Hill v. Haynes

Apr 1, 2009
08-7244
Versions:321 F. App'x 338

PER CURIAM:

Demetrius Hill seeks to appeal the district court‘s order declining to adopt the magistrate judge‘s recommendation and dismissing Hill‘s civil complaint without prejudice. The district court‘s judgment was entered on March 5, 2008, 2008 WL 622817. Hill‘s notice of appeal was filed on July 16, 2008, the day on which he delivered it to prison officials for mailing. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(c)(1); Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276, 108 S.Ct. 2379, 101 L.Ed.2d 245 (1988). In his notice of appeal, Hill stated that he did not receive notice of the district court‘s order until July 9, 2008, when he received a copy of the district court‘s docket sheet, in response to his request to the district court for the status of his case.

Parties are accorded thirty days after entry of the district court‘s final judgment or order to note an appeal, Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A), unless the district court extends the appeal period under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5) or reopens the appeal period under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6). This appeal period is “mandatory and jurisdictional.” Browder v. Dir., Dep‘t of Corr., 434 U.S. 257, 264, 98 S.Ct. 556, 54 L.Ed.2d 521 (1978) (quoting United States v. Robinson, 361 U.S. 220, 229, 80 S.Ct. 282, 4 L.Ed.2d 259 (1960)).

Hill‘s notice of appeal is clearly untimely filed. However, under Rule 4(a)(6), the district court may reopen the time to file an appeal if (1) the moving party did not receive notice of entry of judgment within twenty-one days after entry, (2) the motion is filed within 180 days of entry of judgment or within seven days of receiving notice from the court, whichever is earlier, and (3) no party would be prejudiced. We remand to the district court to determine whether Hill is entitled to the benefit of Rule 4(a)(6) to reopen the time to file an appeal. The record, as supplemented, will then be returned to this court for further consideration.

REMANDED.