United States v. Karl Bernard Bell

Karl Bell, a federal prisoner serving two concurrent life sentences for distributing crack cocaine, appeals pro se the district court’s dismissal of his “Motion for Clarification” and denial of his later motion for reconsideration of that dismissal under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e). 1

I

Bell filed a “Motion for Clarification” in the district court on April 21, 2011 asserting that the court lacked jurisdiction to impose two concurrent life sentences because the government did not file proper notice that it was seeking such a sentence. The district court denied that motion, and Bell appealed. This Court…