Opinion
5:22-cv-00313
08-27-2024
BRANDON LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. WARDEN HOLZAPFEL,[1] Respondent.
PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
Dwane L. Tinsley United States Magistrate Judge
This matter is assigned to the Honorable Frank W. Volk, United States District Judge, and it is referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for submission of proposed findings and a recommendation for disposition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). Pending before the court are Petitioner's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (ECF No. 1).
I. RELEVANT FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
While incarcerated at FCI Beckley in Beaver, West Virginia, Petitioner filed this § 2241 habeas corpus action seeking an order directing that his 48-month federal sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York be designated to run concurrent with a previously imposed New York state sentence and that he receive federal sentencing credit, nunc pro tunc, for the time period between August 13, 2020 and February 22, 2021. (ECF No. 1 at 1-2). On October 13, 2022, Respondent filed a response to Petitioner's § 2241 petition, with numerous exhibits, asserting that Petitioner had not exhausted his administrative remedies prior to filing his petition and further arguing that Petitioner's federal sentence was properly run consecutive to his state sentence and that he was not entitled to any further custody credit. (ECF No. 8). Petitioner did not file a reply brief. According to the inmate locator on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (“BOP”) website, www.bop.gov, Petitioner was thereafter released from BOP custody on May 17, 2024. Thus, his § 2241 petition is now moot.
II. DISCUSSION
The United States Constitution limits the jurisdiction of federal courts to actual cases or controversies that are present at all stages of review. U.S. Const., art. III, § 2; Honig v. Doe, 484 U.S. 305, 317 (1988); Lewis v. Continental Bank Corp., 494 U.S. 472, 477-78 (1990). When a case or controversy no longer exists, the claim is said to be “moot.” In the context of habeas corpus, a case is rendered moot when the inmate has been released from the custody being challenged, without collateral consequences, and the court can no longer remedy the inmate's grievance. See, e.g., Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 7 (1998); Alston v. Adams, 178 Fed.Appx. 295, 2006 WL 1194751 (4th Cir. 2007); Alvarez v. Conley, 145 Fed.Appx. 428, 2005 WL 2500659 (4th Cir. 2005); Smithhart v. Gutierrez, No. 3:06-cv-11, 2007 WL 2897942 (N.D. W.Va. 2007). As noted above, Petitioner has been released from BOP custody without any collateral consequences under the circumstances presented; thus, this court cannot grant his requested relief.
III. RECOMMENDATION
The undersigned proposes that the presiding District Judge FIND that Petitioner's § 2241 petition is now moot due to his release from BOP custody. Accordingly, it is respectfully RECOMMENDED that the presiding District Judge DENY AS MOOT Petitioner's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (ECF No. 1) and dismiss this matter from the docket of the court.
The parties are notified that this “Proposed Findings and Recommendation” is hereby FILED, and a copy will be submitted to the Honorable Frank W. Volk, United States District Judge. Pursuant to the provisions of Title 28, United States Code, Section 636(b)(1)(B), Rules 6(d) and 72(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rules 1(b) and 8(b) of the Rules Governing Proceedings in the United States District Courts Under Section 2254 of Title 28, United States Code, the parties shall have fourteen days (filing of objections) and then three days (mailing/service), from the date of filing this Proposed Findings and Recommendation within which to file with the Clerk of this Court, specific written objections, identifying the portions of the Proposed Findings and Recommendation to which objection is made, and the basis of such objection. Extension of this time period may be granted by the presiding District Judge for good cause shown.
Failure to file written objections as set forth above shall constitute a waiver of de novo review by the District Court and a waiver of appellate review by the Circuit Court of Appeals. Snyder v. Ridenour, 889 F.2d 1363 (4th Cir. 1989); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); Wright v. Collins, 766 F.2d 841 (4th Cir. 1985); United States v. Schronce, 727 F.2d 91 (4th Cir. 1984). A copy of such objections shall be served on the opposing party and Judge Volk.
The Clerk is directed to file this Proposed Findings and Recommendation, mail a copy of the same to Petitioner at his last known address, and transmit a copy to counsel of record.