Opinion
Civil Action No. 12-1683
10-21-2013
Trevor Frank Scott, Petitioner, v. Parole Commission, Respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Petitioner, a District of Columbia Jail inmate proceeding pro se, has submitted a form application for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and an application to proceed in forma pauperis. For the following reasons, the Court will grant the application to proceed in forma pauperis and will dismiss this action without prejudice.
Rule 1(b) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases permits the Court to "apply these rules to a habeas corpus petition [under § 2241]," and Rule 12 makes the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to habeas petitions "to the extent that they are not inconsistent with any statutory provisions or these rules." Unlike the minimal pleading requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), "Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Habeas Corpus Cases requires a more detailed statement. The habeas rule instructs the petitioner to 'specify all the grounds for relief available to [him]' and to 'state the facts supporting each ground.' " Mayle v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644, 649 (2005). This "demand that habeas petitioners plead with particularity is to assist the district court in determining whether the State should be ordered to 'show cause why the writ should not be granted' " or to summarily dismiss the petition. Id. at 656 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2243). The demand is necessary also because the government, in responding to a show cause order, "must 'address the allegations in the petition.' " Id. (quoting Gov'g Rule 5(b)).
Petitioner has included without explanation page 4 of a "Parole Form D-1," generated by the paroling authority, see Pet. at 2, and has stated as his ground for relief "Due Process Violation." Id. at 7. His supporting facts consist of a few illegible words and a request for "immediate release and no further supervision." Id. The instant petition simply fails to comply with the habeas pleading rules, and it does not otherwise provide a basis for habeas relief. See Mayle, 545 U.S. at 655 ("Notice pleading is not sufficient, for the petition is expected to state facts that point to a real possibility of constitutional error.") (quoting Advisory Comm. Note on Habeas Corpus Rule 4) (internal bracket and quotation marks omitted). It therefore will be dismissed. A separate Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
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United States District Judge