2005 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

10-19-2005

Chhibba v. Federal Bureau

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 04-4728

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Recommended Citation

"Chhibba v. Federal Bureau" (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 379.

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NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

NO. 04-4728

________________

ASHOK CHHIBBA

v.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS; HARLEY G. LAPPIN,

in his official capacity as director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons;

WARDEN JOHN NASH, in his official capacity as

Warden of Federal Correctional Institution

_______________________________________

On Appeal From the United States District Court

For the District of New Jersey

(D.C. Civ. No. 04-cv-04874)

District Judge: Honorable Freda L. Wolfson

_______________________________________

Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)

October 14, 2005

Before: ALITO, SMITH AND COWEN, CIRCUIT JUDGES 

(Filed October 19, 2005)

_______________________

OPINION

_______________________

PER CURIAM

Ashok Chhibba appeals from the District Court’s order summarily dismissing his

habeas corpus petition filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. In his habeas petition, Chhibba

challenges the determination of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that he is eligible for pre-
2

release placement at a Community Corrections Center (CCC) for only the last ten percent

of his term of imprisonment. For the following reasons, we will dismiss the appeal as

moot.

When he filed his habeas petition, Chhibba was incarcerated at the Federal

Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, serving a sentence of 24 months

imposed by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. On

February 11, 2004, the BOP notified Chhibba that his projected release date is October

14, 2005. The BOP also informed Chhibba that he is eligible for pre-release placement at

a CCC beginning August 13, 2005. According to Chhibba, the BOP based its calculation

on its interpretation that 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c) authorizes pre-release to a CCC for the

lesser of the last ten percent of the time to be served or six months.

In October 2004, Chhibba challenged the BOP’s decision by filing a § 2241 habeas

corpus petition in the District Court. Without ordering service of the petition or receiving

a response from the BOP, the District Court rejected Chhibba’s position and summarily

dismissed his habeas petition. Chhibba appeals. While his appeal has been pending,

Chhibba has been placed in a CCC in New York. He is still scheduled for complete

release from custody on October 14, 2005.

Before we can exercise jurisdiction, we must determine whether the appeal

presents an Article III case or controversy. See Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 7 (1998).

Even if a case or controversy existed throughout the District Court proceedings, we must
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decide that one currently exists. See Okereke v. United States, 307 F.3d 117, 121 (3d Cir.

2002). The relevant question is whether Chhibba “has suffered or is threatened with an

actual injury traceable to the District Court’s decision that can be redressed by a favorable

decision here.” Id. If not, we must dismiss the appeal as moot. Id.

Here, Chhibba sought relief in the form of placement at a CCC for the last six

months of his sentence. As noted previously, he is now in custody at a CCC. Even if we

were to render a decision in favor of Chhibba, we can provide no redress for any injury he

may have suffered. In short, Chhibba’s appeal has been rendered moot by his placement

in a CCC, and we must dismiss it. All pending motions are denied as moot.