Opinion
No. 06-14532 Non-Argument Calendar.
February 27, 2007.
Anthony L. Smith, Sparta, GA, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. D.C. Docket No. 06-00597-CV-J-25-MMH.
Before DUBINA, BLACK and CARNES, Circuit Judges.
Florida prisoner Anthony Lamar Smith, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action. In his complaint, Smith alleged ineffective assistance of counsel, due process violations, and equal protection violations. The district court concluded Smith needed to file a habeas corpus petition because he sought a new criminal trial based on the alleged constitutional violations, and dismissed his claim without prejudice because it had advised Smith that, pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, 110 Stat. 1214, § 106(b)(3)(a), he needed authorization to file a second or successive habeas corpus petition.
Claims challenging the fact of conviction "fall within the `core' of habeas corpus," while claims challenging the conditions of confinement may be brought in a civil rights action under § 1983. Nelson v. Campbell, 541 U.S. 637, 124 S.Ct. 2117, 2122, 158 L.Ed.2d 924 (2004). Thus, a civil rights action under § 1983 is not appropriate when a state prisoner challenges the fact of his incarceration. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 1841, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973).
When a court concludes a prisoner is in fact challenging his conviction, it should treat the case as if it was raised as a habeas corpus petition, and apply the corresponding procedural and exhaustion requirements of the AEDPA. Hutcherson v. Riley, 468 F.3d 750, 754 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___ 127 S.Ct. 467, 166 L.Ed.2d 333 (2006). As such, the requirement that an applicant obtain an order authorizing the filing of a second or successive habeas application applies. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A). Thus, we held a district court did not err in dismissing a § 1983 complaint, construed as an attempt to file a second habeas corpus petition, because the applicant had not obtained our permission to file the petition. Fugate v. Dep't of Corr., 301 F.3d 1287, 1288 (11th Cir. 2002).
Smith was challenging the fact of his conviction as illustrated by his express request for a new criminal trial. See Preiser, 93 S.Ct. at 1841. Thus, the exclusive remedy for his claim was to file a habeas corpus petition, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. See Nelson, 124 S.Ct. at 2122. Smith's complaint was an unauthorized second or successive habeas corpus petition, and the district court did not err in dismissing his complaint. See Fugate, 301 F.3d at 1288.