UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS January 16, 2024

Christopher M. Wolpert FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court _________________________________

SAMUEL D. DRINKERT,

Petitioner - Appellant,

v. No. 22-3208

COLONEL KEVIN PAYNE,

Respondent - Appellee. _________________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (D.C. No. 5:22-CV-03045-JWL) _________________________________

Submitted on the briefs: **

Robert Feldmeier, The Law Offices of Robert Feldmeier, Raleigh, North Carolina for Petitioner - Appellant.

Jared S. Maag, Assistant United States Attorney (Duston J. Slinkard and James A. Brown with him on the briefs), District of Kansas, Topeka, Kansas, for Respondent - Appellee. _________________________________

Before