Brunette v. Amerson

Filing 9

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge R David Proctor on 2/16/2016. (AVC)

FILED
2016 Feb-16 PM 03:09
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
EASTERN DIVISION
NATHANIEL ALLEN BRUNETTE,
Petitioner,
v.
SHERIFF LARRY AMERSON,
Respondent.

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Civil Action No.: 1:15-cv-01253-RDP-JEO

MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is an action for a writ of habeas corpus brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 by
Nathaniel Allen Brunette. In his habeas petition, which Brunette filed pro se, he has alleged that he
was a pretrial detainee being held by Alabama officials in the Calhoun County Jail. (Doc.1 1). He
subsequently notified the court that he had been transferred to the Cullman County Jail. (Doc. 7).
On December 18, 2015, the Magistrate Judge entered a Report and Recommendation
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), recommending that the action be dismissed without prejudice based
both on Brunette’s’s failure to exhaust available State remedies and on the abstention doctrine of
Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). (Doc. 8). The Report and Recommendation further advised
Brunette of his right to file objections to the Report and Recommendation within fourteen (14) days.
(Id.) That period has expired, however, and no objections have been filed.
Having carefully reviewed and considered de novo all the materials in the court file, including
the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation, the court is of the opinion that the Magistrate
Judge’s findings are due to be and are hereby ADOPTED and his recommendation is ACCEPTED.

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References herein to “Doc. __” are to the docket numbers assigned by the Clerk of the Court to the pleadings
filed in this matter.

Accordingly, the petition for a writ of habeas corpus is due to dismissed without prejudice.
Further, a petitioner is required to obtain a certificate of appealability in order to appeal from
“the final order in a habeas corpus proceeding in which the detention complained of arises out
process issued by a state court.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A). That language encompasses final orders
relative to habeas petitions by detainees awaiting trial in state court on criminal charges. See Evans
v. Oliver, 2013 WL 4027766, at *4 (S.D. Ala. Aug. 7, 2013); Stringer v. Williams, 161 F.3d 259, 262
(5th Cir. 1998); cf. Medberry v. Crosby, 351 F.3d 1049, 1063 (11th Cir. 2003); Hiteshaw v.
Butterfield, 262 F. App’x 162, 163 (11th Cir. 2008). It is appropriate for the court to either issue or
deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. See Rules
1(b), 11(a), RULES GOVERNING § 2254 HABEAS PROCEEDINGS. The court concludes that the instant
petition does not present issues that are debatable among jurists of reason, so a certificate of
appealability is due to be denied. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484-85 (2000). A separate
Final Judgment will be entered.
DONE and ORDERED this

16th

day of February, 2016.

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R. DAVID PROCTOR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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