Colburn v. Jones
Filing
13
OPINION AND ORDER by District Judge James H. Payne : This Court dismisses the petition for writ of habeas corpus without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction 1 . Further, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A), this Court hereby denies a certificate of appealability. See, Montez v. McKinna, 208 F.3d 862, 867 (10th Cir. 2000). (acg, Deputy Clerk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
RAY D. COLBURN,
)
)
Petitioner, )
)
vs.
)
)
JUSTIN JONES, Director Oklahoma )
Department of Corrections,
)
)
Respondent. )
Case No. 13-CIV-250-JHP-KEW
OPINION AND ORDER
Ray Colburn, currently in custody in the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville,
New York, filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus attacking a detainer placed against him
following revocation of his parole on a conviction from Seminole County District Court,
State of Oklahoma, Case No. CF-1995-176. Respondent has filed a motion to dismiss (Dkt.
# 9) alleging that petitioner has failed to exhaust his administrative and judicial remedies, that
the writ is improperly before the court because the petitioner is not challenging the legality
of his incarceration and that the petitioner has no liberty interest in parole. For the reasons
discussed below, this Court finds it lacks jurisdiction to consider the writ and therefore, this
action is dismissed without prejudice and the respondent’s motion is denied as moot.
Petitioner filed this action under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2254. According to the
pleadings, however, Petitioner is not in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court.
Rather, he is in custody pursuant to a federal drug charge conviction. See, Dkt. # 1 at p. 24.
Therefore, petitioner’s writ should have been filed under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
However, this Court has no jurisdiction to grant the relief requested because the petitioner
is not currently restrained within this judicial district. See, 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a). While this
Court is aware that it can transfer cases to a district court having jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. §
2241(b), the Court declines to do so in this particular case for two reasons. First, the
petitioner has not named the person currently having custody over him, i.e., the warden of
the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, New York. Second, the petitioner may still
have administrative1 and/or state judicial remedies2 that must be exhausted before proceeding
in a federal court.
ACCORDINGLY, for the reasons stated herein, this Court dismisses the petition for
writ of habeas corpus without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction. Further, pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A), this Court hereby denies a certificate of appealability. See, Montez
v. McKinna, 208 F.3d 862, 867 (10th Cir. 2000).
It is so ordered on this 25th day of November, 2013.
1
Respondent argues the petitioner has not exhausted his administrative remedies with the Oklahoma Department of
Corrections. Since, however, the petitioner is not in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, this Court finds
those remedies are not currently applicable to the petitioner. It is entirely possible, however, that there are administrative
remedies which could be pursued in the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, New York. This Court makes no finding in
regard to the existence and/or applicability of administrative procedures in the facility in which the petitioner is incarcerated
since those procedures would be more appropriately addressed in a district court in the district wherein the restrained is had. See,
28 U.S.C. § 2241(a).
2
While Respondent claims the petitioner has a state judicial remedy, i.e. a state writ of habeas corpus pursuant to
OKLA. STAT. tit. 12, §§ 1331 et seq., this Court makes no finding regarding state court judicial remedies which might be
available. The Court would note, however, that the petitioner sought post-conviction relief in the District Court of Seminole
County Case No. CF-1995-176, the denial of which was affirmed by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. See, Dkt. # 1 at
pp. 23-32.
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