KEMP v. BLAKE, 474 U.S. 998 (1985)
U.S. Supreme Court
KEMP v. BLAKE , 474 U.S. 998 (1985)474 U.S. 998
Ralph KEMP, Warden
v.
Joseph James BLAKE.
No. 85-188
Supreme Court of the United States
November 18, 1985
On petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
The petition for writ of certiorari is denied.
Justice WHITE, dissenting.
This case presents the question whether, in a habeas corpus proceeding presenting multiple claims for relief, an appellate court has jurisdiction to review an order of the district court without disposing of all of petitioner's claims. In his habeas petition to
the District Court, respondent presented 59 constitutional claims. The District Court found that three of these claims had merit and granted the writ, but expressly refused to rule on the remaining claims. Blake v. Zant, 513 F. Supp. 772 (SD Ga.1981). On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit originally held that, because the District Court's order did not finally determine all of the claims presented in the habeas petition, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b),1 there was no final judgment, and therefore, the court was without jurisdiction to consider the appeal under 28 U.S.C. 1291.2 Blake v. Zant, 737 F.2d 925, 928 (CA11 1984). On sua sponte reconsideration, however, the court determined that a district court order granting a writ of habeas corpus is a final judgment within the meaning of 1291, regardless of the district court's refusal to consider the remainder of petitioner's claims. 758 F.2d 523, 524-525 ( 1985).
This later decision of the Eleventh Circuit conflicts with the
practice of the Eighth Circuit. That court has held that, when a
district court grants habeas relief to a petitioner on some but not
all of the claims presented for consideration, the court of appeals
does not have jurisdiction to review the trial court's decision
unless its order also finally disposes of the remainder of
petitioner's claims. Stewart v. Bishop, 403 F.2d
674, 679-680 (CA8 1968). See also Gray v. Swenson, 430 F.2d
9, 11 (CA8 1970) (Rule 54(b) applies to prohibit appeals when
fewer than all habeas claims are [474 U.S. 998 , 1000]
U.S. Supreme Court
KEMP v. BLAKE , 474 U.S. 998 (1985) 474 U.S. 998 Ralph KEMP, Wardenv.
Joseph James BLAKE.
No. 85-188 Supreme Court of the United States November 18, 1985 On petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The petition for writ of certiorari is denied. Justice WHITE, dissenting. This case presents the question whether, in a habeas corpus proceeding presenting multiple claims for relief, an appellate court has jurisdiction to review an order of the district court without disposing of all of petitioner's claims. In his habeas petition to Page 474 U.S. 998 , 999 the District Court, respondent presented 59 constitutional claims. The District Court found that three of these claims had merit and granted the writ, but expressly refused to rule on the remaining claims. Blake v. Zant, 513 F. Supp. 772 (SD Ga.1981). On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit originally held that, because the District Court's order did not finally determine all of the claims presented in the habeas petition, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b),1 there was no final judgment, and therefore, the court was without jurisdiction to consider the appeal under 28 U.S.C. 1291.2 Blake v. Zant, 737 F.2d 925, 928 (CA11 1984). On sua sponte reconsideration, however, the court determined that a district court order granting a writ of habeas corpus is a final judgment within the meaning of 1291, regardless of the district court's refusal to consider the remainder of petitioner's claims. 758 F.2d 523, 524-525 ( 1985). This later decision of the Eleventh Circuit conflicts with the practice of the Eighth Circuit. That court has held that, when a district court grants habeas relief to a petitioner on some but not all of the claims presented for consideration, the court of appeals does not have jurisdiction to review the trial court's decision unless its order also finally disposes of the remainder of petitioner's claims. Stewart v. Bishop, 403 F.2d 674, 679-680 (CA8 1968). See also Gray v. Swenson, 430 F.2d 9, 11 (CA8 1970) (Rule 54(b) applies to prohibit appeals when fewer than all habeas claims are Page 474 U.S. 998 , 1000 finally determined by the district court's order, but finding all claims to have been decided). Given this direct conflict among the Courts of Appeals, I would grant certiorari in this case. Footnotes Footnote 1 Rule 54(b) provides as follows:
