Adams v. Reynolds

Filing 21

ORDER denying Petitioner's 15 MOTION to Stay. Signed by Magistrate Judge Shiva V Hodges on 4/18/2017. (mwal)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Willie Adams, #338357,
Petitioner,
vs.
Ceicilia Reynolds, Warden,
Respondent.

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C/A No.: 1:16-3946-HMH-SVH

ORDER

Willie Adams (“Petitioner”), proceeding pro se, filed this petition seeking a writ of
habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. This matter comes before the court on
Petitioner’s motion to stay proceeding pending exhaustion of state remedies. [ECF No.
15]. Petitioner moves to stay this proceeding and hold it in abeyance “pending the
exhaustion of state remedies, that will occur[] further.” Id. at 1. Respondent opposes
Petitioner’s motion, arguing that Petitioner “has exhausted all of his ordinarily available
state court remedies” and that Petitioner has not presented a mixed position to the court.
[ECF No. 20]. For the reasons that follow, the undersigned denies the motion to stay.
In support of his motion to stay, Petitioner cites to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and Rhines v.
Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (2005). Pursuant to Rhines, a federal habeas case may be stayed and
held in abeyance “where such a stay would be a proper exercise of discretion.” Id. at
276. The Supreme Court further stated that in certain instances where a petitioner files a
mixed petition (i.e., containing exhausted and unexhausted claims), and there was good

cause for Petitioner’s failure to exhaust his state court claims, an exercise of such
discretion would be proper. Id. at 273–74, 276–77.
The court finds Petitioner has failed to show a stay is warranted under Rhines.
Petitioner has not shown he has a pending mixed petition, as he does not identify his
unexhausted state court claims or provide the status of any claim he has pending in state
court. Petitioner has also failed to articulate cause for his failure to exhaust these alleged
claims in state court. Accordingly, Petitioner’s motion to stay [ECF No. 15] is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

April 18, 2017
Columbia, South Carolina

Shiva V. Hodges
United States Magistrate Judge