Case ID: f-appx_38/html/0925-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Orville Isaac WRIGHT, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Joseph BROOKS, Warden, Respondent-Appellee.
    No. 02-6038.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted June 11, 2002.
    Decided June 26, 2002.
    Orville Isaac Wright, Appellant Pro Se.
    
      Before MOTZ and KING, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
    Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Orville Isaac Wright, a federal prisoner serving a 292 month sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his petition filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (1994). Following the denial of his direct appeal, Wright filed a belated motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp. 2001). The district court dismissed the motion, and this Court affirmed that ruling. Thereafter, Wright filed a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2244 (West 1994 & Supp. 2001) seeking authorization to file a successive § 2255 motion. We denied that motion. In this § 2241 petition, Wright raises a challenge to his sentence based upon Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). He also brings claims of prosecu-torial misconduct, a Brady violation, and ineffective assistance of counsel. The district court dismissed the petition, stating that § 2255 is not rendered inadequate or ineffective merely because an individual is unable to obtain relief under that provision. Wright timely noted this appeal.

We have held that Apprendi claims cannot be initially raised in a § 2255 proceeding. United States v. Sanders, 247 F.3d 139, 146 (4th Cir.2001). More recently, we held that Apprendi claims are not cognizable in a § 2241 petition because Apprendi does not apply retroactively and § 2255 is not rendered inadequate or ineffective merely because a habeas petitioner, such as Wright, is barred from filing a § 2255 motion. See San-Miguel v. Dove, 291 F.3d 257, 261 n. 2 (4th Cir.2002). Thus, Wright’s Apprendi challenge fails under San-Miguel’s holding.

The remainder of Wright’s claims are attacks on his judgment of conviction that can be presented, if at all, only in a successive § 2255 motion. See § 2255 ¶ 8. Section 2255 is not rendered inadequate or ineffective merely because a habeas petitioner such as Wright is unable to obtain relief under that provision. See In re: Jones, 226 F.3d 328, 333 (4th Cir.2000).

Accordingly we affirm the judgment of the district court. We dispense with oral argument, because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.