USA v. Cornell

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	: 	Case No. 1:15-cr-12
:
Plaintiff, 	: 	Judge Timothy S. Black
:
vs. 	: 	Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz
:
CHRISTOPHER LEE CORNELL 	:
Nka Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, 	:
:
Defendant. 	:
DECISION AND ORDER
This case is before the Court on Defendant’s Objections (Docs. 271, 274) to the
Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendations (Doc. 270) and Supplemental Report
and Recommendations (Doc. 273) both of which recommended deferring consideration of
Defendant’s Motion for Relief from Judgment (Doc. 269) pending decision of Defendant’s
then-pending appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. 	The
Reports reasoned that many of Defendant’s 60(b) claims were grounded in argument that
this Court had not complied with the Sixth Circuit’s Remand Order and that the appellate
court was best suited to decide those issues.
The Sixth Circuit has now decided the appeal, concluding that none of the issues
raised by Cornell1 would be debatable among jurists of reason and has denied him a
1 Although the Sixth Circuit used Defendant’s preferred new last name in its decision, it denied his motion to change
his name in official records.
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2
certificate of appealability on that basis (Order of Dec. 31, 2025, Cornell v. United States,
Case No. 25-3494, copy at Doc. 280). This Decision renders Defendant’s first Rule 60(b)
Motion (Doc. 269) moot and it is denied on that basis. 	The Magistrate Judge’s Report
and Supplemental Report on that Motion and Defendant’s Objections (Docs. 270, 273) are
also moot.
Since the Sixth Circuit’s decision, Defendant has filed a new Motion for Relief from
Judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(Doc. 281), this one directed to the Court’s denial of
compassionate relief. 	For the reasons given at the Notation Order of June 25, 2025,
denying 	Defendant’s 	Motion 	for 	Compassionate 	Relief 	(Doc. 	253), 	Defendant’s
Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) motion seeking relief from that Order (Doc. 281) is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: ___________________ 	________________________
Timothy S. Black
United States District Judge
3/12/2026 s/Timothy S. Black
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