Opinion
Civil Action 2:21-cv-45-WHA-JTA [WO]
01-26-2021
GERALD COPE, # 140414, Petitioner, v. PATRICE RICHIE JONES, et al., Respondents.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
JERUSHA T. ADAMS, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
I. INTRODUCTION
Gerald Cope, a state inmate at the Bullock Correctional Facility in Union Springs, Alabama, initiated this action by filing a petition wherein he seeks habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Doc. 1. In his § 2254 petition, Cope challenges his 2009 convictions entered in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, for the offenses of assault in the third degree and possession of cocaine. Cope was sentenced to 20 years in prison for each conviction, the terms to run concurrently.
II. DISCUSSION
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d) allows Cope to bring a § 2254 habeas petition in either (a) the federal district court for the district wherein he is in custody (the Middle District of Alabama, where the Bullock Correctional Facility is located), or (b) the federal district court for the district within which the state court that convicted and sentenced him was held (the Northern District of Alabama, where the Circuit Court of Jefferson County is located). Section 2241(d) provides that this court “in the exercise of its discretion and in furtherance of justice, ” may transfer a petitioner's § 2254 petition to “the district court for the district within which the State court was held which convicted and sentenced [the petitioner].” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).
The matters complained of by Cope stem from his convictions and sentence entered by the Circuit Court of Jefferson County. The records and witnesses relating to these matters are likely to be located in Jefferson County. Therefore, this court finds that the furtherance of justice and judicial economy will be best served by transferring this case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for review and disposition.
III. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that this case be TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).
It is further
ORDERED that the parties shall file any objections to this Recommendation on or before February 9, 2021. A party must specifically identify the factual findings and legal conclusions in the Recommendation to which objection is made; frivolous, conclusive, or general objections will not be considered. Failure to file written objections to the Magistrate Judge's findings and recommendations in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) shall bar a party from a de novo determination by the District Court of legal and factual issues covered in the Recommendation and waives the right of the party to challenge on appeal the District Court's order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982); 11TH CIR. R. 3-1. See Stein v. Lanning Securities, Inc., 667 F.2d 33 (11th Cir. 1982). See also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc). DONE this 26th day of January, 2021.