Rel: May 3, 2024
Notice: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the advance sheets of Southern Reporter. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Alabama Appellate Courts, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229-0650), of any typographical or other errors, in order that corrections may be made before the opinion is printed in Southern Reporter.
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA OCTOBER TERM, 2023-2024
_________________________
SC-2023-0945 _________________________
Raymond Shane Greene
v.
Nicki E. Patterson
Appeal from Mobile Circuit Court (CV-23-901385)
SELLERS, Justice.
Raymond Shane Greene appeals from an order of the Mobile Circuit
Court granting Nicki E. Patterson's motion to dismiss an action that SC-2023-0945
Greene purportedly commenced pursuant to Rule 60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P.
We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
In November 2015, Greene was convicted of rape in the first degree,
a violation of § 13A-6-61(a)(3), Ala. Code 1975; sodomy in the first degree,
a violation of § 13A-6-63, Ala. Code 1975; and sexual abuse of a child
under 12 years of age, a violation of § 13A-6-69.1, Ala. Code 1975. The
trial court sentenced Greene to life imprisonment for the rape conviction,
99 years' imprisonment for the sodomy conviction, and 10 years'
imprisonment for the sexual-abuse conviction; the sentences for rape and
sodomy were ordered to run consecutively, and the sexual-abuse
conviction was ordered to run concurrently with the other two.
Greene was initially tried for the above-stated offenses in August
2015, but that trial resulted in a mistrial based on the State's inadvertent
failure to provide defense counsel with certain evidence, which prejudiced
the trial. A transcript of the August 2015 trial proceedings indicates that,
although defense counsel asked for the mistrial, counsel, nonetheless,
represented to the trial judge that there had been no bad faith on the part
of the State in failing to provide the evidence and that double jeopardy
2 SC-2023-0945
therefore would not bar a second trial. Based on those representations
and the totality of the circumstances, the trial court declared a mistrial.
Following the mistrial, Greene filed a motion to dismiss the charges
against him on the ground of double jeopardy stemming from alleged
prosecutorial misconduct. The trial court presumably denied that
motion, because Greene was retried in November 2015, convicted of the
charged offenses, and sentenced as previously indicated.
On July 7, 2023, Greene, acting pro se, purported to commence in
the Mobile Circuit Court ("the circuit court") an action pursuant to Rule
60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., arguing, in relevant part, that his November 2015
criminal convictions were due to be set aside on double-jeopardy
grounds.1 In that action, Greene accused Patterson, the assistant district
attorney who had prosecuted him in the August 2015 trial, of
prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically, he claimed that, because
Patterson's misconduct had caused the mistrial, his second trial violated
1Rule 60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., provides that "[t]his rule does not limit
the power of a court to entertain an independent action within a reasonable time and not to exceed three (3) years after the entry of the judgment (or such additional time as is given by § 6-2-3 and § 6-2-8, Code of Alabama 1975)."
3 SC-2023-0945
the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. The action was docketed as case no. CV-23-901385, and
Patterson was served with the summons and complaint. The Mobile
County District Attorney's Office, on behalf of Patterson, filed a motion
to dismiss, pursuant to Rule 12(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., on the grounds that
the circuit court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over the complaint,
that the complaint failed to state a cause of action upon which relief could
be granted, that the claims asserted in the complaint were barred by the
applicable statute of limitations, and that Patterson was entitled to
State-agent and prosecutorial immunity. The circuit court, thereafter,
entered an order granting Patterson's motion to dismiss. Greene filed a
postjudgment motion to alter, amend, or vacate, which the circuit court
denied. This appeal followed.
Discussion
The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the circuit court properly
granted Patterson's motion to dismiss. We review the circuit court's
ruling on the motion to dismiss without a presumption of correctness.
Nance v. Matthews, 622 So. 2d 297, 299 (Ala. 1993). Greene seeks relief
from his 2015 criminal convictions through an independent action
4 SC-2023-0945
purportedly commenced pursuant to Rule 60(b).2 However, Rule 1, Ala.
R. Civ. P., states that the rules of civil procedure govern "all actions of a
civil nature." The Committee Comments on 1973 Adoption of Rule 1
further state that the rules of civil procedure "have no application in
criminal proceedings." Rather, Rule 32, Ala. R. Crim. P., exclusively
governs postconviction-relief litigation under Alabama law. In fact, Rule
32.1, Ala. R. Crim. P., states, in relevant part, that "any defendant who
has been convicted of a criminal offense may institute a proceeding in the
court of original conviction to secure appropriate relief …." See also Rule
32.4, Ala. R. Crim. P. ("A proceeding under [Rule 32] displaces all post-
trial remedies except post-trial motions under Rule 24[, Ala. R. Crim. P.,]
and appeal. Any other post-conviction petition seeking relief from a
conviction or sentence shall be treated as a proceeding under this rule.").
In Citizenship Trust v. Keddie-Hill, 68 So. 3d 99, 106 (Ala. 2011), this
2Greene cites Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524 (2005), for the proposition that commencing an action pursuant to Rule 60(b) is a proper means by which to challenge his criminal convictions. Gonzalez, however, is inapplicable because it concerns the use of Rule 60(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., in federal habeas corpus proceedings. See also, e.g., Bandy v. State, 727 So. 2d 892, 893 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998) (noting that "a petition for the writ of habeas corpus filed in state court is not the appropriate method by which to seek relief from a conviction or sentence"). 5 SC-2023-0945
Court specifically held that trial courts lack subject-matter jurisdiction
over civil actions purporting to collaterally attack judgments in criminal
cases. See also Tyson v. Macon Cnty. Greyhound Park, Inc., 43 So. 3d
587, 589 (Ala. 2010) (holding that, with exceptions not applicable here,
courts "may not interfere with the enforcement of criminal laws through
a civil action"). That is essentially the same situation we have here;
Greene has attempted to use a civil action to challenge the propriety of
his convictions by suing the prosecuting attorney. In light of the plain
language of Rule 1, Ala. R. Civ. P., the Committee Comments thereto,
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Rel: May 3, 2024
Notice: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the advance sheets of Southern Reporter. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Alabama Appellate Courts, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229-0650), of any typographical or other errors, in order that corrections may be made before the opinion is printed in Southern Reporter.
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA OCTOBER TERM, 2023-2024
_________________________
SC-2023-0945 _________________________
Raymond Shane Greene
v.
Nicki E. Patterson
Appeal from Mobile Circuit Court (CV-23-901385)
SELLERS, Justice.
Raymond Shane Greene appeals from an order of the Mobile Circuit
Court granting Nicki E. Patterson's motion to dismiss an action that SC-2023-0945
Greene purportedly commenced pursuant to Rule 60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P.
We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
In November 2015, Greene was convicted of rape in the first degree,
a violation of § 13A-6-61(a)(3), Ala. Code 1975; sodomy in the first degree,
a violation of § 13A-6-63, Ala. Code 1975; and sexual abuse of a child
under 12 years of age, a violation of § 13A-6-69.1, Ala. Code 1975. The
trial court sentenced Greene to life imprisonment for the rape conviction,
99 years' imprisonment for the sodomy conviction, and 10 years'
imprisonment for the sexual-abuse conviction; the sentences for rape and
sodomy were ordered to run consecutively, and the sexual-abuse
conviction was ordered to run concurrently with the other two.
Greene was initially tried for the above-stated offenses in August
2015, but that trial resulted in a mistrial based on the State's inadvertent
failure to provide defense counsel with certain evidence, which prejudiced
the trial. A transcript of the August 2015 trial proceedings indicates that,
although defense counsel asked for the mistrial, counsel, nonetheless,
represented to the trial judge that there had been no bad faith on the part
of the State in failing to provide the evidence and that double jeopardy
2 SC-2023-0945
therefore would not bar a second trial. Based on those representations
and the totality of the circumstances, the trial court declared a mistrial.
Following the mistrial, Greene filed a motion to dismiss the charges
against him on the ground of double jeopardy stemming from alleged
prosecutorial misconduct. The trial court presumably denied that
motion, because Greene was retried in November 2015, convicted of the
charged offenses, and sentenced as previously indicated.
On July 7, 2023, Greene, acting pro se, purported to commence in
the Mobile Circuit Court ("the circuit court") an action pursuant to Rule
60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., arguing, in relevant part, that his November 2015
criminal convictions were due to be set aside on double-jeopardy
grounds.1 In that action, Greene accused Patterson, the assistant district
attorney who had prosecuted him in the August 2015 trial, of
prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically, he claimed that, because
Patterson's misconduct had caused the mistrial, his second trial violated
1Rule 60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., provides that "[t]his rule does not limit
the power of a court to entertain an independent action within a reasonable time and not to exceed three (3) years after the entry of the judgment (or such additional time as is given by § 6-2-3 and § 6-2-8, Code of Alabama 1975)."
3 SC-2023-0945
the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. The action was docketed as case no. CV-23-901385, and
Patterson was served with the summons and complaint. The Mobile
County District Attorney's Office, on behalf of Patterson, filed a motion
to dismiss, pursuant to Rule 12(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., on the grounds that
the circuit court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over the complaint,
that the complaint failed to state a cause of action upon which relief could
be granted, that the claims asserted in the complaint were barred by the
applicable statute of limitations, and that Patterson was entitled to
State-agent and prosecutorial immunity. The circuit court, thereafter,
entered an order granting Patterson's motion to dismiss. Greene filed a
postjudgment motion to alter, amend, or vacate, which the circuit court
denied. This appeal followed.
Discussion
The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the circuit court properly
granted Patterson's motion to dismiss. We review the circuit court's
ruling on the motion to dismiss without a presumption of correctness.
Nance v. Matthews, 622 So. 2d 297, 299 (Ala. 1993). Greene seeks relief
from his 2015 criminal convictions through an independent action
4 SC-2023-0945
purportedly commenced pursuant to Rule 60(b).2 However, Rule 1, Ala.
R. Civ. P., states that the rules of civil procedure govern "all actions of a
civil nature." The Committee Comments on 1973 Adoption of Rule 1
further state that the rules of civil procedure "have no application in
criminal proceedings." Rather, Rule 32, Ala. R. Crim. P., exclusively
governs postconviction-relief litigation under Alabama law. In fact, Rule
32.1, Ala. R. Crim. P., states, in relevant part, that "any defendant who
has been convicted of a criminal offense may institute a proceeding in the
court of original conviction to secure appropriate relief …." See also Rule
32.4, Ala. R. Crim. P. ("A proceeding under [Rule 32] displaces all post-
trial remedies except post-trial motions under Rule 24[, Ala. R. Crim. P.,]
and appeal. Any other post-conviction petition seeking relief from a
conviction or sentence shall be treated as a proceeding under this rule.").
In Citizenship Trust v. Keddie-Hill, 68 So. 3d 99, 106 (Ala. 2011), this
2Greene cites Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524 (2005), for the proposition that commencing an action pursuant to Rule 60(b) is a proper means by which to challenge his criminal convictions. Gonzalez, however, is inapplicable because it concerns the use of Rule 60(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., in federal habeas corpus proceedings. See also, e.g., Bandy v. State, 727 So. 2d 892, 893 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998) (noting that "a petition for the writ of habeas corpus filed in state court is not the appropriate method by which to seek relief from a conviction or sentence"). 5 SC-2023-0945
Court specifically held that trial courts lack subject-matter jurisdiction
over civil actions purporting to collaterally attack judgments in criminal
cases. See also Tyson v. Macon Cnty. Greyhound Park, Inc., 43 So. 3d
587, 589 (Ala. 2010) (holding that, with exceptions not applicable here,
courts "may not interfere with the enforcement of criminal laws through
a civil action"). That is essentially the same situation we have here;
Greene has attempted to use a civil action to challenge the propriety of
his convictions by suing the prosecuting attorney. In light of the plain
language of Rule 1, Ala. R. Civ. P., the Committee Comments thereto,
and this Court's existing caselaw, a state prisoner such as Greene may
not use a rule of civil procedure to collaterally attack a criminal
judgment; rather, Rule 32, Ala. R. Crim. P., provides the exclusive
remedy for challenging a final judgment of conviction. Because the circuit
court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to entertain Greene's civil action,
it properly granted Patterson's motion to dismiss.3
3The circuit court did not indicate in its order a specific ground on
which it granted Patterson's Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss. However, it is well settled that "this Court will affirm the trial court on any valid legal ground presented by the record, regardless of whether that ground was considered, or even if it was rejected, by the trial court." Liberty Nat'l Life Ins. Co. v. University of Alabama Health Servs. Found., P.C., 881 So. 2d 1013, 1020 (Ala. 2003). 6 SC-2023-0945
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court's order granting
Patterson's motion to dismiss is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
Wise, Mendheim, Stewart, and Cook, JJ., concur.
Parker, C.J., and Shaw, J., concur in the result.
Mitchell, J., dissents, with opinion, which Bryan, J., joins.
7 SC-2023-0945
MITCHELL, Justice (dissenting).
I respectfully dissent because I believe that exclusive appellate
jurisdiction of this matter lies with the Court of Criminal Appeals, not
our Court. I would therefore transfer this appeal to the Court of Criminal
Appeals and allow that court to decide it.
I agree with the majority opinion that Raymond Shane Greene has
attempted to "use a rule of civil procedure to collaterally attack a criminal
judgment." ___ So. 3d at ___. Greene purported to file his complaint
under Rule 60(b), Ala. R. Civ. P., a rule of civil procedure that can relieve
a party from a "final judgment, order, or proceeding." But the only "final
judgment[s], order[s], or proceeding[s]" here are Greene's criminal
convictions. The substance of Greene's complaint is also telling: the only
relief he sought was the vacatur of his convictions. Because this Court
"treat[s] a pleading and any other filing according to its substance, rather
than its form or its style," Ex parte Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.,
879 So. 2d 577, 584 (Ala. 2003), I agree with the majority opinion that we
should treat Greene's complaint as a petition under Rule 32, Ala. R. Crim.
P., which "provides the exclusive remedy for challenging a final judgment
of conviction." ___ So. 3d at ___; see Rule 32.4, Ala. R. Crim. P. (stating
8 SC-2023-0945
that, with few exceptions that do not apply here, "any … post-conviction
petition seeking relief from a conviction or sentence shall be treated as a
proceeding under [Rule 32]").
The majority leaps from those observations to a discussion of the
merits of the appeal, including a dispute over the trial court's subject-
matter jurisdiction. But before analyzing the trial court's jurisdiction, we
must examine our own. And because this case -- despite its label as a
civil action -- is actually criminal in nature, appellate jurisdiction lies
only with the Court of Criminal Appeals, not our Court. That is because,
under Alabama law, "[t]he Court of Criminal Appeals has exclusive
appellate jurisdiction of all misdemeanors, including the violation of town
and city ordinances, habeas corpus and all felonies, including all post
conviction writs in criminal cases." § 12-3-9, Ala. Code 1975 (emphasis
added).
Paradoxically, by reaching the merits of this appeal, the majority
opinion treats the case as a civil matter for purposes of determining our
jurisdiction while simultaneously holding that this is a criminal matter
for purposes of determining whether the trial court had jurisdiction. This
contradictory approach cannot be squared with either the text of § 12-3-9
9 SC-2023-0945
or our longstanding recognition that substance, not form, controls. See,
e.g., Lockhart v. Phenix City Inv. Co., 488 So. 2d 1353 (Ala. 1986).
I would transfer this appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals and
allow that court to decide it. I therefore respectfully dissent.
Bryan, J., concurs.