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United States v. Champagne

Citation: 358 F. App'x 428Docket: No. 09-4372

Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; December 27, 2009; Federal Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

Brian Champagne's appeal of his conviction and sentence has been dismissed due to the untimely filing of his notice of appeal. The district court issued its judgment on January 9, 2007, but Champagne did not file the notice of appeal until August 22, 2008, which exceeds the ten-day window allowed by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b)(1)(A). Although the district court may grant an extension of up to thirty days for filing a notice of appeal upon a showing of excusable neglect or good cause (Rule 4(b)(4)), Champagne neither filed within the required timeframe nor requested such an extension. Consequently, the appeal is dismissed as untimely, and oral argument has been deemed unnecessary as the case's facts and legal issues are sufficiently clear from the submitted materials.

Legal Issues Addressed

Extension of Time for Filing Notice of Appeal under Rule 4(b)(4)

Application: The appellant did not seek an extension for filing the notice of appeal, which could have been granted for excusable neglect or good cause.

Reasoning: Although the district court may grant an extension of up to thirty days for filing a notice of appeal upon a showing of excusable neglect or good cause (Rule 4(b)(4)), Champagne neither filed within the required timeframe nor requested such an extension.

Necessity of Oral Argument

Application: Oral argument was deemed unnecessary as the facts and legal issues were found to be sufficiently clear from the submitted materials.

Reasoning: Consequently, the appeal is dismissed as untimely, and oral argument has been deemed unnecessary as the case's facts and legal issues are sufficiently clear from the submitted materials.

Timeliness of Notice of Appeal under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b)(1)(A)

Application: The appellant's failure to file the notice of appeal within the specified timeframe resulted in the dismissal of the appeal.

Reasoning: Brian Champagne's appeal of his conviction and sentence has been dismissed due to the untimely filing of his notice of appeal.