Thornton v. McFadden

Filing 6

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION by Judge James C. England re 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Gordon Thornton Objections to R&R due by 11/17/2004 (Elayer, Glenda)

Thornton v. McFadden

Doc. 6

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI SOUTHERN DIVISION

GORTON THORNTON, Petitioner, v.

ROBERT McFADDEN, Warden, et al., Respondents.

) ) ) ) Civil Action ) No. 04-3470-CV-S-RED-H ) ) ) )

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE Petitioner, an inmate confined in the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus in which he challenges his sentence. The petition has been referred to the undersigned for preliminary review under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). Because this Court lacks jurisdiction of petitioner's claims, it will be recommended that leave to proceed in forma pauperis be denied. As grounds for relief in habeas corpus, petitioner contends that his sentence has been unconstitutionally enhanced under Blakely v. Washington, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), and that this Court has jurisdiction under Dretke v. Haley, 124 S. Ct. 1847 (2004). The law is clear that a petitioner who seeks to attack the validity of a federal sentence must do so in the sentencing court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 unless it appears that the motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the validity of the detention. E.g., Winston v. Mustain, 562 F.2d 565, 566 (8th Cir. 1977). A petitioner has the burden, moreover, of showing that the "inadequate or ineffective" test has been met. Von Ludwitz v. Ralston, 716 F.2d 528, 529 (8th Cir. 1983) (per curiam). Petitioner questions the jurisdiction of the sentencing court to have enhanced his sentence under

Case 6:04-cv-03470-RED

Document 6

Filed 11/01/2004

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Blakely, and attempts to raise a claim of actual innocence of the unconstitutionally enhanced sentence before this Court. It should be noted that whether Blakely applies to the federal sentencing guidelines is an unsettled area of the law. Although petitioner attempts to construe his claim as one for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, a careful reading of his petition indicates that he is, in fact, challenging his sentence. Regardless of petitioner's assertions in this case, the action is improperly filed under the provisions of § 2241. The issues he raises are cognizable, if at all, in the sentencing court, and it is clear that this Court lacks jurisdictionof petitioner's claims. Accordingly, it must be recommended that the petition be dismissed without prejudice. For the foregoing reasons, it is, pursuant to the governing law and in accordance with Local Rule 72.1 of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, RECOMMENDED that petitioner be denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis, and that the petition herein for writ of habeas corpus be dismissed without prejudice.

/s/ James C. England JAMES C. ENGLAND United States Magistrate

Date: 11/1/04

Case 6:04-cv-03470-RED

Document 6

Filed 11/01/2004

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