Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02113/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02113-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL HARRIS, Civil No. 11-2113 WQH (POR)

Petitioner, ORDER DISMISSING PETITION

FOR FAILURE TO STATE A

COGNIZABLE CLAIM ON HABEAS

CORPUS

vs.

LARRY SMALL, et al.,

Respondents.

On September 12, 2011, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, submitted a

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner has not filed a

request to proceed in forma pauperis and has not paid the filing fee. Because the Court is

dismissing this case for failing to state a cognizable claim on habeas corpus, the Court does not

rule on Petitioner’s in forma pauperis status.

Upon review of the Petition, it appears to the Court that a Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus brought pursuant to § 2254 is not the proper vehicle for the claims Petitioner presents.

Petitioner lists problems he claims he is facing in prison. Specifically, Petitioner claims: that

“Calipatria State Prison officials . . . used unnecessary and wanton force on Petitioner as

punishment” when he challenged an inmate housing assignment. (Pet. at 3.) Petitioner’s claims

are not cognizable on habeas because they do not challenge the constitutional validity or

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duration of confinement. See 28 U.S.C. 2254(a); Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500

(1973); Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 480-85 (1994).

Challenges to the fact or duration of confinement are brought by petition for a writ of

habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254; challenges to conditions of confinement are

brought pursuant to the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Preiser, 411 U.S. at 488-500.

When a state prisoner is challenging the very fact or duration of his physical imprisonment, and

the relief he seeks is a determination that he is entitled to immediate release or a speedier release

from that imprisonment, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Id. at 500. On the

other hand, a § 1983 action is a proper remedy for a state prisoner who is making a constitutional

challenge to the conditions of his prison life, but not to the fact or length of his custody. Id. at

499; McIntosh v. United States Parole Comm’n, 115 F.3d 809, 811-12 (10th Cir. 1997). 

“Section 2254 applies only to collateral attacks on state court judgments.” McGuire v. Blubaum,

376 F. Supp. 284, 285 (D. Ariz. 1974).

In no way does Petitioner claim his state court conviction violates the Constitution or laws

or treaties of the United States. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides for

summary dismissal of a habeas petition “[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the petition and

any exhibits annexed to it that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.” Rule 4,

28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Here, it is plain from the petition that Petitioner is not presently entitled

to federal habeas relief because he has not alleged that the state court violated his federal rights.

 It appears that Petitioner challenges the conditions of his prison life, but not the fact or length

of his custody. Thus, Petitioner has not stated a cognizable habeas claim pursuant to § 2254.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the Court DISMISSES this case without prejudice for failure to

state a cognizable claim on habeas corpus. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail Petitioner a

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blank civil rights complaint form pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 together with a copy of this

Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 16, 2011

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

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