Henry Stubbs, III v. ( 2012 )

GLD-295 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 12-3286
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IN RE: HENRY CHRISTOPHER STUBBS, III,
Petitioner
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On a Petition for Writ of Prohibition from the
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
(Related to M.D. Pa. Civ. No. 1-10-CV-01849)
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Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
September 27, 2012
Before: FUENTES, GREENAWAY, JR., and BARRY, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: October 04, 2012)
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OPINION
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PER CURIAM
Henry Christopher Stubbs, III, is a Pennsylvania state inmate who petitions the
Court pro se, seeking a writ of prohibition. We will deny relief.
Stubbs filed in the District Court an amended habeas petition on September 2,
2010, in which he made numerous claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, alleged a
Brady violation, see Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and argued that the state
collateral relief proceedings violated due process. On August 10, 2012, Stubbs sought to
1
compel the District Court to transfer his habeas petition to this Court for disposition,
alleging that the District Court had failed to timely render final judgment.1
The writ power of the federal courts is an extraordinary remedy, used to “compel
[an inferior court] to exercise its authority when it is its duty to do so.” Kerr v. U.S. Dist.
Ct., 426 U.S. 394, 402 (1976).2 A petitioner seeking relief “must establish that (1) no
other adequate means [exist] to attain the relief he desires, (2) the party's right to issuance
of the writ is clear and indisputable, and (3) the writ is appropriate under the
circumstances.” Hollingsworth v. Perry, 130 S. Ct. 705, 710 (2010) (per curiam) (quoting
Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for D.C., 542 U.S. 367, 380–81 (2004)); Madden v. Myers, 102
F.3d 74, 79 (3d Cir. 1996).
“[M]atters of docket control” are left to the sound discretion of the district court.
In re Fine Paper Antitrust Litig., 685 F.2d 810, 817 (3d Cir. 1982). Nevertheless,
mandamus may be warranted where a district court’s delay “is tantamount to a failure to
exercise jurisdiction.” Madden, 102 F.3d at 79 (concluding that a months-long delay in
1
To the extent Stubbs also claims that the District Court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate
his habeas petition, such claim is clearly without merit. “The plain language of the
habeas statute … confirms the general rule that for core habeas petitions challenging
present physical confinement, jurisdiction lies in only one district: the district of
confinement.” Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 443 (2004); 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a).
Thus, jurisdiction over Stubbs’ habeas petition properly lies in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania.
2
Although Stubbs’ specific prayer for relief requests a writ of prohibition, it could be
more accurately classified as a writ of mandamus, because he asks us to mandate District
Court action. Nevertheless, the form of his request does not affect the relief requested.
In re Sch. Asbestos Litig., 921 F.2d 1310, 1313 (3d Cir. 1990) (noting the historical
distinction between writs of mandamus and prohibition, but concluding that the “form [of
request] is less important than the substantive question of whether an extraordinary
remedy is available”).
2
disposing of petitioner’s underlying habeas petition was a matter of concern but denying
mandamus relief without prejudice to petitioner’s right to again seek relief if delay should
extend beyond one year).
Subsequent to Stubbs’ petition for writ of prohibition, on September 18, 2012, the
District Court issued a comprehensive memorandum and order, granting Stubbs de novo
review regarding one of his habeas claims and denying his petition in all other respects.3
The District Court also directed the respondents to expand the record by filing the
complete trial transcript on or before October 15, 2012, and it directed all parties to fully
brief the merits of Stubbs’ claim on or before November 1, 2012. Thus, the District
Court has advanced the final resolution of Stubbs’ habeas petition, and we are confident
it will promptly issue a final order at the conclusion of its de novo review. Under these
circumstances, we decline to find that the District Court has failed to exercise its
jurisdiction. Kerr, 426 U.S. at 402; Madden, 102 F.3d at 79.
For these reasons, we will deny Stubbs’ petition. Regarding those claims denied
by the District Court, we will deny his petition as moot. As for the remaining claim, our
denial is without prejudice to his filing another petition should the District Court not take
action in a timely manner.
3
The District Court granted de novo review of Stubbs’ claim that counsel was ineffective
for failing to introduce certain scientific evidence helpful to Stubbs’ defense.
3