The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
:
LORENZA I. BARNETTE, JR., : CASE NO. 4:15-cv-2226
:
Plaintiff, : OPINION & ORDER
: [Resolving Doc. 13]
v. :
:
JASON BUNTING, :
:
Defendant. :
:
JAMES S. GWIN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE:
With this opinion, the Court considers whether a 2021 motion to reopen an earlier
§ 2254 petition is a successive petition that requires court of appeals approval.
On October 12, 2021, Petitioner Lorenza Barnette moved under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 60(b) to reopen his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition.1 Warden Jason Bunting
opposed, arguing that Petitioner Barnette’s motion is untimely, or alternatively, that it should
be transferred to the Sixth Circuit as a successive habeas petition.2
Because Barnette’s motion and his first federal habeas petition challenged the same
state court judgment, his motion qualifies as a second or successive petition. Petitioners
must obtain Sixth Circuit authorization to file a second or successive habeas petition in this
Court. Without that authorization, the Court must transfer the petition.
For the reasons presented below, the Court TRANSFERS this case to the Sixth Circuit.
I. Background
In October 2011, a Mahoning County, Ohio jury convicted Petitioner Barnette of four
1 Doc. 13.
counts of aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of arson.3 The state
trial court sentenced Barnette to life imprisonment without parole for the aggravated murder
convictions and sentenced Barnette to an additional 258 months’ imprisonment for the
remaining convictions.4
On direct appeal, Petitioner Barnette challenged three trial court rulings: (1) an order
denying his motion to reopen the case; (2) a ruling stopping defense counsel detective
impeachment with a specific instance of conduct, and (3) an order overruling his motion in
limine to prohibit certain statistical DNA testimony.5
The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment.6 The Ohio Supreme
Court declined jurisdiction and dismissed the appeal.7
Petitioner Barnette moved the Ohio Court of Appeals to reopen his case and allow
him to add a claim for ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.8 The court denied his
application as untimely filed.9
In October 2015, Petitioner Barnette filed his first petition in this Court, seeking
§ 2254 habeas corpus writ.10
This Court dismissed his first petition.11 One ground was procedurally defaulted. For
the other three grounds, Petitioner failed to establish that the state court decision was
contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law.12
3 Doc. 11 at 2.
4
5
6
7
8 at 2-3.
9 at 3.
10 Doc. 1.
11 Doc. 11 at 5-7.
Over four years later and on October 12, 2021, Barnette filed his 60(b) motion, again
seeking relief from his 2011 conviction.13 In this motion, he raises eight grounds not raised
in his first petition. He alleges three indictment errors, three grand jury errors, a lack of
government standing, and a due process violation related to the indictment.
II. Discussion
A petitioner who has already challenged a state court judgment through a federal
habeas petition faces restrictions before filing a second or successive petition. A petition
“qualifies as second or successive only if it challenges a previously challenged judgment”
authorizing the petitioner’s confinement.14
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3), a petitioner seeking to file a second or successive
habeas petition must first receive court of appeals authorization for the district court to
entertain the petition.15 If the petitioner files the successive petition in the district court
without court of appeals authorization, the district court must transfer the motion to the court
of appeals.16
Barnette’s motion is his second attempt to invalidate the 2011 judgment.17 Therefore,
Barnette’s current petition is a second or successive habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. §
2244(b)(3).
Barnette does not show evidence that the Sixth Circuit has authorized him to file a
successive habeas petition.
13 Doc. 13.
14 , 917 F.3d 891, 893 (6th Cir. 2019) (citing , 561 U.S. 320, 331-33 (2010)).
15 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A) (“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.”).
16 , 111 F.3d 45, 47 (6th Cir. 1997) (per curiam).
None of the exceptions allowing a successive petition without court of appeals
permission apply here. Barnette’s claims were ripe at the time of his first petition.18
Without Sixth Circuit authorization, this Court cannot consider Petitioner Barnette’s
claims.19
III. Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, the Court TRANSFERS Barnette’s motion to the Sixth
Circuit for consideration as a successive § 2254 habeas petition.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 28, 2021
JAMES S. GWIN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
18 , 529 U.S. 473, 488 (2000). The other exceptions also do not apply. The claims were not
raised in an earlier petition then dismissed without prejudice. In addition, the current petition was not “filed after a
remedial appeal, ordered in response to an earlier petition.” , 657 F.3d 372, 378 (6th Cir. 2011).