Case Explained: MARCUS D. ALLISON v. WARDEN ALFREDO MARTELL

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Filed: 2026-06-24 The Fourth Circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because the case had become moot. The court held that the district court’s December 2025 order, which granted summary judgment and denied relief on Marcus D. Allison’s 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition, was vacated by the same court prior to the filing of his notice of appeal to allow him to file objections to the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation. Citing *Williams v. Ozmint*, 716 F.3d 801 (4th Cir. 2013), the court determined that because the underlying order was vacated and Allison’s § 2254 petition remains pending before the district court, there is no longer a live controversy or a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of the appeal. Consequently, the court lacks jurisdiction to proceed, resulting in the dismissal of the case without addressing the merits of the habeas claim. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.