Pizzuto v. Tewalt

• Court: District Court, D. Idaho
• Decided: April 19, 2022
• Docket: 1:21-cv-00267
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO

GERALD ROSS PIZZUTO, JR., Case No. 1:21-cv-00267-DCN Plaintiff,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND v. ORDER

JOSH TEWALT, Director, Idaho Department of Correction, in his official Capacity; TYRELL DAVIS, Warden, Idaho Maximum Security Institution, in his official capacity; and Unknown Employees, Agents, or Contractors of the Idaho Department of Correction, in their official capacities,

Defendants.

I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiff Gerald Pizzuto brought this case as a death-row inmate requesting that this Court enjoin his execution until the Defendants permitted him certain access to his spiritual advisor during the execution. Dkt. 23. On February 4, 2022, in a separate proceeding, Idaho state court Judge Gaskill entered an order changing Pizzuto’s death sentence to life in prison without parole. State v. Pizzuto, CR-1985-22075 (Idaho Dist. Ct. Feb. 4, 2022); Dkt. 34-6 (copy of Judge Gaskill’s order). The State appealed that decision to the Idaho Supreme Court. Dkt. 34-7. In light of the state court proceedings, this Court ordered the parties to brief two issues: (1) whether this case remains justiciable in the interim period between Judge Gaskill’s order and the Idaho Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision; and (2) if it is

justiciable, whether this case should be stayed pending the appeal in state court. Dkt. 33. Upon review, the Court agrees with the parties that this case remains justiciable but should be stayed pending resolution of the state court appeal. II. BACKGROUND In this case, Pizzuto brings three claims under RLUIPA, the Free Exercise Clause,

and Idaho’s Free Exercise of Religion Protected Act. Pizzuto contends that under these provisions he has the right to have his spiritual advisor audibly pray with him before the execution and to physically touch him during the execution. The Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss. Dkt. 26. That motion is fully briefed and was set for a hearing on February 17, 2022. Dkt. 29. However, after the Court learned of

Judge Gaskill’s ruling, it vacated the hearing and ordered briefing on the justiciability and stay issues. Dkt. 33. The state court case regards Pizzuto’s commutation petition. On May 18, 2021, Judge Gaskill stayed Pizzuto’s execution because the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole (the “Commission”) granted a hearing on Pizzuto’s commutation petition and set it

for November of 2021. Dkts. 34-2; 34-3. After the hearing, the Commission voted to recommend commuting Pizzuto’s sentence from death to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Dkt. 34-3. The Commission sent their recommendation to Idaho Governor Brad Little, who rejected it. Dkt. 34-4. Pizzuto then filed a motion under Idaho Criminal Rule 35 in state court to correct his death sentence to life, arguing that Governor Little had no power to intervene because the state constitution gives the Commission sole authority over commutations. Dkt. 34-5. Judge Gaskill agreed with Pizzuto’s theory and

changed Pizzuto’s sentence to life in prison without parole. Dkt. 34-6. The State appealed the decision to the Idaho Supreme Court. Dkt. 34-7. In addition to the Idaho Criminal Rule 35 proceeding before Judge Gaskill, Pizzuto is pursuing the same argument regarding the commutation in a post-conviction action in Idaho County in case number CV25-22-004, and in a habeas petition in Ada County in case

number CV01-22-888. Judge Gaskill granted relief in the Idaho County post-conviction action as well, and the State is also appealing that decision. The Idaho Supreme Court has consolidated and expedited the appeals, which remain pending and are scheduled for oral argument in June of 2022. Dkts. 35-1; 35-2. It bears mentioning that while the parties were briefing the justiciability and stay

questions, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in a similar case where a Texas death-row inmate requested that his spiritual advisor audibly pray with him before the execution and touch him during the execution. Ramirez v. Collier, 142 S. Ct. 1264 (2022). Ramirez does not impact the Court’s decision today regarding the question of justiciability and staying the case until after the state court appeal; however, if the Idaho

Supreme Court rules for the State and Pizzuto’s death sentence remains, the Court anticipates that the parties will need to address what impact Ramirez has on these proceedings. III. DISCUSSION During the state court appeal, this case remains justiciable. If Judge Gaskill’s order correcting Pizzuto’s sentence was a final order, then this case would be moot. However,

under Idaho law, a new sentence that is appealed does not become final until remittitur issues from the higher court. Peregrina v. State, 354 P.3d 510, 513 (Idaho Ct. App. 2015); see also Idaho App. R. 38(b), (c); State v. Young, 406 P.3d 868, 871 (Idaho 2017) (“A remittitur was issued . . . , at which time Rios-Lopez’ judgment of conviction became final by operation of Idaho Appellate Rule 38(c).”).

While the case is not moot, the Court finds it appropriate to stay the case pending the resolution of the state court appeal. Both parties agree. If the Idaho Supreme Court affirms the lower court decision changing Pizzuto’s sentence to life in prison without parole, then this case will be moot. The Court will not proceed in determining Pizzuto’s constitutional, RLUIPA, and state law claims during the pendency of the state court appeal,

which may render this case moot. Thus, under the Court’s inherent authority “to control the disposition of the causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for counsel, and for litigants,” Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936), the Court STAYS this case pending the resolution of the state court appeal. Upon resolution of that appeal, the parties should notify the Court of the outcome, and the stay will be lifted.

IV. ORDER The Court HEREBY ORDERS: 1. This case is STAYED pending the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision regarding Pizzuto’s sentence. 2. The parties shall file a notice with this Court within seven (7) days of the Idaho Supreme Court’s ruling to inform this Court of the outcome.

“< DATED: April 19, 2022 —_ 7 °

Mm ab? } —-- — Z David C. Nye — Chief U.S. District Court Judge

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER - 5