Carson v. Guerrero

── Carson v. Guerrero ── Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Date: May 01, 2026 Category: Prisoner w/ out Counsel Case: 26-10117 Document: 39-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/01/2026 United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals ____________ Fifth Circuit FILED No. 26-10117 May 1, 2026 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce ____________ Clerk Michael James Carson, Petitioner—Appellant, versus Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, Respondent—Appellee. ______________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 4:24-CV-186 ______________________________ Before Smith, Haynes, and Oldham, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam: * Michael James Carson, Texas prisoner # 02250040, moves this court for a certificate of appealability (COA) to challenge the district court’s denial of his Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) motion, which sought relief from a 2024 judgment denying his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 application on procedural grounds and on the merits. In his Rule 60(b) motion, Carson raised claims _____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5. Case: 26-10117 Document: 39-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/01/2026 No. 26-10117 that (i) the prosecution in his criminal proceedings committed misconduct by suppressing evidence, falsifying evidence, misrepresenting facts to the court and jury, and knowingly presenting perjured testimony and cumulative evidence; and (ii) his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to perjured testimony, misrepresentations of fact, and false allegations and failing to object to the suppression of Exhibit 41. Because Carson raised claims that were either previously raised in his § 2254 proceeding or were new § 2254 claims and were not premised on a defect in the integrity of the prior § 2254 proceedings, his motion was in substance a successive habeas corpus application. See Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524, 530-32 (2005). Thus, the district court lacked jurisdiction to consider the motion, which constituted an unauthorized successive § 2254 application that required our prior authorization to proceed. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A); Gonzalez, 545 U.S. at 530-32; United States v. Key, 205 F.3d 773, 774-75 (5th Cir. 2000). Accordingly, the district court’s order denying relief on the Rule 60(b) motion is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED with instructions to dismiss the motion for lack of jurisdiction. See Davis v. Sumlin, 999 F.3d 278, 279-80 (5th Cir. 2021). Carson’s request for a COA is DENIED as moot. 2