Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20131021_0001287.WPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-10-22 09:03:37
Document Index: 134120129

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 118', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 636']

It is respectfully recommended that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus ("the Petition") filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 be transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania because that is the District wherein the state court conviction of Rafael Hernandez ("Petitioner") was obtained, and, as such, it is the proper venue for litigation of the underlying allegations of the Petition.
Petitioner is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene ("SCI-Greene"), which is located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, Greene County, which is within the territorial boundaries of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. 28 U.S.C. § 118(c). In the Petition, he challenges the validity of his conviction, which was obtained in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, which is located within the territorial boundaries of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. ECF No. [1] at 1, ¶ 1(b) (referencing criminal docket number CP-06-CR-0003319-1998).[1] Because that conviction arose out of Berks County, the interests of justice weigh in favor of transferring this case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The power of this court to grant the writ is founded upon 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a) which provides that "[w]rits of habeas corpus may be granted by the Supreme Court, any justice thereof, the district courts and any circuit judge within their respective jurisdictions."
At the time of the commencement of this action, Petitioner was in prison at SCI-Greene. Consequently, both the Western District and the Eastern District have "jurisdiction" to entertain this petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).[2] Although this Court possesses subject matter jurisdiction to entertain this petition, it is not required to exercise such jurisdiction if the interests of justice counsel otherwise.
Venue in habeas corpus related cases filed by state prisoners challenging their convictions, is proper in either the federal district in which the state conviction was obtained or the federal district in which the petitioner was incarcerated at the time of filing the habeas petition.[3] See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). Therefore, in this case, either this Court or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, has jurisdiction to hear this petition. However, this Court must exercise its discretion and determine whether transferring this case to the Eastern District would be "in furtherance of justice." 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).
Application of these traditional venue considerations to the facts of this case reveals that this case should be transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. First, the underlying material event, which was Petitioner's criminal trial and conviction took place in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the Eastern District. Second, all of the records and most of the participants are presumably located in Berks County. Third, in terms of convenience of the forum, if a hearing is held, it will be more convenient for most of the witnesses and the District Attorney of Berks County to litigate this petition in the Eastern District. Obviously, Petitioner would be temporarily transferred to a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections facility near Berks County were a hearing to be required. Fourth, the factor of the familiarity of the court with the applicable laws is evenly balanced as both this Court and the Eastern District Court are familiar with the law of Pennsylvania. Considering all of these factors in the context of this particular action, the factors weigh heavily in favor of transferring this case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where the state criminal trial was held.
After weighing all of the relevant factors and considering the general court practice, it is recommended that the case be transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the situs of the state court criminal trial.
Pursuant to the Magistrate Judges Act, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C), and Rule 72.D.2 of the Local Civil Rules, Petitioner is allowed until November 7, 2013, to file objections. Failure to timely file objections will constitute a waiver of any appellate rights. Brightwell v. Lehman, 637 F.3d 187, 193 n.7 (3d Cir. 2011).