SOBIN v. BROWN

Filing 25

Entry Discussing Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - The petition for a writ of habeas corpus must be denied and the action dismissed. All other motions are denied as moot. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue. Signed by Judge William T. Lawrence on 10/10/2013.(RSF)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA TERRE HAUTE DIVISION GREGORY SOBIN, Petitioner, vs. D. BROWN, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. 2:12-cv-00243-WTL-MJD Entry Discussing Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Gregory Sobin seeks a writ of habeas corpus with respect to a prison disciplinary proceeding identified as No. WVS 12-02-0003. In that proceeding, Sobin was found guilty of violating prison rules by conspiracy/attempting to commit any Class A offense/violation of criminal law. The evidence supporting the hearing officer’s finding is that on February 3, 2012, outgoing mail from Sobin at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility was found to contain a letter from Sobin to retailer Nordstrom, wherein Sobin falsely claimed that he had mailed a defective coat he had received for retirement to Nordstrom and was entitled to a replacement. This letter was inside a larger envelope addressed to Sobin’s father and containing the letter and an envelope addressed to Nordstrom intended to be mailed by Sobin’s father. Contending that the proceeding is tainted by constitutional error, Sobin seeks a writ of habeas corpus. The court finds, however, that there was no error of that nature and that Sobin’s habeas petition must therefore be denied. This conclusion rests on the following facts and circumstances: 1. Sobin is entitled to a writ of habeas corpus if he is "in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. ' 2254(a). Prisoners in Indiana custody may not be deprived of good-time credits, Cochran v. Buss, 381 F.3d 637, 639 (7th Cir. 2004) (per curiam), or of credit-earning class, Montgomery v. Anderson, 262 F.3d 641, 644-45 (7th Cir. 2001), without due process. Meeks v. McBride, 81 F.3d 717, 719 (7th Cir. 1996) (citing Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 557 (1974)). 2. In these circumstances, Sobin was entitled to the following process before being deprived of his liberty interests: (1) advance (at least 24 hours before hearing) written notice of the claimed violation; (2) the opportunity to be heard before an impartial decision-maker; (3) the opportunity to call witnesses and present documentary evidence (when consistent with institutional safety); and (4) a written statement by the fact-finder of the evidence relied on and the reasons for the disciplinary action. Rasheed-Bey v. Duckworth, 969 F.2d 357, 361 (7th Cir. 1992). In addition, there is a substantive component to the issue, which requires that the decision of a conduct board be supported by "some evidence." Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445 (1985). 3. Under Wolff and Hill, Sobin received all the process to which he was entitled. That is, the charge was clear, adequate notice was given, and the evidence was sufficient. In addition, (1) Sobin was given the opportunity to appear before the hearing and make a statement concerning the charge, (2) the hearing officer issued a sufficient statement of its findings, and (3) the hearing officer issued a written reason for the decision and for the sanctions imposed. Sobin’s arguments that he was denied due process are either refuted by the expanded record or based on assertions which do not entitle him to relief. a. A “sufficiently impartial” decisionmaker is necessary in order to shield the prisoner from the arbitrary deprivation of his liberties. Wolff, at 570–71; see also Gaither v. Anderson, 236 F.3d 817, 820 (7th Cir. 2000) (per curiam); Redding v. Fairman, 717 F.2d 1105, 1112, 1116 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1025 (1984). Sobin’s first claim is that he was denied an impartial decisionmaker because the hearing officer said because his superior officer wrote the conduct report there was no reason for a hearing because Sobin was guilty. Federal courts employ an initial presumption that disciple hearing officers properly discharge their duties. See Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 909 (1997). This presumption can be overcome with “clear evidence to the contrary.” See United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456, 464 (1996). Sobin provides no proof to support the story of the hearing officer’s alleged statement. He has failed to rebut the presumption that the hearing officer in this case acted appropriately. See, e.g., Bracy, 520 U.S. at 909 (finding the presumption “soundly rebutted” where petitioner presented evidence to support his claim that the decision maker was biased in his particular case). He is not entitled to relief as to this first claim. b. Sobin’s second claim is that he was denied due process because he was not provided with requested exculpatory evidence. Specifically, Sobin claims he did not receive the large envelope in which it was alleged he was attempting to mail the prohibited letters. However, the evidence shows otherwise. Casework Manager Beverly Gilmore was notified by personnel in the mail room of the irregularity. She inspected the materials, confiscated some of them (issuing a confiscation report), issued the conduct report, and returned the large envelope to Sobin. Staff thereafter did not have the large envelope addressed to Sobin’s father. If that envelope was exculpatory, it was Sobin’s responsibility to bring the envelope to the disciplinary hearing. This claim is meritless because it is based on an argument contrary to the expanded record. c. As to Sobin’s third claim, the evidence favorable to the hearing officer’s decision has already been described. The “some evidence” standard of Hill is satisfied if “there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the disciplinary board.” Id., at 455–56. Stated differently, “[t]his standard is met if ‘there was some evidence from which the conclusion of the administrative tribunal could be deduced.’” Id., at 455 (quoting United States ex rel. Vajtauer v. Comm’r of Immigration, 273 U.S. 103, 106 (1927)). “Ascertaining whether this standard is satisfied does not require examination of the entire record, independent assessment of the credibility of witnesses, or weighing of the evidence.” Id. “[O]nly evidence that was presented to the [hearing officer] is relevant to this analysis.” Hamilton v. O’Leary, 976 F.2d 341, 346 (7th Cir. 1992). Sobin states there was no evidence supporting his guilt, but the expanded record shows otherwise. The reporting officer saw the large envelope and recited the person to whom it was addressed. The contents of the large envelope support an inference that Sobin was attempting to defraud Nordstrom’s by obtaining merchandise or funds to which he was not entitled. The evidence was sufficient. Henderson v. United States Parole Comm'n, 13 F.3d 1073, 1077 (7th Cir. 1993) (a federal habeas court “will overturn the [hearing officer's] decision only if no reasonable adjudicator could have found [the petitioner] guilty of the offense on the basis of the evidence presented.”); see also Hill, 472 U.S. at 457 (“The Federal Constitution does not require evidence that logically precludes any conclusion but the one reached by the disciplinary board.”). 4. "The touchstone of due process is protection of the individual against arbitrary action of the government." Wolff, 418 U.S. at 558. There was no arbitrary action in any aspect of the charge, disciplinary proceeding, or sanctions involved in the events identified in this action, and there was no constitutional infirmity in the proceeding which entitles Pearson to the relief he seeks. Accordingly, his petition for a writ of habeas corpus must be denied and the action dismissed. All other motions are denied as moot. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue. IT IS SO ORDERED. 10/10/2013 Date: __________________ Distribution: Gregory D. Sobin 113650 Wabash Valley Correctional Facility Electronic Service Participant -- Court Only All electronically registered counsel _______________________________ Hon. William T. Lawrence, Judge United States District Court Southern District of Indiana

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