Golden v. Director, TDCJ-CID

Filing 7

MEMORANDUM OPINION REGARDING TRANSFER. It is the opinion of the undersigned that this petition should be transferred to the USDC E/D Tx, Tyler Division. An Order of Transfer shall be entered in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion. Signed by Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on 9/9/14. (mrp, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BEAUMONT DIVISION
RASHAAN GOLDEN

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VS.

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DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:14cv294

MEMORANDUM OPINION REGARDING TRANSFER
Petitioner Rashaan Golden, an inmate confined at the Hamilton Unit of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, proceeding pro se, brings this petition for writ
of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
The above-styled action was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636 and the Amended Order for the Adoption of Local Rules for the Assignment of Duties
to the United States Magistrate Judge for findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations
for the disposition of the case.
Discussion
On November 1, 2001, in the 241st Judicial District Court for Smith County, Texas,
petitioner was convicted of injury to a child. Petitioner was sentenced to a term of sixty (60) years’
imprisonment. Petitioner brings this petition asserting the following two grounds for review: (1)
newly discovered evidence proves his factual innocence and (2) he was denied the effective
assistance of counsel.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d), a petitioner may bring his petition for writ of habeas corpus
in the district court for the district wherein such person is in custody or in the district court for the

district within which he was convicted. Section 2241(d) further provides that the district court in
the exercise of its discretion may transfer the action to the other district in the furtherance of justice.
Petitioner was convicted and sentenced in Smith County which is located in the Tyler
Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Thus, jurisdiction is proper in the Eastern District of
Texas. However, the petition has been inadvertently filed in the Beaumont Division where petitioner
is confined, instead of the Tyler Division.
While jurisdiction is proper in the Eastern District of Texas, the court has considered the
circumstances and has determined that the interest of justice would best be served if this petition
were transferred to the division in which the petitioner was convicted.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), for the convenience of parties and witnesses and in the interest
of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it could
have been brought. Such a transfer may be done sua sponte and is reviewable only for an abuse of
discretion. Mills v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 886 F.2d 758, 761 (5th Cir. 1989).
Since petitioner complains of a conviction which occurred in the Tyler Division, all records
and witnesses involving this action most likely will be located in the Tyler Division. Thus, the
transfer of this action to such division would further justice. Therefore, it is the opinion of the
undersigned that this petition should be transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas, Tyler Division. An Order of Transfer so providing shall be entered in accordance
with this Memorandum Opinion.
SIGNED this 9th day of September, 2014.

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Zack Hawthorn
United States Magistrate Judge