Opinion
Civil Action No. 08-0857 (PLF).
May 22, 2008
MEMORANDUM OPINION
In this action seeking a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, petitioner challenges his conviction entered by the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. He is in prison at Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colorado. Petitioner asserts that the sentencing court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his criminal case, and that counsel rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance by not raising this claim.
Such claims must be presented to the sentencing court in a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Section 2255 provides specifically that:
[a] prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence.28 U.S.C. § 2255 (emphasis added). Moreover, the ability to challenge a conviction by a motion to vacate sentence under Section 2255 generally precludes a challenge by a petition for habeas corpus:
[a]n application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motion pursuant to [ 28 U.S.C. § 2255], shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it also appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.28 U.S.C. § 2255 (emphasis added).
Even if petitioner were allowed to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus rather than filing a motion under Section 2255, this Court would not be able to consider such a petition. The Court "`may not entertain a habeas corpus action unless it has personal jurisdiction over the custodian of the prisoner.'"Chatman-Bey v. Thornburgh, 864 F.2d 804, 810 (D.C. Cir. 1988) (quoting Guerra v. Meese, 786 F.2d 414, 415 (D.C. Cir. 1986)). It is established that writs of habeas corpus must be directed to the detainee's custodian — in this case, the warden at FCI Englewood. See Guerra v. Meese, 786 F.2d 414 at 416 (rejecting argument that Parole Commission, while responsible for appellees' continued detention, was their custodian for purposes of habeas corpus); Connally v. Reno, 896 F. Supp. 32, 34 (D.D.C. 1995) (rejecting habeas corpus action brought against Attorney General and Director of Bureau of Prisons rather than petitioner's warden) (quoting Ledher v. Thornburgh, 733 F. Supp. 454-55 (D.D.C. 1990) ("The custodian is the person having day-to-day control over the prisoner.")). This Court does not have personal jurisdiction over the warden of a federal institution in Colorado. Accordingly, it could not consider such a petition.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will dismiss this petition without prejudice to petitioner filing an appropriate action in an appropriate court. An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately on this same day.