Source: http://ok.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190912_0001132.WOK.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-08-15 20:48:28
Document Index: 673117608

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 636', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 2254', '§ 116', '§ 116', '§ 116', '§ 2241']

FindACase™ | Brooks-Gage v. State
Brooks-Gage v. State
SCOTTY LADELL BROOKS-GAGE, Petitioner,
STATE OF OKLAHOMA, Respondent.
Petitioner, a state prisoner appearing pro se, seeks to "[a]ppeal" his Oklahoma conviction for first degree murder for which he received a life without parole sentence "because [he] is an innocent man." See Doc. 1, at 1 & Att. 1. The petition, construed as a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, was referred by Chief United States District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti to the undersigned Magistrate Judge for initial proceedings consistent with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), (C). See Doc. 3.
Under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the undersigned has promptly examined the petition and, for the following reasons, recommends the transfer of this action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The jurisdiction of Federal courts to grant writs of habeas corpus is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a):
(emphasis added). 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d) creates a narrow exception to this rule for § 2254 habeas actions challenging a state court conviction:
"Oklahoma is divided into three judicial districts . . . known as the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma." 28 U.S.C. § 116. Here, Petitioner challenges his state court conviction obtained in the District Court of Pontotoc County, No. CF-2006-433. See Doc. 1, Att. 1. Pontotoc County is located within the territorial jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. See 28 U.S.C. § 116(a). Petitioner is, however, currently confined in Payne County's Cimarron Correctional Facility, see Doc. 1, at 1-2, which is located within the territorial jurisdiction of the Western District of Oklahoma.[1]See 28 U.S.C. § 116(c).
Under these circumstances, both federal district courts have jurisdiction to entertain this habeas corpus petition, see 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d), and this Court may, in its discretion and the interest of justice, "transfer the application to the other district court for hearing and determination." Id.
It has been the experience of the federal district courts in Oklahoma that justice is normally better served by the adjudication of the case in the district where the conviction was obtained, since that is where the trial court officials and records are located. Moreover, in the event of any hearing, trial counsel for the prosecution and for Petitioner as well as any necessary witnesses are more likely to be available in the district where the conviction was obtained. For these reasons, the federal district courts in Oklahoma have had a longstanding policy favoring transferring habeas actions to the district of conviction.
II. Recommendation and notice of right to object.
Based on these considerations, the undersigned recommends the transfer of this action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for all further proceedings.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned advises Petitioner that he may file an objection to this Report and Recommendation with the Clerk of Court by October 3, 2019. The undersigned further advises Petitioner that failure to timely object to this Report and Recommendation waives the right to appellate review of both factual and legal ...