Harrison v. Director, TDCJ-CID

Filing 2

MEMORANDUM OPINION regarding transfer. Signed by Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on 3/26/2024. (KMH)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BEAUMONT DIVISION
WENDELL HARRISON

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VS.

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DIRECTOR, TDCJ-CID

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:24cv101

MEMORANDUM OPINION REGARDING TRANSFER
Petitioner Wendell Harrison, an inmate confined at the Lewis 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 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
Petitioner filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus attempting to appeal a prison grievance
regarding alleged the loss of his property.
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 is confined at the Gib Lewis Unit which is located in Woodville, Tyler County,
Texas. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 124, Tyler County is in the Lufkin 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 instead of the Lufkin 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 is confined.
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 is confined in the Lufkin Division, and he complains of incidents which
occurred in the Lufkin Division, all records and witnesses involving this action most likely will be
located in the Lufkin 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, Lufkin Division. An Order of Transfer
so providing shall be entered in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion.
SIGNED this 26th day of March, 2024.

_________________________
Zack Hawthorn
United States Magistrate Judge

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