Court Opinion

ID: 6327970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-29 23:05:57.458213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:33.551852
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                         03/29/2022

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                        Case Number: OP 22-0126

                                        OP 22-0126

 MAKUEEYAPEE D. WHITFORD,

              Petitioner,
       v.
                                                                     ORDER
 MONTANA STATE PRISON,                                                  HLEJ
 JAMES SALMONSEN, Warden,
                                                                             MAR 2 9 2022
              Respondent.                                                  Bowan Greenwood
                                                                                            Court
                                                                         Clerk of Suprerne
                                                                            State of tVlontana

       Makueeyapee D. Whitford has petitioned for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, arguing "an
illegal prison infraction" charged against him "resulted in the illegal restraint of his First
Amendment right to the Freedom of Religion, a substantive liberty interest." Facilitating
review, Whitford has attached several pertinent documents to the petition.
       Whitford is serving a prison sentence for deliberate homicide. State v. Whitford,
No. DA 15-0379, 2018 MT 195N, ¶ 2, 2018 Mont. LEXIS 260. A prison official found a
weapon "tied by a piece of string to Mr. Whitford's window" after a search of his cell on
November 15, 2021. Whitford was formally charged with a disciplinary infraction on
December 8, 2021, and after a hearing, was found guilty of possessing a weapon. Although
he was the only individual living in this cell, he contends "it was automatically assumed
that the weapon belonged to [him] . . . ." Whitford states that, as a result, he has been
restricted from participating in religious activities, such as Native American Spiritual
Gatherings. Whitford contends his restraint is illegal and requests this Court review the
disciplinary hearing and the policies and procedures utilized by the Department of
Corrections (DOC) in imposing sanctions, and rule that they are unconstitutional as
violating the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
       However, Whitford is not challenging his restraint and his claims are not properly
pursued by habeas corpus. Gates v. Missoula Cty. Comm 'rs, 235 Mont. 261, 262, 766 P.2d
884, 884-85 (1988). Habeas corpus "allows a prisoner to challenge the legal sufficiency
of the cause for incarceration." Gates, 235 Mont at 262, 766 P.2d at 884-85.
       We have explained that due process is a flexible concept and that "the process due
an individual varies according to the factual circumstances and the nature of the right at
stake." Jellison v. Mahoney, 1999 MT 217, ¶ 8, 295 Mont. 540, 986 P.2d 1089 (citing Sage
v. Gamble, 279 Mont. 459, 464-65, 929 P.2d 822, 825 (1996)). "[W]hen considering the
due process rights of inmates, it is exceedingly important to remember that prison
disciplinary actions "[take] place in a closed, tightly controlled environment peopled by
those who have chosen to violate the criminal law and who have been lawfully incarcerated
for doing so." Jellison, ¶ 8 (quoting Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 561, 94 S. Ct.
2963, 2977 (1974)). Whitford received preliminary notice of the disciplinary allegation
when he was moved to administrative segregation on December 2, and he received written,
formal notice of the infraction on December 8. Whitford received an extension of time to
prepare for his hearing, upon his request. He appeared in person at his hearing, and he
appealed the decision. Whitford was given process that allowed him to challenge the
disciplinary decision.
       Regarding Whitford's religious exercise claim, substantive liberty interests are
narrowed while in prison. "Although the right to freedom of religion does not terminate at
the prison door, 'free exercise rights necessarily are restricted by the fact of incarceration.'"
Cape v. Crossroads Corr. Ctr., 2004 MT 265, ¶ 28, 323 Mont. 140, 99 P.3d 171 (quoting
Reimers v. Oregon, 863 F.2d 630, 631 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing McElyea v. Babbitt, 833 F.2d
196, 197 (9th Cir. 1987) and 0 'Lone v. Estate of Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 107 S. Ct. 2400
(1987))).   The free exercise right "may be curtailed in order to achieve legitimate
correctional goals or to maintain prison security." McElyea, 833 F.2d at 197 (citing
0 'Lone, 482 U.S. at 348-49, 107 S. Ct. at 2404). Prison officials are charged with
maintaining prison security, including actions necessary to address the discovery of illegal
weapons, which here constituted the infraction leading to curtailment of Whitford's
participation in religious activities.

                                               2
       Whitford has not demonstrated illegal incarceration. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA.
He is not entitled to removal of the rule infraction via this remedy, and has not
demonstrated entitlement to release from Maximum Custody. This Court declines to hold
that his disciplinary hearing or the DOC's policies and procedures are unconstitutional.
Gates, 235 Mont. at 262, 766 P.2d at 884-85.
       Whitford has filed a Supplemental Filing, stating, "[a]fter further study of the issues,
the petitioner. . . .requests that the Court extend this Habeas Corpus action into one for a
Writ of Extraordinary Relief," to more broadly review the Prison's disciplinary policy,
consider his religious claim as a continuing one, and conduct a hearing. M. R. App. P.
14(2) provides that original proceedings for extraordinary relief must be "commenced and
conducted in the manner" provided in statute, unless it is a writ of supervisory control
defined in M. R. App. P. 14(3). We decline to consider Whitford's request because he has
not set forth and properly supported the extraordinary relief he seeks, based upon Montana
statutes. Further, this Court does not conduct factfinding hearings. Whitford may have
remedies for such claims that may be properly pursued in a state or federal district court.
Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Whitford's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED
and DISMISSED.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and to
Makueeyapee D. Whitford personally.
       DATED this Z--(1 day of March, 2022.

                                                                 Chief Justi

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