United States v. Maurilio Morales-Zarate

MEMORANDUM

Maurilio Morales-Zarate was charged with illegal reentry following deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326 . He was found incompetent to stand trial and was ordered hospitalized pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4241 (d). He later moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the time limit in § 4241(d)(1) had expired four months after the district court’s commitment order. The district court denied the motion. Morales-Zarate appealed from that ruling.

After that appeal was filed, the government moved to dismiss the charge against Morales-Zarate. The district court granted the motion to dismiss, but stayed dismissal until Morales-Zarate was returned to the custody of the U.S. Attorney General for a dangerousness evaluation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4246 . Morales-Zarate appealed from that commitment order, as well.

Because the charge against Morales-Za-rate, has been dismissed and he has been released from custody and removed to Mexico, his appeals are moot. Morales-Zarate has already obtained the relief he seeks in his appeal, namely dismissal of the charge against him and release from custody. See Foster v. Carson, 347 F.3d 742, 746 (9th Cir.2003). The alleged…