Opinion
Civil Action No. 3:20CV540-HEH
08-10-2020
JEFFREY T. SNOW, IV, Petitioner, v. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, Respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
(Dismissing Without Prejudice § 2254 Petition)
Petitioner, a Virginia detainee proceeding pro se, filed a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 ("§ 2254 Petition," ECF No. 1). Petitioner is currently detained pursuant to an indictment or information filed in the Newport News Circuit Court. (Id.) Petitioner has not been convicted or sentenced. (Id.)
"As a general rule, in the absence of 'exceptional circumstances where the need for the remedy afforded by the writ of habeas corpus is apparent,' Bowen v. Johnston, 306 U.S. 19, 27 (1939), courts 'require[] exhaustion of alternative remedies before a prisoner can seek federal habeas relief.'" Timms v. Johns, 627 F.3d 525, 530-31 (4th Cir. 2010) (alteration in original) (parallel citation omitted) (quoting Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723, 793 (2008)). In this regard, "[i]n the case of those detained by states, principles of federalism and comity generally require the exhaustion of available state court remedies before [the federal courts] conduct habeas review of the detention." Id. at 531 n.5 (citing Boumediene, 553 U.S. at 793). Thus, "district courts 'should withhold relief in [a] collateral habeas corpus action where an adequate remedy available in the criminal proceeding has not been exhausted.'" Id. (alteration in original) (quoting Stack v. Boyle, 342 U.S. 1, 6-7 (1951)). "Relief for state pretrial detainees through a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus is generally limited to speedy trial and double jeopardy claims, and only after the petitioner has exhausted state-court remedies." Olsson v. Curran, 328 F. App'x 334, 335 (7th Cir. 2009) (citing Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Ky., 410 U.S. 484, 489-92 (1973); Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 49 (1971); Stroman Realty, Inc. v. Martinez, 505 F.3d 658, 662 (7th Cir. 2007); Neville v. Cavanagh, 611 F.2d 673, 675 (7th Cir. 1979)); see also Brazell v. Boyd, No. 92-7029, 1993 WL 98778, at *1 (4th Cir. Apr. 5, 1993) (concluding "pretrial habeas relief is available under § 2241 if the petitioner is in custody, has exhausted his state court remedies, and 'special circumstances' justify the provision of federal review" (citing Dickerson v. Louisiana, 816 F.2d 220, 224-26 (5th Cir. 1987))).
Conversely, "federal courts should abstain from the exercise of [habeas] jurisdiction if the issues raised in the petition may be resolved either by trial on the merits in the state court or by other state procedures available to the petitioner." Dickerson, 816 F.2d at 225 (citations omitted); Durkin v. Davis, 538 F.2d 1037, 1041 (4th Cir. 1976) (internal quotation marks omitted) ("Until the State has been accorded a fair opportunity by any available procedure to consider the issue and afford a remedy if relief is warranted, federal courts in habeas proceedings by state [inmates] should stay their hand."). Here, the issues raised by Petitioner, in his § 2254 Petition may be resolved either by (1) a trial on the merits in the Circuit Court, or (2) subsequent direct and collateral appeals. See Gould v. Newport News, No. 2:08cv465, 2008 WL 7182638, at *5 (E.D. Va. Nov. 5, 2008) (summarily dismissing habeas petition because the petitioner's grounds for habeas relief "could be defenses in his upcoming criminal prosecution").
Accordingly, by Memorandum Order entered on July 22, 2020, the Court directed Petitioner, within eleven (11) days of the date of entry thereof, to show cause why the Court should not dismiss his § 2254 Petition at this juncture. See Williams v. Simmons, No. 3:10CV709-HEH, 2011 WL 2493752, at *1-2 (E.D. Va. June 22, 2011) (dismissing without prejudice similar habeas petition by pretrial detainee). More than eleven (11) days have elapsed and Petitioner has not responded. Accordingly, the action will be dismissed without prejudice.
An appropriate Order shall accompany this Memorandum Opinion.
/s/_________
HENRY E. HUDSON
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Date: August 10, 2020
Richmond, Virginia