USCA11 Case: 20-13118 Date Filed: 04/28/2021 Page: 1 of 2
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 20-13118
Non-Argument Calendar
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:17-cr-20322-UU-3
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
REYNEL RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
________________________
(April 29, 2021)
Before MARTIN, BRANCH and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Reynel Rodriguez Hernandez appeals the district court’s denial of his motion
for compassionate release under
18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), as amended by the First
USCA11 Case: 20-13118 Date Filed: 04/28/2021 Page: 2 of 2
Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 603,
132 Stat. 5194, 5238-39 (2018) (“First
Step Act”). He argues on appeal that the district court erred in denying his motion
because it failed to consider additional factors that could constitute “extraordinary
and compelling” reasons for his release, aside from those specified in U.S.S.G. §
1B1.13. However, Hernandez was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment in 2017
and was released on March 18, 2021 to begin his supervised release term. After
careful review, we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
We review de novo jurisdictional issues, which we must raise sua sponte.
United States v. Lopez,
562 F.3d 1309, 1311 (11th Cir. 2009). We retain jurisdiction
to hear only live cases and controversies under Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
United States v. Al-Arian,
514 F.3d 1184, 1189 (11th Cir. 2008). A dispute is moot,
and ceases to be a case or controversy, when we can no longer provide meaningful
relief to the claimant.
Id. Completion of a prison term moots a challenge to the term
of confinement. United States v. Farmer,
923 F.2d 1557, 1568 (11th Cir. 1991).
In this appeal, we are compelled to dismiss Hernandez’s appeal for lack of
jurisdiction. Hernandez has been released from the term of imprisonment from
which he sought compassionate release, which means that the instant appeal no
longer presents a live case and controversy over which we retain jurisdiction, and is,
therefore, moot. See Al-Arian,
514 F.3d at 1189; Farmer,
923 F.2d at 1568.
Accordingly, we DISMISS the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
2
