Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:16cv509-MHT (WO)
07-30-2019
JERALD DEAN GODWIN, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
OPINION AND ORDER
Petitioner Jerald Dean Godwin, a federal inmate, filed this lawsuit seeking habeas relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. He challenges his conviction and consecutive 84-month sentence for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a "crime of violence," in violation of 18 U.S.C § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). The specific basis of his § 2255 motion is that § 924(c)'s residual clause is unconstitutionally vague in light of Johnson v. United States, the 2015 Supreme Court decision that struck down on vagueness grounds the similarly worded residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). 135 S. Ct. 2551, 2555-58, 2563 (2015). Three years after Godwin filed his § 2255 motion, the Supreme Court proved him right: in United States v. Davis, the Court extended its ruling in Johnson and held that § 924(c)'s residual clause, like the ACCA's residual clause, is unconstitutionally vague. 139 S. Ct. 2319, 2336 (2019).
Although Godwin originally filed his motion based on Johnson, his petition is "best described as a Davis claim." In re Hammoud, 2019 WL 3296800, at *2 n.1 (11th Cir. July 23, 2019). To succeed on his Davis claim, he bears the burden of showing "that his § 924(c) conviction resulted from application of solely the residual clause," and not also the elements clause. Id. at 5 (citing Beeman v. United States, 871 F.3d 1215, 1222-25 (11th Cir 2017) (holding that § 2255 movants raising Johnson claims "must show that--more likely than not--it was use of the residual clause that led to the sentencing court's enhancement of [their] sentence."). In proving this, Godwin "may rely on the relevant record and/or on legal precedent at the relevant time." Weeks v. United States, 2019 WL 3280186, at *8 (11th Cir. July 22, 2019).
To complete its review of the magistrate judge's recommendation to deny Godwin's § 2255 motion, this court requires briefing from both sides on whether he meets his burden of showing his § 924(c) conviction rested solely on the residual clause.
***
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that, by August 9, 2019, the parties are to file detailed legal briefs concerning whether petitioner Jerald Dean Godwin's satisfies his burden under Beeman of proving that his § 924(c) conviction rested solely on the residual clause. The parties may submit additional evidence from the record of conviction in support of their briefs.
DONE, this the 30th day of July, 2019.
/s/ Myron H. Thompson
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE