Court Opinion

ID: 9942453
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-21 01:08:12.467398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:48:06.573336
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                   02/20/2024

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                              Case Number: OP 24-0073

                                        OP 24-0073
                                                                                   FLED
 BRETT STEELE BERRY,                                                               FEB 2 0 2024
                                                                                 Essotw
                                                                                      ateenoG
                                                                                            f reo
                                                                                              wi en
                                                                                                  nta
                                                                                                    wo:
                                                                               Clerk of Suprerne Court
              Petitioner,

       v.
                                                                     ORDER
 CAPT. RAY VAUGHN,
 Butte-Silver Bow County Detention Center,

              Respondent.

       Brett Steele Berry is detained in the Butte-Silver Bow County Detention Center. He
petitions this Court for habeas corpus relief because he contends that "the facility is
overcrowded causing it to admittedly violate [his] civil right to not be burdened in
practicing [his] religion." Berry states that his detainment impairs his ability to practice
his religion as a Muslim inmate. Berry states that he does "not believe [his] continued
incarceration [supersedes his] constitutional right to freedom of religion." Berry asks for
his immediate release.
       A writ of habeas corpus cannot be the remedy for conditions of confinement or
constitutional claims. Gates v. Missoula County Comm 'rs, 235 Mont. 261, 262, 766 P.2d
884, 884-85 (1988). Referring to the habeas corpus statute, this Court opined: "This statute
allows a prisoner to challenge the legal sufficiency of the cause for incarceration. The
petitioners do not allege that the cause of their incarceration [is] unlawful. We conclude
that habeas corpus is not an appropriate remedy." Gates, 235 Mont. at 262, 766 P.2d at
884-85 (emphasis in original). Berry is not entitled to his immediate release, and this Court
cannot address his claims through this writ.
       Berry's cause of his incarceration is due to his three pending criminal cases in the
Butte-Silver Bow County District Court. Berry would have to seek a separate civil action
concerning his claims.       Berry has not demonstrated illegal incarceration.      Section
46-22-101(1), MCA. Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Berry's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED and
DISMISSED.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to: the Honorable Kurt Krueger,
District Court Judge; Robert J. Whelan, District Court Judge; Beth Parks, Clerk of District
Court, under Cause Nos. DC 21-024, DC 24-009, and DC 24-011, and for distribution to
counsel of record; Ray Vaughn, Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff; counsel of record, and
Brett Steele Berry perso a
      DATED this             day of February, 2024.

                                                               Chief Justice

                                                       (0.1 m    Justices

                                             2