Opinion
Civil No. 14cv1644-WQH (DHB)
09-03-2014
JOSHUA DAVID WILLIAMS, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Respondent.
ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Petitioner, a person detained at the San Diego City Jail awaiting trial on state criminal charges, is proceeding pro se with a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1.) Petitioner alleges his federal constitutional rights have been violated during pre-trial proceedings, and requests this Court order his release or order the state court to dismiss the charges against him. (See Pet. at 3-9.)
The Petition must be dismissed because it is clear that this Court is barred from consideration of the claims by the abstention doctrine announced in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971). Under Younger, federal courts may not interfere with ongoing state criminal proceedings absent extraordinary circumstances. Id. at 45-46; see Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 U.S. 423, 431 (1982) (stating that Younger "espouse[d] a strong federal policy against federal-court interference with pending state judicial proceedings.") These concerns are particularly important in the habeas context where a state prisoner's conviction may be reversed on appeal, thereby rendering the federal issue moot. Sherwood v. Tompkins, 716 F.2d 632, 634 (9th Cir. 1983).
Absent extraordinary circumstances, abstention under Younger is required when: (1) state judicial proceedings are ongoing; (2) the state proceedings involve important state interests; and (3) the state proceedings afford an adequate opportunity to raise the federal issues. Columbia Basin Apartment Ass'n v. City of Pasco, 268 F.3d 791, 799 (9th Cir. 2001). All three of these criteria are satisfied here. At the time Petitioner filed the instant Petition, he admits that he is awaiting jury trial on criminal charges in San Diego County Superior Court. (See Pet. at 3-9.) Thus, Petitioner's criminal case is still ongoing in the state courts. Further, there is no question that the state criminal proceedings involve important state interests.
Petitioner has not indicated an inability to petition the state appellate or supreme court to address his claims. See People v. Pompa-Ortiz, 27 Cal.3d 519, 529 (1980) (recognizing that an application for an extraordinary writ may be made to the state appellate court regarding non-jurisdictional pre-trial errors); People v. Phillips, 169 Cal.App.3d 632, 639 (Cal.App.Ct. 1985) (same with respect to choice of counsel claims). In fact, Petitioner indicates that he has filed writs in the state courts, is awaiting a disposition of his habeas petition in the state appellate court, and states that he intends to continue to seek remedies in the state courts. (See Pet. at 4; see also ECF No. 4 at 2.) Because the state courts provide Petitioner an opportunity to raise his claims in state court, abstention is required. See Drury v. Cox, 457 F.2d 764, 764-65 (9th Cir. 1972) ("[O]nly in the most unusual circumstances is a defendant entitled to have federal interposition by way of injunction or habeas corpus until after the jury comes in, judgment has been appealed from that the case concluded in the state courts.")
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Petition is DISMISSED without prejudice. See Juidice v. Vail, 430 U.S. 327, 337 (1977) (holding that if Younger abstention applies, a court may not retain jurisdiction but should dismiss the action); Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971).
IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: 9/3/14
/s/_________
William Q. Hayes
United States Distriet Judge