The federal order - Wayne Tompkins

http://www.waynetompkins.us/legal/amendedfederalorder.pdf

1 Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, requires a preliminary review of the petition for

the writ of habeas corpus: “If it plainly appears from the face of the petition and any exhibits annexed to it

that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court, the judge shall make an order for summary

dismissal . . . .” The respondent filed his motion to dismiss before this court ordered a response. This

order is based on the court’s Rule 4 obligation and not the respondent’s motion to dismiss. As a

consequence, the motion to dismiss is rendered moot.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

TAMPA DIVISION

WAYNE TOMPKINS,

Petitioner, Case No. 8:08-cv-2212-T-23MAP

v. DEATH CASE

SECRETARY, Department of Corrections,

Respondent.

/

O R D E R

Tompkins petitions for the writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254

(Doc. 1) and challenges the validity of both his murder conviction and death sentence.

The Florida Supreme Court stayed Tompkins’s execution until November 18, 2008.

The respondent moves to dismiss (Doc. 5) the petition as a second or successive

petition that is filed without permission from the circuit court.1

Tompkins unsuccessfully challenged his state conviction and sentence in an

earlier federal petition, Wayne Tompkins v. Harry K. Singletary, 8:89-1638-CIV-T-99B.

The petition was denied on the merits, a decision that was affirmed. Wayne Tompkins

v. Michael W. Moore, 193 F.3d 1327 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 861

2 Three of the grounds (yy, yyy, and V) Tompkins asserts in the present petition pend in separate

actions in the Florida Supreme Court, SC08-992, SC08-1997, and SC08-2000. Until those proceedings

conclude, this federal petition is premature. Although the other two grounds (y and yV) are exhausted,

each is based on “newly discovered evidence” for the pursuit of which Tompkins must obtain permission

from the circuit court.

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(2000). As a consequence, Tompkins is barred from pursuing a second federal habeas

petition unless he first obtains permission from the circuit court. “Before a second or

successive application permitted by this section is filed in the district court, the applicant

shall move in the appropriate court of appeals for an order authorizing the district court

to consider the application.” 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A). Tompkins fails to show that he

obtained the required permission before filing this second federal habeas petition.

Arguing for an exception to the permission requirement, Tompkins analogizes to

Panetti v. Quarterman, ____ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 2842 (2007), which holds that a claim

of incompetency at the time of execution is exempt from the permission requirement

because the incompetency claim is not “ripe” until the establishment of an execution

date. However, Tompkins asserts no claim of incompetency. Instead Tompkins seeks

to broaden the exception to include a claim, such as a claim based on “newly

discovered evidence,” that “ripens” after the earlier proceeding. Section 2244(b)(2)

authorizes a second or successive federal petition based on “newly discovered

evidence.” Tompkins’s proposed interpretation allows the “exception to swallow the

rule” because by definition a claim based on newly discovered evidence was neither

known nor “ripe” at the time of the earlier federal proceeding. Tompkins shows no basis

to broaden the Supreme Court’s narrow exception in Panetti. Section 2244 provides

Tompkins an adequate mechanism for obtaining review of a federal claim discovered

after an earlier federal petition.2

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Accordingly, the petition for the writ of habeas corpus (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED as

a second or successive petition filed without permission from the circuit court. The

motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) and motion for nunc pro tunc

appointment of counsel (Doc. 3) are DENIED as moot. The clerk shall close this case.

ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on November 10, 2008.