Opinion
Case No.: 3:21-cv-0419-GPC-WVG
04-01-2021
RICHARD MICHAEL NEUHART, Petitioner, v. P. EATON, Warden, Respondents.
ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Petitioner, a state prisoner and proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, but has not paid the $5.00 filing fee and has not moved to proceed in forma pauperis.
FAILURE TO SATISFY FILING FEE REQUIREMENT
A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus must either be accompanied by a $5.00 filing fee or an application to proceed in forma pauperis. See Local Rule 3(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. If Petitioner wishes to proceed with this action he must submit a copy of this Order with the requisite $5.00 fee or adequate proof he cannot pay the fee.
BASIS FOR PETITION AND VENUE
Further, the Court notes that, while Petitioner filed this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, it appears he is a state prisoner attacking the validity of a state court conviction and sentence imposed by the state of California. State prisoners challenging their convictions on federal habeas typically may not proceed under section 2241, but rather, must proceed with a habeas action in federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. White v. Lambert, 370 F.3d 1002, 1006-07 (9th Cir. 2004) (holding that section 2254 is the proper jurisdictional basis for a habeas petition brought by an individual "in custody pursuant to a state court judgment"). Section 2254 is properly understood as "in effect implement[ing] the general grant of habeas corpus authority found in § 2241 as long as the person is in custody pursuant to the judgment of a state court, and not in state custody for some other reason, such as pre-conviction custody, custody awaiting extradition, or other forms of custody that are possible without a conviction." [citations omitted.] Id. at 1006 (quoting Walker v. O'Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 633 (7th Cir. 2000) (emphasis in original). The Court declines to construe the Petition as one filed under section 2254 because it appears the Court lacks jurisdiction, regardless of whether the Petition was filed under section 2254 or section 2241. Thus, to the extent Petitioner seeks to challenge his California state court conviction, it appears the appropriate cause of action is one filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in either the Central or Eastern District.
The Court notes, however, that a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed under section 2254 must be filed in the United States District Court of either the judicial district in which the petitioner is presently confined or the judicial district in which he was convicted and sentenced. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d); Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court, 410 U.S. 484, 497 (1973). Petitioner is presently confined at Sierra Conservation Center, located in Tuolumne County, which is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84(b). Further, Petitioner appears to be challenging a conviction from Orange County Superior Court, which is also located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. See 28 U.S.C. § 84(c)(3). Accordingly, habeas corpus jurisdiction appears to lie in the Eastern or Central Districts and not the Southern District.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Petition is DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to satisfy the filing fee requirement. If Petitioner wishes to pursue this action under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 despite being subject to possible dismissal, he must either pay the $5.00 filing fee or provide adequate proof of his inability to pay no later than June 1 , 2021 . To the extent Petitioner seeks to challenge his state court conviction from Orange County Superior Court, he may do so by filing a Petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in the appropriate district, as discussed above. For Petitioner's convenience the Clerk of Court shall attach to this Order a blank §2254 petition form and a blank in forma pauperis application form. Dated: April 1, 2021
/s/_________
Hon. Gonzalo P. Curiel
United States District Judge