Elkins v. Paxton

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION and Order transferring this petition for writ of habeas corpus to the Texarkana Division of the US District Court for the Eastern District of TX. Signed by Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin on 12/29/16. (tkd, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BEAUMONT DIVISION
JERRY ELKINS

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VS.

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KEN PAXTON

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:16-CV-525

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Petitioner Jerry Elkins, a federal prisoner confined in Florence, Colorado, proceeding pro se,
brings this petition for writ of habeas corpus.
The above-styled action was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636 for findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for the disposition of
the case.
Discussion
Petitioner is currently serving a federal sentence. Petitioner alleges the State of Texas lodged
a detainer against him in connection with a pending criminal case in Bowie County, Texas.
Petitioner contends that the State is denying his right to a speedy trial and violating the Interstate
Agreement on Detainers Act (IADA).
A prisoner in custody under one sentence may attack a detainer lodged against him by another
jurisdiction. Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484, 498 (1973). “In such
a case, the State holding the prisoner in immediate confinement acts as agent for the demanding
State, and the custodian State is presumably indifferent to the resolution of the prisoner’s attack on
the detainer.” Id. at 498-99. Although the federal district court in the district of confinement has

concurrent jurisdiction, the court can transfer the case to the district where the detainer was lodged,
.

which is generally a more convenient forum. Id. at 499 n. 15.
Petitioner filed this petition in the district where the detainer was lodged, but not the correct
division. The court has considered the circumstances and has determined that the interests of justice
would be served by transferring this petition to the division where the detainer was lodged. It is
accordingly
ORDERED that this petition for writ of habeas corpus is TRANSFERRED to the
Texarkana Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
SIGNED this the 29th day of December, 2016.

____________________________________
KEITH F. GIBLIN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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