Jordan v. Lamanna

District Court, S.D. New York·Decided November 12, 2020·No. 1:18-cv-10868·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK GIGI JORDAN,

Petitioner,

-v- CIVIL ACTION NO.: 18 Civ. 10868 (SLC)

OPINION & ORDER AMY LAMANNA, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY,

Respondent.

SARAH L. CAVE, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION On November 20, 2020 Petitioner Gigi Jordan (“Jordan”), who is serving an 18-year prison sentence following her conviction for first degree manslaughter in New York State Supreme Court, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (the “Petition”). The Petition asserted that the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department (the “Appellate Division”) unreasonably applied clearly established federal law in holding that Jordan’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was not violated when the trial court closed the courtroom to the public midway through her nine-week trial to conduct a hearing that involved legal arguments by the parties, evidentiary issues, and proposed instructions to the jury. (ECF Nos. 3 at 2–3; 6 at 5; 29 at 1). Respondent Amy Lamanna, Superintendent of the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (“Respondent”), where Jordan is serving her sentence, is represented by the New York County District Attorney (the “DA”), and opposed the Petition on the ground that the closure of the courtroom for a conference that was “akin to a discussion in chambers” did not violate clearly established precedent of the United States Supreme Court. (ECF No. 14 at 9). On September 25, 2020, the Court granted the Petition, holding that the Appellate

Division’s decision rejecting Jordan’s Sixth Amendment claim constituted an unreasonable application of the public trial right clearly established by Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39 (1984) and Presley v. Georgia, 558 U.S. 209 (2010). (ECF No. 34) (the “September 25 Order”). Having granted the Petition, the Court ordered Respondent to “release Jordan from custody unless the DA inform[ed] the Court of its decision to re-try her within the next 90 days.” (Id. at 42).

On September 28, 2020, the DA appealed the September 25 Order to the Second Circuit. (ECF No. 37). Now before the Court is the DA’s motion to stay the September 25 Order, (the “Stay Motion”) (ECF No. 38), and Jordan’s cross-motion for release pending appeal (the “Release Motion”) (ECF No. 41). After receiving full briefing from the parties, hearing oral argument, and receiving post-argument supplemental submissions (ECF Nos. 38, 40–41, 47–48, 50), the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the Stay Motion, and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART

the Release Motion. II. BACKGROUND A. Factual Background The Court assumes familiarity with the facts, a full recitation of which is included in the September 25 Order. (ECF No. 34). Jordan is incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, having been convicted on November 5, 2014 of first-degree manslaughter in connection with the

death of her son and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. (ECF No. 34 at 8, 10; ECF No. 41-1 at 4). Jordan has served ten years and eight months, and, due to good time served, has been given a provisional release date of July 5, 2025, at which time she would have served fifteen years and five months. (ECF No. 41-4 at 5; ECF No. 50 at 10). Thus, at present, Jordan has served over 70% of her reduced sentence. (ECF No. 50 at 10).

Jordan will turn 60 years old in December 2020, and has chronic respiratory asthma, which puts her at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality were she to be infected with COVID- 19. (ECF Nos. 41 at 7, 41-1 at 8–20). At Bedford, one prisoner is known to have died from COVID- 19, and others have tested positive, although as of November 12, 2020, there were no positive cases. (ECF Nos. 41 at 7; 44 ¶ 5).

B. Procedural History On October 9, 2020, the DA filed the Stay Motion. (ECF No. 38). On October 19, 2020, Jordan filed the Release Motion in which she opposed the Stay Motion and cross-moved for release. (ECF No. 40). On October 26, 2020, the DA filed its reply in support of the Stay Motion and opposed the Release Motion. (ECF No. 44). On October 28, 2020, Jordan filed her reply in support of the Release Motion. (ECF No. 45). On November 2, 2020 the Court heard oral

argument on the Stay Motion and the Release Motion. (ECF No. 50). In response to the Court’s request during oral argument, on November 6, 2020, Jordan submitted a supplemental letter describing additional information concerning her residence, were she to be released, and potential bond co-signors. (ECF No. 47). The DA then filed a letter reiterating his opposition to Jordan’s release, but suggesting that if the Court were to order release, she be transferred to federal custody “for the securing order and any accompanying

conditions to be put in place before [Jordan] is released.” (ECF No. 48 at 2). The DA also asks this Court to stay any order granting Jordan release on bail to permit an application to the Second Circuit. (Id.) III. DISCUSSION

A. Applicable Legal Standards Jordan “is subject to federal court jurisdiction during the pendency of [her] petition for a writ of habeas corpus and any appeal from an order granting that writ.” Waiters v. Lee, 168 F. Supp. 3d 447, 454 (E.D.N.Y. 2016) (citing Jago v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 570 F.2d 618, 621 (6th Cir. 1978) (explaining that once writ of habeas corpus is granted, “the body of the petitioner came under

the lawful control of the district court. In legal contemplation that control continues pending decision whether to free the petitioner or return him to state custody.”)); see Rosa v. McCray, No. 03 Civ. 4643 (GEL), 2004 WL 2827638, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 8, 2004) (noting that federal district court retains jurisdiction over bail order during appeal of Court of Appeals’ order granting petition). Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 23(c), which governs the release of a successful

habeas corpus petitioner, provides: While a decision ordering the release of a prisoner is under review, the prisoner must — unless the court or judge rendering the decision, or the court of appeals, or the Supreme Court, or a judge or justice of either court orders otherwise — be released on personal recognizance, with or without surety. Fed. R. App. P. 23(c). Rule 23(c) “undoubtedly creates presumption of release from custody” in cases where a district court has granted relief to a habeas petitioner. Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 774 (1987). In Hilton, the Supreme Court directed federal courts to consider the following factors to determine whether to grant a stay pending appeal of an order granting habeas corpus relief: (1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the

merits; (2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and (4) where the public interest lies. 481 U.S. at 776.

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