Opinion
CIVIL ACTION H-19-4934
01-13-2020
JEREMY FRANKLIN, (SPN #02255818) Petitioner, v. ED GONZALEZ, Respondent.
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION
Jeremy Franklin filed a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The threshold issue is whether Franklin's federal petition is subject to dismissal for nonexhaustion.
I. Background
Online research reveals that on September 30, 2019, Franklin was arrested for the felony offense of evading arrest/detention, second offender. (Cause Number 1648194). Franklin complains that he never received a probable cause hearing. He also complains that his criminal trial date was reset without notice and outside his presence.
II. Analysis
Franklin complains that he is being illegally detained. Complaining of illegal charges and improper delays, Franklin seeks his immediate discharge from custody. The Court must consider whether Franklin may seek pre-trial habeas relief on this claim. A petitioner may not seek pre-trial habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. "[T]hat section applies only to post-trial situations and affords relief to a petitioner 'in custody pursuant to the judgment of a state court.'" Dickerson v. Louisiana, 816 F.2d 220, 224 (5th Cir. 1987) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) and (b)). Pre-trial petitions are cognizable under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, "which applies to persons in custody regardless of whether final judgment has been rendered and regardless of the present status of the case pending against him." Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 224; see also Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Ky., 410 U.S. 484 (1973). Therefore, Franklin's request for speedy trial relief is construed as a claim for pre-trial habeas relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c).
Section 2241(c) provides in relevant part that "[t]he writ of habeas corpus shall not extend to a prisoner unless . . . (3)[h]e is in custody in violation of the constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." --------
Pre-trial habeas relief is available only to enforce a state's obligation to bring a defendant promptly to trial, not to adjudicate the merits of a speedy trial claim under the Sixth Amendment and bar the state from proceeding to trial. Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 224. To be eligible for pre-trial habeas relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, a petitioner must be "in custody" and must have exhausted his available state remedies. Braden, 410 U.S. at 488-89; Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 224. It is only in the post-trial setting that exhaustion is mandated by statute. Compare 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), with 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). Despite the absence of an exhaustion requirement in § 2241(c)(3), a body of case law has developed holding that federal courts should abstain from the exercise of that jurisdiction if the issues raised in the petition may be resolved either by trial on the merits in the state court or by other state procedures available to the petitioner. See Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 225. See also Braden, 410 U.S. at 489-92; Brown v. Estelle, 530 F.2d 1280, 1284 (5th Cir. 1976). This exhaustion doctrine of § 2241(c)(3) was judicially crafted on federalism grounds to protect the state courts' opportunity to confront and resolve initially any constitutional issues arising within their jurisdiction and also to limit federal interference in the state adjudicatory process. See Dickerson, 816 F.3d at 225; Braden, 410 U.S. at 490-91.
Franklin satisfies the "in custody" requirement. At the time of filing this action, he was incarcerated at the Harris County Jail. Though Franklin satisfies the "in custody" requirement, the record reveals that he has not fully exhausted the available state remedies on his claim. The proper procedure for seeking pre-trial relief on speedy trial grounds is to file a petition for writ of mandamus in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See Chapman v. Evans, 744 S.W.2d 133, 135-138 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988) (conditionally granting mandamus petition seeking to compel district court to set for trial or dismiss pending indictment for offense unrelated to that for which petitioner was presently incarcerated); Thomas v. Stevenson, 561 S.W.2d 845, 846-47 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) (conditionally granting mandamus petition seeking to compel district court to set case for trial).
Franklin, according to his pleadings, has not filed a state application presenting the speedy trial claim. His pleadings suggest that he has not pursued a petition for writ of mandamus in the Court of Criminal Appeals. See Brown v. Estelle, 530 F.2d 1280, 1284 (5th Cir. 1976) (requiring exhaustion by petition for writ of mandamus, but applying law in effect prior to 1977 amendment to Article V, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution). The Court's online research confirms that Franklin has not filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Texas has adequate and effective state procedures for obtaining a speedy trial, and in the absence of proof that the highest state court with criminal law jurisdiction has been given a fair opportunity to consider Franklin's speedy trial claim, the due administration of justice would be better served by insisting on exhaustion of his state court remedies. Franklin's claim is dismissed for failure to exhaust state remedies.
III. Conclusion
Franklin's federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied. Franklin's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, (Docket Entry No. 2), is GRANTED. Franklin's motion for release from Confinement, (Docket Entry No. 4), is DENIED as moot. All remaining pending motions are DENIED as moot. This case is DISMISSED without prejudice.
The showing necessary for a Certificate of Appealability is a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. Hernandez v. Johnson, 213 F.3d 243, 248 (5th Cir. 2000)(citing Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000)). An applicant makes a substantial showing when he demonstrates that his application involves issues that are debatable among jurists of reason, that another court could resolve the issues differently, or that the issues deserve encouragement to proceed further. See Finley v. Johnson, 243 F.3d 2150, 218 (5th Cir. 2001).
When, as here, the district court denies a habeas petition on procedural grounds without reaching the prisoner's underlying constitutional claim, a COA should issue when the prisoner shows, at least, that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling. Slack, 529 U.S. 484. Franklin has not made the necessary showing for the issuance of a COA.
SIGNED at Houston, Texas, on January 13, 2020.
/s/_________
VANESSA D. GILMORE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE