Harris v. Bernsen

Filing 5

OPINION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner=s application for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 is DISMISSED without prejudice.IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court will not issue a certificate of appealabil ity.IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to the extent petitioner would like to assert an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Court will order the Clerk to provide petitioner with a blank copy of a Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint form.A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order. Signed by District Judge Henry Edward Autrey on 11/20/17.cc: complaint mailed.(CLA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
FORREST EDWARD HARRIS,
Petitioner,
v.
HERBERT BERNSEN,
Respondent.

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No. 4:17CV2712 SPM

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on petitioner=s application for writ of habeas corpus brought
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.1 Because Ait plainly appears from the petition . . . that the petitioner
is not entitled to relief,@ the Court will dismiss the petition. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254
Cases.
Petitioner, Forrest Edward Harris, was convicted by a jury in St. Louis City, Missouri, on
September 27, 2017, of assault in the first degree, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon
and unlawful use of a firearm. See State v. Harris, No. 1622-CR03364-01 (22nd Judicial Circuit,
City of St. Louis). He was sentenced on November 9, 2017, to six (6) years in the Missouri
Department of Corrections (“MDOC”). Id.
Petitioner filed the instant action on November 13, 2017, asserting that “the Judge made a
change in court laws to help convict me in the courtroom on trespassing on property rights. The
person didn’t own the property that he attacked me on. It was a city crossing.” In his request for

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Although petitioner has filed his application for writ of habeas corpus on a court-form for filing
prisoner civil rights complaints, he is seeking release from his state court sentence. The Court
interprets petitioner’s application for relief as one brought pursuant to habeas corpus. To the extent
petitioner is seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Court will provide him with a
court-form for filing his complaint and allow him to do so in a separate action.

relief, petitioner asks the Court to “throw the records or laws [out] to give [him] the right
sentence.” Petitioner also seeks $5,000 a day for “being locked up and suffering.”
The Court has reviewed the state court record on Missouri.Case.Net and found that
petitioner moved to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal in his state criminal case on November 9,
2017. Id. As of today’s date, his direct appeal of his criminal action has not yet been opened.
Before federal habeas relief can be granted, a person in state custody is required to exhaust
all available state remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). In this case, petitioner has not yet gone
through his direct appeal of his criminal case or his post-conviction remedies in state court. As a
result, petitioner=s available state remedies are not exhausted, and the petition shall be dismissed
without prejudice.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner=s application for writ of habeas corpus
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 is DISMISSED without prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court will not issue a certificate of appealability.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to the extent petitioner would like to assert an action
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Court will order the Clerk to provide petitioner with a blank
copy of a Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint form.
A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 20th day of November, 2017

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HENRY EDWARD AUTREY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE