Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_09-cv-00410/USCOURTS-almd-2_09-cv-00410-0/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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Although the Clerk of this court stamped the present petition “received” on May 6, 2009, Hinkle certified

she placed the petition in the prison mail system on May 5, 2009. Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - Court Doc.

No. 1 at 15. The law is well settled that a pro se inmate’s petition is deemed filed the date it is delivered to prison

officials for mailing. Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 271-272 (1988); Adams v. United States, 173 F.3d 1339, 1340-

41 (11th Cir. 1999); Garvey v. Vaughn, 993 F.2d 776, 780 (11th Cir. 1993). “Absent evidence to the contrary in the

form of prison logs or other records, [this court] must assume that [the instant petition] was delivered to prison

authorities the day” Hinkle certified she undertook such action. Washington v. United States, 243 F.3d 1299, 1301

(11th Cir. 2001). In light of the foregoing, the court considers May 5, 2009 as the date of filing. 

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

 NORTHERN DIVISION

PAULA HINKLE, )

AIS #209826, )

)

 Petitioner, )

)

 ) CASE NO. 2:09-CV-410-WHA v.

) [WO]

CYNTHIA WHEELER-WHITE, et al., )

)

 Respondents. )

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE

This case is pending before the court on a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas

corpus relief filed by Paula Hinkle [“Hinkle”], a state inmate, on May 5, 2009.1

 In this

petition, Hinkle seeks amendment/reconsideration of the sentences imposed upon her in

2007 by the Circuit Court of DeKalb County, Alabama for second degree criminal

possession of a forged instrument and second degree theft of property based on her

completion of various prison programs. Hinkle also challenges the amount of time served

credit awarded to her by the Circuit Court of DeKalb County, Alabama on these sentences.

Finally, Hinkle seeks correction of information contained in the pre-sentence investigation

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report and an order from the trial court requiring her admission in a drug treatment

program. 

DISCUSSION

This court “in the exercise of its discretion and in furtherance of justice” may

transfer an application for writ of habeas corpus to “the district court for the district within

which the State court was held which convicted” the petitioner. 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).

Hinkle asserts that due to her completion of various prison programs she is entitled to

amendment of the sentences imposed for the DeKalb County convictions. Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus - Court Doc. No. 1 at 5. Hinkle likewise contends the amount of credit

granted to her by the Circuit Court of DeKalb County, Alabama on the sentences imposed

in 2007 is incorrect. Specifically, Hinkle requests that such state court be required to award

her additional credit towards her sentences for the 313 days she served “out on bond”

while awaiting transfer to prison. Id. at 7. Moreover, Hinkle seeks correction of

information in her pre-sentence investigation report on which the trial court relied in

determining her sentences and issuance of an order by the trial court directing her

placement in a drug treatment program. Id. at 8, 10. DeKalb County is located within the

jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. In

light of the foregoing, the court concludes that transfer of this case to such other court for

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In transferring the instant case, this court makes no determination regarding the merits of the petitioner’s

claims for relief nor whether the petitioner has exhausted available state court remedies prior to filing a federal

habeas petition as required by 28 U.S.C.§ 2244(b)(1)(A).

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The petitioner filed neither the requisite filing fee nor an affidavit in support of a request for leave to proceed

in forma pauperis. However, under the circumstances of this case, matters related to the petitioner’s in forma pauperis

status, including the assessment and collection of any filing fee, should be undertaken by the United States District

Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Thus, this court will not address the petitioner’s failure to submit

documents necessary to a determination of her in forma pauperis status. 

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review and disposition is appropriate.2

CONCLUSION

 Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that this case

be transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).3

It is further 

ORDERED that on or before June 4, 2009 the parties may file objections to the

Recommendation. Any objections filed must specifically identify the findings in the

Magistrate Judge's Recommendation to which the party is objecting. Frivolous, conclusive

or general objections will not be considered by the District Court. The parties are advised

that this Recommendation is not a final order of the court and, therefore, it is not

appealable.

Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings in the Recommendation

shall bar the party from a de novo determination by the District Court of issues covered in

the report and shall bar the party from attacking on appeal factual findings in the report

accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest

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injustice. Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982). See Stein v. Reynolds

Securities, Inc., 667 F.2d 33 (11th Cir. 1982). See also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d

1206 (11th Cir. 1981, en banc), adopting as binding precedent all decisions of the former

Fifth Circuit issued prior to September 30, 1981.

Done this 22nd day of May, 2009.

 /s/Charles S. Coody 

CHARLES S. COODY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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