Logan v. State of Mississippi et al
Filing
9
MEMORANDUM OPINION re 8 Order. Signed by Debra M. Brown on 4/28/2014. (dlh)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
GREENVILLE DIVISION
COURTNEY R. LOGAN
PETITIONER
V.
NO. 4:14CV52-DMB-DAS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, ET AL.
RESPONDENTS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on the pro se petition of Courtney R. Logan for a writ of
habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. ยง 2254. Logan was convicted on November 28, 2012, for aiding
felony escape, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and kidnapping in Leflore County,
Mississippi, and is currently serving seven life sentences in the custody of the Mississippi Department
of Corrections.
He is currently pursuing a direct appeal of his convictions and sentences in
Mississippi state court.
Exhaustion
The instant petition will be dismissed for failure to exhaust. AA fundamental prerequisite to
federal habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. ' 2254 is the exhaustion of all claims in state court under '
2254(b)(1) prior to requesting federal collateral relief.@ Sterling v. Scott, 57 F.3d 451, 453 (5th Cir.
1995) (citing Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509 (1982)). A finding of exhaustion requires the petitioner to
have Afairly presented the substance of his claims to the state courts.@ Sones v. Hargett, 61 F.3d 410,
414-15 (5th Cir. 1995) (citing Vela v. Estelle, 708 F.2d 954, 958 (5th Cir. 1983)). Further, exhaustion
Arequires that normally a state prisoner=s entire federal habeas petition must be dismissed unless the
prisoner=s state remedies have been exhausted as to all claims raised in the federal petition.@ Graham
v. Johnson, 94 F.3d 958, 968 (5th Cir. 1996) (citing Rose, 455 U.S. at 518-19). The exhaustion
doctrine serves the salutary purpose of Agiving the state courts the first opportunity to review the
federal constitutional issues and to correct any errors made by the trial courts, [and thus] >serves to
minimize friction between our federal and state systems of justice.=@ Satterwhite v. Lynaugh, 886 F.2d
90, 92 (5th Cir. 1989) (quoting Rose, at 518) (citations omitted).
In the instant petition, Logan concedes that the direct appeal of his convictions and sentences
is currently pending in state court. As such, he has not exhausted state remedies, and his petition for a
writ of habeas corpus will be dismissed without prejudice for that reason. A final judgment consistent
with this memorandum opinion will issue today.
SO ORDERED, this, the 28th day of April, 2014.
/s/ Debra M. Brown
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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