Trent v. Warden
Filing
2
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge George Levi Russell, III on 12/19/2016. (c/m 12/19/16 bas, Deputy Clerk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
DOUGLAS TRENT, JR., #54437
Petitioner,
*
*
v.
* CIVIL ACTION NO. GLR-16-3837
WARDEN,
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Respondent.
*
*****
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On November 30, 2016, Douglas Trent, a detainee at the Washington County Detention
Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, filed a letter with the court challenging the legality of his
confinement on charges of first-degree arson and related offenses. ECF No. 1. He seemingly alleges
that there is insufficient evidence to support the charges, he does not have a violent background, and
his bail is excessive. ECF No. 1, pp. 1–7.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search website confirms that on August 23, 2016, a charging
document was filed accusing Trent of first- and second-degree arson, malicious burning, reckless
endangerment, and the failure to comply with a peace order. See State v. Trent, Criminal Case No.
5V00095863 (District Court for Washington County).1 He is currently awaiting trial on all charges.
To the extent that Trent seeks federal court intervention as to his pending state criminal
charges, his case will be construed as a 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition for habeas corpus relief and
dismissed. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a federal court must not interfere with ongoing state
criminal proceedings. See Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 53–54 (1971); Cinema Blue of Charlotte,
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Accessible at www.casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry.
Inc., v. Gilchrist, 887 F.2d 49, 50–53 (4th Cir. 1989) (district courts should abstain from
constitutional challenges to state judicial proceedings if the federal claims have been or could have
been presented in an ongoing state judicial proceeding). The abstention doctrine of Younger
establishes that under principles of comity and federalism, a federal court should not interfere with
ongoing state criminal proceedings absent extraordinary circumstances. Younger, 401 U.S. at 44.
Abstention in favor of state judicial proceedings is required only if the proceedings are ongoing,
implicate important state interests, afford an adequate opportunity to raise the federal questions, and
the federal relief sought would interfere in some manner with the state court litigation presented.
Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass’n, 457 U.S. 423, 432 (1982); Brewsome
v. Broward County Pub. Defenders, 304 Fed. Appx. 814, 816 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
Further, pre-trial habeas relief is only available if a petitioner has exhausted state court
remedies and “special circumstances” justify federal review. See Dickerson v. Louisiana, 816 F.2d
220, 226–29 (5th Cir. 1987). While the phrase “special circumstances” lacks definition, courts have
looked to whether procedures exist which would protect a petitioner’s constitutional rights without
pre-trial intervention. Moore v. DeYoung, 515 F.2d 437, 449 (3d Cir. 1975). Where a threat to the
petitioner’s rights may be remedied by an assertion of an appropriate defense in state court, no
special circumstances is shown. Id.; see also Drayton v. Hayes, 589 F.2d 117, 121 (2d Cir. 1979)
(double jeopardy claim entitled to pre-trial habeas intervention since “the very constitutional right
claimed . . . would be violated” if petitioner were forced to go to trial). Where the right may be
adequately preserved by orderly post-trial relief, special circumstances are likewise nonexistent.
Moore, 515 F.2d at 449.
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Trent has raised no special or exceptional circumstances for federal intervention into the
Washington County criminal case. He may raise his constitutional claims in state court. A separate
Order follows dismissing this case without prejudice.
When a district court dismisses a petition for habeas corpus solely on procedural grounds, a
Certificate of Appealability will not issue unless the petitioner can demonstrate both “(1) ‘that jurists
of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a
constitutional right’ and (2) ‘that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court
was correct in its procedural ruling.’” Rose v. Lee, 252 F.3d 676, 684 (4th Cir. 2001) (quoting Slack
v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)). Trent has not made the required showing and the Court
declines to issue a Certificate of Appealability.
Entered this 19th day of December, 2016
/s/
_______________________
George L. Russell, III
United States District Judge
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