We must determine, sua sponte, whеther those provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) which govern appeal of a district court’s final order in a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 proceeding apply to eases pending when AEDPA was enacted, but for which the final order and аppeal occurred post-enactment; and if they do, whether, under AEDPA, we construe a notice of appeal as the AEDPA-mandated request for a certificate of appealability, when the request has not been filed. We answer both questions in the affirmative; but, concluding that the appellant has not satisfied the AEDPA standard for issuance of the certificate (“substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right”), we DISMISS.
I.
Jesus Alfredo Orozco, Jr. pled guilty in 1995 to, inter alia, using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a violеnt crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). He did not appeal.
In mid-April 1996, relying on
Bailey v. United States,
— U.S.-,
Approximately a week later, on April 24, thе Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub.L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (1996), took effect. Among other things, AEDPA amended 28 U.S.C. § 2253 and Fed. R.App. P. 22, concerning appeals from final orders in habeas corpus proceedings challenging state detention and § 2255 proсeedings. One amendment to § 2253 is that, “[u]nless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability, an appeal may not be taken to the court of appeals from” such final orders. Pub.L. No. 104-132, § 102, 110 Stat. 1214, 1218, codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1).
In late May, the district cоurt denied Orozco’s § 2255 motion. Thereafter, although Orozco, pro se, filed a timely notice of appeal, he did not request a certificate of appealability.
II.
AEDPA does not state whether the amendments to § 2253 and Rule 22 extend to § 2255 proceedings pending when AEDPA took effect. Therefore, our starting point is to determine whether it applies to a § 2255 proceeding pending at the time of its enactment, but for which both the final order and notice of appeal are рost-enactment.
Landgraf v. USI Film Products,
A.
AEDPA took effect before Orozco filed his notice of appeal. On this fact alone, it can be argued with quite considerable forсe that AEDPA’s changes for appeals of § 2255 proceedings would be applied prospectively, not retrospectively, to Orozco. On the other hand, it can be urged that their application would be retrospective, bеcause they would have an effect on events or acts that occurred pre-AEDPA, such as the underlying offense, the plea agreement, not taking a direct appeal, filing the § 2255 motion, and not seeking to amend that motion in the four-week interval between AEDPA’s effective date and the denial of the motion.
For this effect on pre-AEDPA events argument, it must be remembered that “[a] statute does not operate ‘retrospectively’ merely because it is applied in a case arising from conduct antedating the statute’s enactment”.
Landgraf,
511 U.S. at -,
must determine whether the new statute would hаve retroactive effect, i.e., whether it would impair rights a party possessed when he acted, increase a party’s liability for past conduct, or impose new duties with respect to transactions already completed. If the stаtute would operate retroactively, our traditional presumption teaches that it does not govern absent clear congressional intent favoring such a result.
Landgraf,
511 U.S. at-,
AEDPA took effect before the denial of Orozco’s § 2255 motion. The сhange brought about by AEDPA for appealing the final order in a § 2255 proceeding has, arguably, narrowed the bases for appeal; in fact, the change will limit such appeals. This is because, as discussed below, the now requisite certificаte of appealability did not have a counterpart for pre-AEDPA § 2255 movants.
Prior to § 2253 being amended by AED-PA, a habeas applicant in federal district court challenging state detention could not appeal a final order to а court of appeals “unless the justice or judge who rendered the order or a circuit justice or judge issue[d] a certificate of probable cause.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253 (1995); Fed. R.App. P. 22(b) (1995);
e.g., Newby v. Johnson,
Now, in order to appeal a final order in either a federal habeas proceeding challenging statе detention or a § 2255 proceeding, the same standard applies to both; the applicant must obtain a certificate of appealability by making “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right”. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c). For the former (state dеtention), our court held recently in
Drinkard,
Consistent with this line of reasoning, it might be claimed that the basis for appealing a final order in a § 2255 proceeding has not really changed either because, the argument would continue, the basis for a certificate of appealability for a § 2255 proceeding is similar, if not equal, to the limited bases for § 2255 relief, which were well-established before, and were not changed by, AEDPA. The grounds for § 2255 relief are quite narrow indeed, as our court has reрeatedly emphasized.
E.g., United States v. Samuels,
Despite these quite narrow bаses for § 2255 relief, we are not able to conclude, at this infant stage of the effect of AEDPA on § 2255 appeals, that the new certificate requirement does not narrow even more the movant’s chances for relief. For examрle, the boundaries for § 2255 purposes of what can constitute the requisite AEDPA basis for obtaining the certificate (“substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right”, 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2)) are, of course, as yet undetermined. As another example, it is well-established that the cause and prejudice procedural bar cannot be raised on appeal against the movant unless the United States raised it in district court,
Drobny,
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In short, a pre-AEDPA § 2255 movant had the right to appeal; he still does, but only if he obtains a сertificate of appealability. And, as noted, that “certificate ... may issue ... only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right”. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Considering this change in the light ;of the above quoted three-factors standard from
Landgraf,
the first two are obviously not applicable; the change will neither “increase a [§ 2255 movant’s] liability for past conduct” nor “impose new duties with respect to transactions already completed”.
Landgraf,
511 U.S. at -,
In
Hunter,
the Eleventh Circuit, en bаnc, quite recently addressed this very question in a most thorough and well-considered opinion. Prior to doing so, it called for briefs on this and other AEDPA issues from the parties and a number of amici.
Hunter,
We agree with our sister Circuit that “the term ‘rights’ as used in this context [ ^impair rights a party possessed when he acted’)] should not be construed broadly so as to sweep within its ambit mere expectation interests under procedural or remedy rules.”
Id.
at 1572.
See Landgraf,
511 U.S. at ---,
B.
As noted, Orozco did not request such a certificate. Rule 22(b) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, as amended by AEDPA, states plainly: “If no express request for a certificate is filed, the notice of appeal shall be deemed to constitute a request addressed to the judges of the court of appeals.” Pub.L. No. 104-132, § 103, 110 Stat. 1214, 1218.
But, preceding this plain statement (notice constitutes absent certificate request) are several sentences concerning habeas proceedings challenging state detentions; these preceding sentences might cause some to question whether the amended Rule applies to § 2255 рroceedings. Nevertheless, our reading convinces us that it does.
In any event, the headings for Rule 22, as well as subpart (b), have also been amended. Rule 22’s former heading of “Habeas Corpus Proceedings” now reads “Habeas corpus аnd section 2255 proceedings”; subpart (b), formerly headed “Necessity of Certificate of Probable Cause for Appeal”, now reads “CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY”. If need be, these headings can be consulted in ascertaining the amended Rule’s meaning (because amended Rule 22(b) is not ambiguous, we do not think they need be considered).
See, e.g., United States v. Wallington,
C.
Accordingly, we turn to whethеr Orozco’s notice of appeal has made the requisite “substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right”. But, the notice is bare bones, stating only that Orozco appeals from the denial of his § 2255 motion. As we have done previоusly in such circumstances, however, when construing a notice of appeal as a
*393
request for the former certificate of probable cause, we look also to Orozco’s other papers filed with us — his brief and reply brief — tо evaluate the issues he presents.
E.g., Jones v. Whitley,
Pursuant to Orozco’s briefs, the sole basis before us for a certificate is whether
Bailey v. United, States,
— U.S.-,
Orozco, however, pled guilty to both “carrying” and “using” a firearm in violation of § 924(c)(1). Accordingly, the “use” question aside, the conviction stands under the “carry” prоng.
See, e.g., United States v. Rivas,
III.
For the foregoing reasons, a certificate of appealability is DENIED. Accordingly, the appeal from the denial of § 2255 relief is
DISMISSED.