RUFUS v. HEAD et al

Filing 3

ORDER transferring to the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division. Signed by Judge Dudley H. Bowen on 12/06/2017. (jlh) [Transferred from gasd on 12/6/2017.]

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

^011 DEC -b p

DUBLIN DIVISION

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Petitioner,
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FREDERICK HEAD, Warden, and HOMER )
BRYSON,
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Respondents.
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T/I nn/

MICHAEL ALONZA RUFUS,

CV 317-065

ORDER

Petitioner requests federal habeas corpus relief, challenging a judgment of conviction
entered in the Superior Court of Walton County, which is located in the Middle District of
Georgia. (Doc. no. 1.) Although the petition seeks relief typical of a petition under §2254,
Petitioner contends his petition is properly brought under § 2241 and strenuously objects to

any characterization of it as being a § 2254 petition. (See doc. no. 1, p. 2.) Regardless of the

proper characterization, venue is proper in the Middle District because it is the practice of
this Court to transfer an action attacking a conviction to the district in which the original

proceedings were conducted. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d); see also Eagle v. Linahan, 279 F.3d
926, 933 n.9 (11th Cir. 2001)("While 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d) permits state prisoners to file
habeas petitions either in the district in which they were convicted or the district in which

they are then confined, it also authorizes these courts to transfer such cases from one to the
other."); Bell v. Watkins. 692 F.2d 999, 1013 (5th Cir. 1982)(approving transfer of § 2254

petition from district of incarceration to district where petitioner was convicted). Therefore,

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the Court ORDERS the transfer of this action to the United States District Court for the

Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, for further consideration and DIRECTS the

Clerk to immediately forward th^ le to that District.
SO ORDERED this

dayofDece

ED STAEES DISTRICT JUDGE