Opinion
1:21-cv-00956-HBK (HC)
06-21-2021
TONY XAVIER HOUSTON, Petitioner, v. MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL, Respondent.
ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Petitioner initiat ed this action by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Doc. No. 1). Petitioner is currently incarcerated in Kern County, which is located within the jurisdiction and venue of this court's Fresno Division. However, Petitioner was convicted in the Monterey County Superior Court which is located within the jurisdiction and venue the San Jose Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Although filed as a § 2241 petition, Petitioner appears to challenge the conditions of his confinement while he was a pretrial detainee held in the Monterey County Jail. (See generally Doc. No. 1). Petitioner does not identify what, if any relief, he seeks anywhere in the petition. (Id).
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d), jurisdiction for a habeas action is proper in the judicial district where the petitioner was convicted or where the petitioner is incarcerated. Therefore, to the extent Petitioner is challenging the fact of his conviction, both the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of California have concurrent jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d); Rumsfeldv. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 428 (2004). Here, it appears that Petitioner is complaining about the conditions of his pretrial confinement, which is properly pursued via a civil rights complaint filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Because the events giving rise to the cause of action occurred in Monterey County, which is within the venue of the San Jose Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Petitioner should have filed the pleading in that court. See 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1)-(2); see also Ziegler v. Indian River County, 64 F.3d 470, 474 (9th Cir. 1995) (reviewing federal court jurisdiction and venue in a § 1983 action). “For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). Thus, the Court finds in its discretion “and in furtherance of justice” the petition, which appears to challenge the conditions of Petitioner's pretrial confinement, should be transferred to the Northern District of California for handling as that Court deems appropriate. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1404(a), 1406(a).
Accordingly,
1. The Clerk shall transfer this action to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division; and
2. All future filings shall reference the new case number assigned and shall be filed at:
United States District Court
Northern District of California
San Jose Division 280 South 1st Street, Room 2112
San Jose, CA 95113
IT IS SO ORDERED.