OF SOLICITATION OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE WHERE: (1) THE COURT RELIED ON ERRONEOUSLY INTRODUCED EVIDENCE OF UNCHARGED MISCONDUCT; (2) THE COURT RELIED ON IMPROPER EXPERT TESTIMONY WHICH WAS UNHELPFUL AND AMOUNTED TO INADMISSIBLE PROFILE EVIDENCE AND LEGAL OPINIOINS; AND (3) THE COURT MISTAKENLY DETERMINED THAT THE COMBINED IMPACT OF THE ERRONEOUSLY ADMITTED EXHIBITS AND THE IMPROPER EXPERT TESTIMONY WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE MILITARY JUDGE'S DETERMINATION OF GUILT AT TRIAL.

 

III. WHETHER THE ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ERRED IN FINDING THAT APPELLANT'S PLEAS OF GUILTY TO SPECIFICATIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 OF CHARGE IV WERE PROVIDENT WHERE: (1) THE MILITARY JUDGE'S DEFINITION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INCLUDED COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGES, A DEFINITION THE SUPREME COURT FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL; AND (2) THE MILITARY JUDGE DID NOT CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PROVIDENCE INQUIRY AS REQUIRED BY UNITED STATES v. CARE, 18 C.M.A. 535, 40 C.M.R. 247 (1969), AND ITS PROGENY TO ESTABLISH THAT APPELLANT BELIEVED THE IMAGES WERE PRODUCED USING REAL CHILDREN.

 

IV. WHETHER THE FINDINGS OF GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTION, RECEIPT, AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN VIOLATION OF 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(1)-(2), (2), AND (5)(a), RESPECTIVELY, MUST BE SET ASIDE BECAUSE THOSE STATUTES DO NOT APPLY TO CONDUCT ENGAGED IN OUTSIDE THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN CHARGED UNDER CLAUSE 3 OF ARTICLE 134, UCMJ.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0128/AF.  U.S. v. Tarren J. LOWE.  CCA 35788.

No. 05-0129/AF.  U.S. v. Fredrick C. MCCLURE.  CCA S30530.

No. 05-0130/AF.  U.S. v. Jeremy R. VICTORY.  CCA S30484.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED - CONT’D

 

No. 05-0131/AF.  U.S. v. Devin G. RYBARZ.  CCA S30501.

No. 05-0132/AF.  U.S. v. Nathan C. KENDRICK.  CCA S30512.

No. 05-0133/AF.  U.S. v. Joseph V. DONNELL.  CCA 35622.

No. 05-0134/AF.  U.S. v. Kenneth J. COX.  CCA 35578.

No. 05-0135/AF.  U.S. v. James K. BUFFORD.  CCA 35955.

No. 05-0136/AF.  U.S. v. Mark S. BRISBANE.  CCA 35384.

No. 05-0137/AF.  U.S. v. Gary C. ARCH.  CCA 35547.

No. 05-0138/AR.  U.S. v. Derrick D. HARDY.  CCA 20040528.

 

INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS

 

No. 04-0336/AF.  U.S. v. Bradley K. RHODES.  CCA 34697.  Appellant's motion to file brief in excess of thirty pages granted.

 

No. 04-0799/NA.  U.S. v. Timothy E. MILLER.  CCA 200400762.  Appellee's motion to extend time to file an answer to the supplement to petition for grant of review granted to December 6, 2004.


 

 


 

 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-035

Monday, November 22, 2004

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW DENIED

 

No. 04-0575/NA.  U.S. v. Malvin L. STEGER.  CCA 200300840.

No. 04-0670/AF.  U.S. v. Richard L. ANDERSON.  CCA 34980.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0125/AR.  U.S. v. David C. BROWN.  CCA 20031029.

No. 05-0126/AR.  U.S. v. Wendy S. RICHARDSON.  CCA 20040520.

No. 05-0127/MC.  U.S. v. Jeffrey G. TOOHEY.  CCA 200001621.

 

 



UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-034

Friday, November 19, 2004

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW - OTHER SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS

 

No. 05-0018/AF.  U.S. v. Nicholas S. HACKLER.  CCA S30586.  Appellant’s motion to withdraw from appellate review granted.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0119/AR.  U.S. v. Edwin ALEJANDREZ-RAMIREZ.  CCA 20040192.

No. 05-0120/MC.  U.S. v. Arnold J. SKIPPER.  CCA 200102136.

No. 05-0121/AF.  U.S. v. Denny D. FERGUSON.  CCA 35776.

No. 05-0122/AF.  U.S. v. Robert L. PEDROSA.  CCA 35876.

No. 05-0123/AF.  U.S. v. Christopher J. GARVES.  CCA 35818.

No. 05-0124/AF.  U.S. v. Branda E. FITZPATRICK.  CCA 35235.

 

MISCELLANEOUS DOCKET - SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS

 

Misc. No. 05-8009/AR.  Richmond D. SLATE, Petitioner, v. United States, Respondent.  CCA 20021227.  Notice is hereby given that a petition for extraordinary relief in the nature of a writ of mandamus and application for a stay of proceedings was filed under Rule 27(a) on October 19, 2004, and placed on the docket this date.  On consideration thereof, the petition for extraordinary relief and application for a stay are hereby denied. [See also MISCELLANEOUS DOCKET – FILINGS this date.]

 

MISCELLANEOUS DOCKET - FILINGS

 

Misc. No. 05-8009/AR.  Richmond D. SLATE, Petitioner, v. United States, Respondent.  CCA 20021227.  [See also MISCELLANEOUS DOCKET - SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS this date.]

 

INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS

 

No. 04-0555/AF.  U.S. v. Christopher D. DEISHER.  CCA 35143.  Appellant's motion to submit a corrected page granted.

 

No. 05-0033/MC.  U.S. v. Michael T. SIRK.  CCA 200301084.  Appellee's motion to file an answer out of time to the supplement to petition for grant of review granted.

 

No. 05-0047/MC.  U.S. v. Thomas M. HANEY.  CCA 9900878.  Appellant's motion to extend time to file supplement to petition for grant of review granted to December 17, 2004.

 

No. 05-8002/AR.  William J. KREUTZER, Petitioner, v. United States, Respondent.  CCA 20040953.  On consideration of the petition for extraordinary relief in the nature of a writ of mandamus, it is ordered that Respondent show cause on or before November 29, 2004, why the requested relief should not be granted.*

 

*CRAWFORD, Judge (dissenting):  I respectfully dissent from the issuance of a show cause order because: (1) absent a claim of a constitutional or statutory violation, this Court does not have jurisdiction over an administrative confinement classification decision (see Clinton v. Goldsmith, 526 U.S. 529 (1999)); (2) even assuming jurisdiction, the Petitioner has not demonstrated a legal basis for challenging an administrative confinement classification decision; and (3) even assuming jurisdiction, the Petitioner has not met his burden of demonstrating why he is entitled to extraordinary relief under the All Writs Act.  28 U.S.C. § 1651.

 

FACTS

 

     Contrary to his pleas, Petitioner was convicted of premeditated murder and 18 specifications of attempted premeditated murder.  Hiding in a nearby wooded area, Petitioner opened fire upon a pre-morning run formation, killing one of the soldiers and injuring 17 others.

 

     In United States v. Kreutzer, 59 M.J. 773 (A. Ct. Crim. App. 2004), there were three separate opinions.  The author of the lead opinion, Judge Clevenger, held that the military trial judge abused his discretion in refusing to grant the request for a mitigation expert.  Alternatively, Judge Clevenger would set aside the sentence on the grounds of ineffectiveness of counsel during the sentencing stage.  There was a vote for each of Judge Clevenger’s alternative positions.  Judge Currie held that counsel were ineffective concerning the offenses to which Petitioner entered pleas of not guilty.  Senior Judge Chapman held that counsel were ineffective only during the sentencing stage.  On June 29, 2004, The Judge Advocate General then certified the following issue:

 

WHETHER THE UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT FOUND DENIAL OF A MITIGATION SPECIALIST TO BE PREJUDICIAL ERROR FOR FINDINGS WHEN THE SAME OPINION ALSO FOUND THAT ALL EVIDENCE THE MITIGATION SPECIALIST WOULD HAVE DISCOVERED DID NOT HAVE A REASONABLE PROBABILITY OF PRODUCING A DIFFERENT RESULT.

 

     On September 21, 2004, Petitioner filed a petition for extraordinary relief in the nature of a writ of mandamus with the Army Court of Criminal Appeals seeking to have that court order the Commandant, United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to place him in medium security in the general inmate population.  This writ was denied by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals on September 24, 2004, and, on September 29, 2004, he petitioned this Court for a writ of mandamus.

 

LACK OF JURISDICTION

 

     A prerequisite for a court to exercise its All Writs authority is the requirement that the court have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action.  United States v. Frischholz, 16 C.M.A. 150, 152, 36 C.M.R. 306, 308 (1966).  Congress has conferred broad discretion upon service secretaries and commanders to establish and operate military correctional facilities.  10 U.S.C. §§ 951-56 (2000).  These statutes have been implemented by detailed guidance set forth by Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 1325.4, Confinement of Military Prisoners and Administration of Military Correctional Programs and Facilities (August 17, 2001), and DOD Instruction 1325.7, Administration of Military Correctional Facilities and Clemency and Parole Authority (July 17, 2001).  Confinement classification involves an examination of many factors through a procedure set up by the commander of the confinement facility “based on a risk assessment and the type of restraint that is appropriate to manage internal and external risks.”  DOD Instruction 1325.7, ¶ 6.6.  These include the nature of the offenses, past military record, past and present mental health, and conduct within other confinement facilities, among others.

 

     The federal courts have consistently held that, absent a statutory or constitutional violation, confinement conditions, classification, and place of confinement are administrative actions left to the Bureau of Prisons as prison administrators.  See, e.g., United States v. King, 338 F.3d 794 (7th Cir. 2003); Berman v. Lamer, 874 F. Supp. 102 (E.D. Pa. 1995).  Cf. 18 U.S.C. § 3626 (2000)(imposing limitations on certain court-ordered relief of prison conditions).  In deferring to the prison officials, the federal courts routinely cite 18 U.S.C. § 3621 (2000)(vesting civilian prison administrators far less discretion than is vested in service secretaries and confinement facility commanders by 10 U.S.C. §§ 951-56 (2000)).

 

     In Goldsmith, the Supreme Court held that the administrative elimination of Goldsmith from the rolls was “straightforwardly” beyond this Court’s jurisdiction.  526 U.S. at 535.  Certainly, this Court is not given authority to oversee all matters arguably related to military justice or to act as a primary administrator of confinement classification.

 

[A]lthough military appellate courts are among those empowered to issue extraordinary writs under the Act,

. . . the express terms of the Act confine the power of the CAAF to issuing process ‘in aid of’ its statutory jurisdiction; the Act does not enlarge that jurisdiction

. . . .

 

Id. at 534-35.  Just as dropping an individual from the rolls is an “executive action” and not a “finding” or “sentence,” confinement classification is an “executive action” best left to the commander of the confinement facility.  Petitioner has raised no allegation of a violation of Article 13, Uniform Code of Military Justice [hereinafter UCMJ], 10 U.S.C. § 813 (2000), or the Eighth Amendment.  His confinement classification is an administrative action by “administrative bodies in the military,” id. at 537-38, i.e., the commander running the confinement facility.  Thus, the “executive action” of confinement classification falls outside of this Court’s statutory jurisdiction and alternative avenues are available for relief.  Id. at 538, 540.  To succeed, Petitioner must show that he has “exhausted the prisoner-grievance system and has petitioned for relief under Article 138, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 938 (2000).  United States v. White, 54 M.J. 469, 472 (C.A.A.F. 2001)(citing United States v. Miller, 46 M.J. 248, 250 (C.A.A.F. 1997)).  In addition, Petitioner “must establish a ‘clear record’ of . . . ‘the legal deficiency in the administration of the prison.’”  Id. (quoting Miller, 46 M.J. at 250).

 

As a “general rule . . . classification decisions are discretionary with prison officials and will not be addressed by the Federal courts.”  Lyons v. Clark, 694 F. Supp. 184, 188 (E.D. Va. 1988).  In Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215 (1976), the Supreme Court noted that such decisions by prison administrators were not “within the reach of procedural protections of the Due Process Clause” and the courts should avoid the “day-to-day functioning” of prisons.  427 U.S. at 228-29.  Those “discretionary decisions . . . are not the business of federal judges.”  Id. at 229.  If this Court does not have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the writ, it then follows that it does not have the authority to issue a show cause order.  The only viable action available to the Court, other than denying the Petition for Extraordinary Relief, is to order the parties to submit briefs on the question of whether the Court has jurisdiction over this matter.

 

LEGAL BASIS FOR CHALLENGE

(ASSUMING JURISDICTION)

 

     Even assuming jurisdiction, Petitioner has not met his burden to demonstrate a legal basis for challenging his confinement classification.  Without setting forth the alternative holdings, Petitioner commented that the court below “set aside the sentence and the findings of guilty to all eighteen specifications of attempted premeditated murder and to premeditated murder.”  Petition at 2.  Prior to filing his petition, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals revoked its memorandum of June 22, 2004, directing Petitioner’s release from the high risk classification to the medium-security classification.  Petitioner contends, because he has “no death sentence, he should not be on death row -- a place servicemembers are confined pending execution.”  Id. at 7.  Petitioner argues, because his “sentence to death should be set aside,” he should not be in the high-risk category.  Id.  “Petitioner is now, and will potentially remain, not sentenced to death.”  Id. at 8.  Petitioner concludes by recognizing “while it is true that petitioner might yet end up with a death sentence depending upon the results of any retrials or sentence rehearings, at present he is not sentenced to death.”

 

     Petitioner has not alleged any facts which, if true, would constitute a constitutional or statutory violation.  Further, he has not demonstrated that the confinement classification process was irregular, flawed, or in error.  Since Petitioner has not met his burden of setting forth a legal basis to challenge his confinement classification, it is premature and inappropriate for this Court to shift the burden to the Government by issuance of this show cause order.

 

EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF

(ASSUMING JURISDICTION)

 

     Our Court and the federal courts have indicated that a petitioner is not entitled to extraordinary relief absent a showing that a writ is:  (1) “necessary or appropriate” relief, (2) an aid of the Court’s jurisdiction, and (3) “agreeable to the usages and principles of law.”  28 U.S.C. § 1651(a) (2000).  Amplifying on the All Writs Act, the Supreme Court stated that courts should issue writs only when: (1) the party seeking issuance of the writ has no other adequate means to attain the relief he desires, (2) the petitioner has met the burden of showing that his right to issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable, and (3) in the exercise of its discretion, the court is satisfied that the writ is appropriate under the circumstances.  Cheney v. Dist. Court for Dist. of Columbia, 124 S. Ct. 2576, 2587 (2004).

 

     The Petitioner has not satisfied any of the prongs of the All Writs Act.  Nor has the Petitioner established that he has exhausted other alternative means or set forth any facts to establish that the decision made by the Commandant is erroneous or in violation of a constitutional or statutory right.

 

CONCLUSION

 

     In summary, our Court’s jurisdiction is “strictly circumscribed” to review “findings and sentences.”  Goldsmith, 526 U.S. at 531.  When a case is undergoing normal appellate review, and no decision has been made by our Court as to the findings and sentence, we are without jurisdiction to review a prisoner classification that has no impact on findings or sentence.  By using a show cause order to question a confinement classification, this Court not only ignores Goldsmith and expands our jurisdiction without legislative authority, but also casts the Court as overseer of administrative determinations given by statute and executive regulations to qualified officials in the executive branch.  Finally, even assuming jurisdiction, this Court should not grant extraordinary relief based on a possibility that the findings and sentence will be set aside and dismissed, and no trial reauthorized on the attempted premeditated murder charges.

 

     By issuance of this show cause order, the majority takes the “extraordinary” out of our writ consideration and unnecessarily expands the jurisdiction of the Court.  I cannot concur with such overreaching of the Court’s writ authority by the majority, and therefore respectfully dissent.

 


 

 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-033

Thursday, November 18, 2004

 

APPEALS - SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS

 

No. 01-0653/AF.  U.S. v. Christopher T. MILES.  CCA 34094.  On consideration of the petition for grant of review of the decision of the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, said petition is hereby granted and the decision of the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.  [See also ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW this date.]

 

ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW

 

No. 01-0653/AF.  U.S. v. Christopher T. MILES.  CCA 34094.  [See also APPEALS – SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS this date.]

 

No. 04-0300/AF.  U.S. v. Donald R. JOHNSON.  CCA 34777.  Review granted on the following issues:

 

I. WHETHER IT WAS ERROR FOR THE PROSECUTION TO INTRODUCE, OVER DEFENSE OBJECTION, APPELLANT'S FINANCIAL RECORDS FROM JUNE 1998 UNTIL JUNE 1999 AND TO THEN ARGUE THAT THIS EVIDENCE OF POVERTY CREATED A MOTIVE FOR APPELLANT TO KNOWINGLY POSSESS MARIJUANA WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE IT.

 

II. WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ERRED BY DIRECTING APPELLANT NOT TO DISCUSS A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION DURING HIS UNSWORN STATEMENT WHEN A LIMITING INSTRUCTION TO THE MEMBERS WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE MILITARY JUDGE'S CONCERNS WHILE STILL PRESERVING APPELLANT'S ALLOCUTION RIGHTS.

 

III. WHETHER THIS HONORABLE COURT SHOULD DISAPPROVE THE ADJUDGED FORFEITURES TO ENSURE THE CONVENING AUTHORITY'S CLEMENCY DECISION TO PROVIDE APPELLANT'S PAY AND ALLOWANCES TO APPELLANT'S FAMILY IS NOT FRUSTRATED.

 

No. 04-0607/AF.  U.S. v. Thomas M. GORENCE.  CCA S30296.  Review granted on the following issues:

 

I. WHETHER THE AIR FORCE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS IMPROPERLY CONDUCTED ITS APPELLATE REVIEW UNDER ARTICLE 66(c), UCMJ, BY CONSIDERING EVIDENCE OUTSIDE THE RECORD IN VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES v. HOLT, 58 M.J. 227 (C.A.A.F. 2003).

 

II. WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ABUSED HIS DISCRETION BY PERMITTING THE TRIAL COUNSEL TO ELICIT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE APPELLANT'S PRE-SERVICE DRUG USE FROM THE APPELLANT'S MOTHER TO "REBUT" MATTERS TO WHICH THE MILITARY JUDGE HIMSELF "OPENED THE DOOR."

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW DENIED

 

No. 04-0713/AR.  U.S. v. Jason T. STEAGALL.  CCA 20030879.

No. 04-0789/AF.  U.S. v. Fabian PORTUNATO.  CCA 35245.

No. 04-0794/AF.  U.S. v. Tristen K. WENTLING.  CCA 35760.

No. 05-0001/NA.  U.S. v. Garrick O. STEWART.  CCA 200400312.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW FILED

 

No. 05-0118/MC.  U.S. v. Ricardo NIETO II.  CCA 200200942.

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-032

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

 

APPEALS - SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS

 

No. 04-0504/NA.  U.S. v. John D. WASHBURNE.  CCA 200300123.  On consideration of Appellant’s petition for grant of review, and in light of this Court’s decision in United States v. O’Connor, 58 M.J. 450 (C.A.A.F. 2003), said petition is granted on the following issue:

 

WHETHER APPELLANT'S PLEAS OF GUILTY TO OFFENSES UNDER 18 U.S.C. § 2252A ARE IMPROVIDENT WHERE THE MILITARY JUDGE FOCUSES THE PROVIDENCE INQUIRY ON THE AGE OF THE CHILDREN, AND WHERE THE MILITARY JUDGE AND APPELLANT RELY ON THE DEFINITION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AS STRUCK DOWN BY ASHCROFT v. FREE SPEECH COALITION, 535 U.S. 234 (2002).

 

     The decision of the United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals is reversed and the findings of guilty and the sentence are set aside.  The record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy for further action consistent with this Court’s decision in O’Connor.  A rehearing may be ordered.  [See also ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW this date.]

 

CRAWFORD, Judge (dissenting):  I dissent for reasons set forth in my dissenting opinion in United States v. O’Connor, 58 M.J. 450, 455 (C.A.A.F. 2003)(Crawford, C.J., dissenting), and:

 

(a)  the issue was not raised;

 

(b)  Appellant admitted:  “Because of reading the U.S. Codes and discussing [it] with my counsel . . . [, the image] qualifies [as child pornography].”  The mention of child pornography also appears throughout the providence inquiry; and

 

(c)  this conduct was prejudicial to good order and discipline or it would bring discredit on the Armed Forces, and thus was a lesser included offense to the charged offense.

 

ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW

 

No. 04-0504/NA.  U.S. v. John D. WASHBURNE.  CCA 200300123.  [See also APPEALS – SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS this date.]

 

 

INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS

 

No. 04-0780/AR.  U.S. v. Michael S. SPENCER.  CCA 20031268.  On consideration of the petition for grant of review of the decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, we note that Appellant has attached a two-page, handwritten document to his petition for grant of review in which he raises several issues.  However, the supplement in this case was submitted “upon its merits” without any reference to those issues.  See United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431, 437 (C.M.A. 1982)(“[I]n no case will the issues submitted by the accused be ignored without evidence of the accused’s concurrence in that decision.”); see also United States v. Healy, 26 M.J. 394, 397 (C.M.A. 1988)(“In applying Grostefon, we have allowed appellate defense counsel simply to identify issues which the accused wished to have raised, rather than requiring counsel to brief those issues fully.”).  Accordingly, it is ordered that within 10 days of the date of this order, appellate defense counsel shall file an amended supplement in compliance with Grostefon; and appellate government counsel will have five days in which to file an answer.

 

MANDATES ISSUED

 

No. 02-0944/AF.  U.S. v. Eric P. MARCUM.  CCA 34216.

No. 03-0433/CG.  U.S. v. Darrell R. STIREWALT.  CCA 1089.

 

 


 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES

DAILY JOURNAL

No. 05-031

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

 

ORDERS GRANTING PETITION FOR REVIEW

 

No. 03-0688/NA.  U.S. v. Stacie M. SOWELL.  CCA 9901777.  Review granted on the following issue:

 

WHETHER THE LOWER COURT ERRED WHEN IT HELD THAT THE MILITARY JUDGE DID NOT ABUSE HIS DISCRETION WHEN HE RESTRICTED APPELLANT'S UNSWORN STATEMENT BY NOT ALLOWING HER TO STATE THAT HER CO-CONSPIRATOR HAD BEEN ACQUITTED.

 

No. 04-0588/NA.  U.S. v. Stevon J. TAYLOR.  CCA 200202294.  Review granted on the following issue raised by appellate defense counsel:

 

I. WHETHER, IN LIGHT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN CRAWFORD v. WASHINGTON, 124 S. CT. 1354 (2004), PROSECUTION EXHIBITS 2 AND 3 CONSTITUTE TESTIMONIAL HEARSAY REQUIRING THAT THEIR DECLARANTS BE SUBJECT TO CROSS-EXAMINATION AS REQUIRED BY THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

 

And the following issues specified by the Court:

 

II. WHETHER, APART FROM THE CONFRONTATION ISSUE OF CRAWFORD v. WASHINGTON, 124 S. CT. 1354 (2004), THE MILITARY JUDGE ABUSED HIS DISCRETION IN ADMITTING PROSECUTION EXHIBITS 2, 3, AND 5 OVER DEFENSE OBJECTION.

 

III. WHETHER THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED ON THE MERITS WAS LEGALLY SUFFICIENT TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT APPELLANT WAS GUILTY OF DESERTION FROM HIS ORGANIZATION, THE NAVY ABSENTEE COLLECTION AND INFORMATION CENTER, ON OR ABOUT 30 DECEMBER 1994, AND THAT HIS DESERTION WAS TERMINATED BY APPREHENSION ON OR ABOUT 20 OCTOBER 2001.

 

No. 04-0611/AF.  U.S. v. Antoinette E. JOHNSON.  CCA 34889.  Review granted on the following issue:

 

WHETHER THE LOWER COURT AND MILITARY JUDGE ERRED IN DENYING THE DEFENSE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL.

 

PETITIONS FOR GRANT OF REVIEW DENIED

 

No. 04-0646/AR.  U.S. v. Michael J. BROWN.  CCA 20031174.

No. 04-0660/AR.  U.S. v. Marsha R. PURCELL.  CCA 20031007.

No. 04-0701/AR.  U.S. v. George M. WATTS, Jr.  CCA 20030013.

No. 04-0733/MC.  U.S. v. Richard J. HARMS.  CCA 200400301.

No. 04-0746/NA.  U.S. v. Matt L. MCGINNIS.  CCA 200300116.

No. 04-0766/AR.  U.S. v. Quantesa R. DAVIS.  CCA 20030790.

No. 04-0793/AR.