Document: 515 U.S. 39115 S.Ct. 1948132 L.Ed.2d 36 Harvey F. GARLOTTE, Petitioner,v.Kirk FORDICE, Governor of Mississippi. No. 94-6790. Supreme Court the United States Argued April 24, 1995. Decided May 30, Syllabus* A Mississippi trial court ordered that petitioner Garlotte serve, consecutively, a 3-year prison sentence on marijuana conviction, followed by concurrent life sentences two murder convictions. State law required to serve at least 10 months first and years sentences. unsuccessfully sought state post-conviction collateral relief conviction. By time those proceedings ended, he had completed period incarceration set for offense, commenced serving The Federal District denied his subsequent federal habeas petition merits, but Appeals dismissed want jurisdiction. adopted State's position already served out imposed conviction and, therefore, was no longer "in custody" under within meaning statute, 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). rejected Garlotte's argument remained because continued postpone date which would be eligible parole. Held: when filed petition. Pp. __. (a) In Peyton v. Rowe, 391 54, 88 1549, 20 426, this allowed prisoners incarcerated consecutive apply from they not yet begun serve. Viewing in aggregate, held prisoner is any one them purposes statute. different construction statutory term will here simply challenged lies past rather than future. Maleng Cook, 490 488, 109 1923, 104 540—in could challenge after it fully expired—does control case, Maleng, unlike Garlotte, (b) Allowing attack nominally unlikely encourage delay assertion challenges. naturally prefers release sooner later, apt disadvantage petitioner—who has burden proof—more State. Moreover, Habeas Corpus Rule 9(a), district may dismiss if been prejudiced its ability respond inexcusable petition's filing. 29 F.3d 216 (CA5 1994), reversed remanded. GINSBURG, J., delivered opinion Court, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, BREYER, JJ., joined. THOMAS, dissenting opinion, REHNQUIST, C.J., Brian D. Boyle, appointed Washington, DC, petitioner. Marvin L. White, Jr., Jackson, MS, respondent. Justice GINSBURG Court. 1 To corpus applicant must custody violation Constitution or laws treaties States." 2254(a); see also 2241(c)(3). 426 (1968), we governing prescription permits We said that, relief, should treated as continuous series; Constitution," explained, "if [the prisoner] scheduled result deprivation constitutional rights." Id., 64-65, S.Ct., 1555. 2 case before us appropriately described Peyton's complement, reverse. Like petitioners Peyton, Unlike petitioners, however, does underlying served. Instead, seeks ran series, served, nonetheless persists eligibility Following do disaggregate sentences, comprehend composing stream. therefore hold remains all until are now run series. 3 * On September 16, 1985, plea hearing court, entered simultaneous guilty pleas count possession with intent distribute counts murder. Pursuant agreement, recommended sentenced three count, consecutively counts. App. 43. ten Miss.Code Ann. 47-7-3(1)(c)(ii) (Supp.1994), 47-7-3(1). 4 At hearing, judge inquired whether wanted three-year sentence: "[A] year [on count] th[e] sentences?" asked. prosecutor expressed indifference about order run: "Either way, your Honor allow first. other words, we're just talking total then years." next asked counsel understanding recommendation. Defense replied, without elaboration: "[I]t's my sentences." 44. saw "no reason go along recommendation State." 50. Without further explanation, order: first, then, Ibid. 5 wrote seven 1985 asking permission withdraw count. court's reply notified statute pursue relief. 51. moved such Nearly denial motion, appeal. State, 530 So.2d 693 (1988). January 18, 1989, motions Garlotte. time, 6 October 6, Southern Mississippi, naming respondent Kirk Fordice, Mississippi.1 Adopting magistrate judge, merits. 18. 7 Before Fifth Circuit, argued lacked jurisdiction over 216, 217 1994). asserted prior filing, conviction; maintained, countered were emphasizing 218. 8 position, Circuit Courts have divided question person (1) terms (2) continues prisoner's potential release.2 granted certiorari resolve conflict, 513 ----, 115 929, 130 876 (1995), reverse.3 II 9 authorizes courts entertain petitions judgments only authorized exercise Virginia prisoners, Robert Rowe Clyde Thacker. Thacker sentences; both slated Virginia, relying McNally Hill, 293 131, 55 79 L.Ed. 238 (1934), premature. Overruling McNally, explained: "[I]n common 'custody' comprehends respondents' status entire duration their imprisonment. Practically speaking, 50 years, aggregate 30- 20-year For parole eligibility, years. Nothing face 2241 militates against an interpretation views being 'in custody' them. Under interpretation, Constitution' U.S., 1555 (citations omitted). 11 present challenges successful, advance dates. That enough, concluded, permit invoke Great Writ. 66-67, 1555-56. 12 Had sentence—an option indifference—Peyton unquestionably instructed Because came (following proceedings) sentence, urges 540 (1989) (per curiam), controls. 13 presented "whether expired, merely possibility used enhance crimes convicted." 492, 1926. use offenses did suffice render 14 recognized "very liberally construed requirement habeas," stressed "never extended situation where suffers restraint conviction." "[A]lmost habitual offender statutes, many provide . specific enhancement basis convictions," ibid.; hence, urged left nearly convictions perpetually open attack. petitioner's commented, "would read statute." Ibid.4 15 "a them" 67, 1556. Having require viewed adopt future.5 16 urges, prime requirement, allowing "encourage reward challenges." Brief Respondent 28. As observes, prematurity rule part "the harshness determination claims decades." 61, 1553. argues reading words undermine expeditious adjudication rationale Peyton. 6-7, 27-28. 17 Our holding today, delay. later. Further, generally bears proof, more record, note, suggests dilatory challenging Finally, "has [inexcusable] filing." 18 19 view discrete segments. Invalidation incarceration. challenge, shorten proves unconstitutionality, implicates core purpose review. Accordingly, judgment reversed, remanded consistent opinion. It so ordered. 21 whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE joins, dissenting. 22 concludes assert "is States," 2254(a), even admits wishes expired. neither our caselaw nor, importantly, I dissent. 23 expired relies heavily (1968). There, wished claiming nevertheless these proceed. Practical considerations drove permitting early commence might prevent stale brought crime trial. 62-63, 1553-54. Recognizing finding (and indeed cut majority's conclusion), second ground, namely 2241(c)(3)." Ante, ___ (quoting id., 1556).1 24 view, ought limited situations unexpired sentence. This satisfy policy concerns unserved earlier time. More make sense Cook's proper insistence 490-491, 1924-25, ("We interpreted language requiring filed"). majority, upon broad ignore another.2 Given statute's text oddity asserting still narrowly. NOTE: Where feasible, syllabus (headnote) released, done connection issued. constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. See Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 499. entitled knowing, intelligent, voluntary, receive effective assistance counsel, subjected double jeopardy, unusual disproportionate. 6. Compare Fawcett Bablitch, 962 F.2d 617, 618 (CA7 1992) ("in custody"); Bernard Garraghty, 934 52, (CA4 1991) (same); Fox Kelso, 911 563, 568 (CA11 1990) (same), Allen Dowd, 964 745, 746 (CA8) (not custody"), cert. denied, 506 113 335, 121 253 (1992). who proceeded pro se below, motion appointment counsel. After certiorari, D.C., represent (1995). possibility, subject enhance. 494, 1927. itself various penological reveals difficulties trying determine ends begins. example, aggregates determining 47-7-3(1) (Supp.1994) ("Every less one-fourth (1/4) released hereinafter provided. .") (emphasis added), commutation meritorious earned-time credit. 47-5-139(3) (1981) ("An shall based sentences.") added). "views purposes," fact somehow "reveals begins." __, n. 5. interpreting statutes. Those lead conclude decide custody." recognize concluding paragraph enunciated "holding." 1556, Other narrower holding, however. 65, (prisoners rights") itself, "who [to] serve." 493, 1926,

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