Vass v. Brawner ( 2020 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Christopher Vass, )
)
Petitioner, )
) Civil Action No. 20-773 (UNA)
)
)
Ronald Brawner, )
)
Respondent. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Petitioner, appearing pro se, is a Georgia state prisoner incarcerated in Hardwick, Georgia.
He has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis and a “Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254
for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody” [Dkt. # 1]. For the following reasons,
this case will be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.
Petitioner is challenging his conviction in the Dekalb County Superior Court in Decatur,
Georgia. Pet. ¶ 1. Section 2254 requires that a petitioner first exhaust his available state remedies.
See 28 U.S.C. §2254(b)(1). Thereafter, an application under § 2254 “may be filed in the district
court for the district wherein such person is in custody or in the district court for the district [where]
the State court was held which convicted and sentenced [petitioner][,] and each of such district
courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction to entertain the application.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). Since
this court in the District of Columbia lacks authority to entertain the instant petition, it will dismiss
the case. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
_________s/_____________
AMY BERMAN JACKSON
Date: April 14, 2020 United States District Judge