United States v. Christopher Shawn Warnock

USCA11 Case: 20-13396 Date Filed: 06/29/2021 Page: 1 of 3
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 20-13396
Non-Argument Calendar
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 3:14-cr-00228-BJD-JRK-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CHRISTOPHER SHAWN WARNOCK,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Florida
________________________
(June 29, 2021)
Before MARTIN, ROSENBAUM, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
USCA11 Case: 20-13396 Date Filed: 06/29/2021 Page: 2 of 3
Christopher Warnock, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s denial
of his motion for compassionate release, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), as
amended by § 603(b) of the First Step Act of 2018.1 He argues that the district
court abused its discretion in not appointing him counsel because, without counsel,
he was unable to obtain his medical records and show extraordinary and
compelling circumstances warranting release.
We review de novo jurisdictional issues, which we must raise sua sponte.
United States v. Lopez, 562 F.3d 1309, 1311 (11th Cir. 2009). We retain
jurisdiction to hear only live cases and controversies under Article III of the U.S.
Constitution. United States v. Al-Arian, 514 F.3d 1184, 1189 (11th Cir. 2008). A
dispute is moot, and ceases to be a case or controversy, when we can no longer
provide meaningful relief to the claimant. Id. Completion of a prison term moots
a challenge to the term of confinement. United States v. Farmer, 923 F.2d 1557,
1568 (11th Cir. 1991).
In this appeal, we are compelled to dismiss Warnock’s appeal for lack of
jurisdiction. Warnock has been released from the term of imprisonment from
which he sought compassionate release,2 a fact that has now been confirmed by the
1
Pub. L. No. 115-391, 132 Stat. 5194, 5239 (Dec. 21, 2018) (“First Step Act”).
2
According to the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator page, Warnock was released on
May 7, 2021. https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
2
USCA11 Case: 20-13396 Date Filed: 06/29/2021 Page: 3 of 3
United States. This means that the instant appeal no longer presents a live case and
controversy over which we retain jurisdiction, and is, therefore, moot. See Al-
Arian, 514 F.3d at 1189; Farmer, 923 F.2d at 1568. Accordingly, we DISMISS the
appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
3