Opinion
3:22-cv-2359-M-BN
12-08-2022
JAMES DRAUCKER, #00146717, Plaintiff, v. ROCKWALL COUNTY COURT HOUSE, ET AL., Defendants.
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
DAVID L. HORAN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff James Draucker, an inmate at the Rockwall County jail, initially filed a pro se complaint against two judges in that county, a state appellate court, and officials at the jail, claiming that he is wrongfully incarcerated and requesting his immediate release plus monetary damages. See Dkt. No. 3. Draucker also moved for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) and for court-appointed counsel. See Dkt. Nos. 4, 5.
United States District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn referred Draucker's civil complaint to the undersigned United States magistrate judge for pretrial management under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and a standing order of reference.
The Court granted Draucker leave to proceed IFP under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (the PLRA). See Dkt. No. 6. And, under the PLRA, the undersigned has entered findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that the Court should deny Dru motion to appoint counsel, dismiss this case with prejudice under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, and count this dismissal as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) [Dkt. No. 7] (the Civil FCR).
Draucker has now filed, in this action, a Petition for Injunction to Grant Plaintiffs Release from Confinement [Dkt. No. 20] (the Petition).
And the undersigned enters these findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation that the Court should deny the Petition without prejudice to Draucker's right to exhaust available state remedies.
Discussion
Draucker initiated this action through a civil complaint seeking both damages and his release. As the Civil FCR sets out, the Court may not consider both types of relief in the same case, and, where both are sought - and the claims can be separated - the Court should consider the damages claim. See Serio v. Members of La. St. Bd. of Pardons, 821 F.2d 1112, 1119 (5th Cir. 1987) (discussing Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 554-55 (1974)).
Now, through the Petition, Draucker seeks his release from custody. Related to this request, the Dallas Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court's denial of Draucker's state habeas petition, agreeing with the trial court that the issuance of a valid Governor's Warrant moots his complaints concerning confinement, see Ex parte Draucker, No. 05-22-00615-CR, 2022 WL 6935605 (Tex. App. - Dallas Oct. 12, 2022), and it appears that, earlier this month, Draucker filed a petition for discretionary review (PDR) in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (the CCA), see Ex parte Draucker, PD-0686-22 (Tex. Crim. App.) (filed Dec. 7, 2022).
A person “‘who is not in custody pursuant to a state court judgment'” - such as one who is in “‘pre-conviction custody, custody awaiting extradition, or other forms of custody that are possible without a conviction'” - may “take advantage of [28 U.S.C.] § 2241 relief.” In re Wright, 826 F.3d 774, 782 (4th Cir. 2016) (emphasis added; quoting White v. Lambert, 370 F.3d 1002, 1006 (9th Cir. 2004)).
But such a person may only “raise constitutional claims in a federal habeas proceeding under § 2241 if two requirements are satisfied.” Ray v. Quarterman, No. 3:06-cv-850-L, 2006 WL 2842122, at *1 (N.D. Tex. July 24, 2006), rec. adopted, 2006 WL 2844129 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2006).
Draucker's detention at the jail satisfies the first, “in custody” requirement.
But he must still exhaust “available state remedies.” Ray, 2006 WL 2842122, at *1 & n.1 (explaining that, “[d]espite the absence of an exhaustion requirement in the statutory language of § 2241, the courts have developed an exhaustion doctrine, holding that federal courts should abstain from the exercise of jurisdiction until the issues are resolved in state court”; citing Dickerson v. Louisiana, 816 F.2d 220, 225 (5th Cir. 1987); Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Ct. of Ky., 410 U.S. 484, 489-92 (1973)); see also Fain v. Duff, 488 F.2d 218, 223 (5th Cir. 1973) (“With respect to collateral attack on convictions in state court, the requirement was codified in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), but the requirement applies to all habeas corpus actions.”).
These exhaustion requirements apply to those in custody awaiting extradition. See, e.g., Bales v. State of Tex., 324 F.Supp. 127, 128 (S.D. Tex. 1970).
State remedies are ordinarily not considered exhausted so long as the petitioner may effectively present his claims to the state courts by a
currently available and adequate procedure. Braden, 410 U.S. at 489. This entails submitting the factual and legal basis of any claim to the highest available state court for review. Carter v. Estelle, 677 F.2d 427, 443 (5th Cir. 1982). A Texas pretrial detainee must present his claim to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. See Deters v. Collins, 985 F.2d 789, 795 (5th Cir. 1993); Richardson v. Procunier, 762 F.2d 429, 432 (5th Cir. 1985).
A petitioner may be excused from the exhaustion requirement only if he can show “exceptional circumstances of peculiar urgency.” Deters, 985 F.2d at 795. Absent exceptional circumstances, a pre-trial detainee may not adjudicate the merits of his claims before a judgment of conviction has been entered by a state court. Braden, 410 U.S. at 489.Ray, 2006 WL 2842122, at *1; see also Braden, 410 U.S. at 493 (“Derailment of a pending state proceeding by an attempt to litigate constitutional defenses prematurely in federal court” is not allowed.).
Draucker has not made this showing, as the record reflects that the CCA has not ruled on his pending PDR. The Court should therefore dismiss the Petition without prejudice to allow Draucker to exhaust available state remedies.
Recommendation
The Court should dismiss the Petition for Injunction to Grant Plaintiffs
Release from Confinement [Dkt. No. 20] without prejudice to James Draucker's right to exhaust available state remedies and should, for statistical purposes, direct the Clerk to open a new 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas action (NOS 530) directly assigned to Judge Lynn and the undersigned and to close the same on any order accepting or adopting these findings, conclusions, and recommendation.
A copy of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation must file specific written objections within 14 days after being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b). In order to be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the magistrate judge's findings, conclusions, and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objections will bar the aggrieved party from appealing the factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted or adopted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (5th Cir. 1996).