Reported / Citable
Background
Salvador Armas-Lopez, a federal prisoner proceeding without counsel, moved to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
The matter was referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson. On August 12, 2026, the magistrate judge recommended denying the motion. Neither party filed objections to that report and recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Marcia A. Crone adopted the magistrate judge’s findings and conclusions after reviewing the report, record, pleadings, and available evidence. The court determined that the magistrate judge’s findings and legal conclusions were correct and adopted the recommendation to deny Armas-Lopez’s § 2255 motion.
The court also denied a certificate of appealability. It held that Armas-Lopez had not shown that his claims or any procedural ruling were debatable among reasonable jurists, nor that the issues warranted further review.
Key Takeaways
- The district court adopted an unopposed recommendation to deny a federal prisoner’s § 2255 motion.
- The order does not state the substantive grounds for denying the § 2255 claims.
- Armas-Lopez cannot proceed with an appeal absent a certificate of appealability, which the court denied.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that a § 2255 movant seeking appellate review must make a substantial showing that a constitutional claim, or a dispositive procedural ruling, is reasonably debatable. Here, the court found that threshold unmet.