Coke v. United States

Background

Christopher Coke was the movant, and the United States of America was the respondent. The judgment concerns a petition associated with civil docket number 19 Civ. 263 and criminal docket number 07 Cr. 971. The judgment states that the reasons for the decision were provided in a separate court order dated April 8, 2021. That order is not included in the provided opinion text.

Ruling

The court denied the petition in its entirety. The judgment states that Coke may not appeal unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. A certificate of appealability is a court authorization required for an appeal in this type of proceeding when the statutory standard is met. The court declined to issue one, finding that Coke would not be able to meet that standard. The court also certified under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that an appeal from the order on the merits would not be taken in good faith.

Effect

The judgment leaves the petition denied and does not authorize an appeal. The provided text does not explain the underlying claims or whether the petition was denied after a merits analysis or on a threshold ground. Judge Laura Swain is identified in the supplied case information; the judgment itself is dated April 8, 2021 and bears the clerk’s signature.