Young v. Caulfield
Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
__________________________________________ ) HERBERT FRANCIS YOUNG, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 08-1603 (PLF) ) JOHN D. CAULFIELD, ) Warden, Correctional Treatment Facility, ) ) Defendant. ) __________________________________________)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on petitioner’s application for a writ of habeas
corpus. Petitioner filed suit challenging his pretrial detention. In the time since filing the
petition, petitioner has been convicted by a jury in his corresponding criminal case. See United
States v. Glover, et al., Criminal No. 07-0153, Jury Verdict, Docket No. 497 (D.D.C. April 20,
2009). Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Hogan on July 24, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. See id. at
April 20, 2009 Minute Entry. In light of petitioner’s conviction, the Court directed the petitioner
to show cause why his petition is not moot. See Young v. Caulfield, Civil Action No. 08-1603,
Minute Order (D.D.C. May 22, 2009). Petitioner attempted to do so in his filing of June 19,
2009 in which he states that he has not yet been sentenced and that he has a pending motion for
judgment of acquittal. Petitioner argues that he should still be considered a pretrial detainee, and
that his petition therefore is not moot. Petitioner also makes numerous allegations as to
constitutional deprivations caused by his pretrial detention, including wholesale challenges to the
grand jury system. The Court is unpersuaded by petitioner’s arguments. Petitioner’s criminal
conviction mooted his habeas challenge to his pretrial detention. Unlike a pretrial detainee, once
a criminal defendant has been convicted, but before he is sentenced, he no longer enjoys a
presumption of innocence and there is a statutory presumption that detention is appropriate.
Compare
18 U.S.C. § 3143(a)(1) (“the judicial officer shall order that a person who has been
found guilty of an offense and who is awaiting imposition or execution of a sentence . . . be
detained. . .”) with
18 U.S.C. § 3142. Since petitioner is no longer in pretrial detention, but has
been detained as a result of his conviction, his habeas challenge to pretrial detention is rendered
moot. See Yohey v. Collins,
985 F.2d 222, 228-29(5th Cir. 1993); Dettelis v. Palillo, Civil
Action No. 04-685A,
2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42983at *2 (W.D.N.Y. June 26, 2006) (citing
Thorne v. Warden, Brooklyn House of Detention for Men,
479 F.2d 279, 299) (2nd Cir. 1973)).
The Court therefore will deny the petition for habeas corpus. An Order to accompany this
Memorandum Opinion will issue this same day.
_/s/________________________ PAUL L. FRIEDMAN United States District Judge DATE: July 2, 2009
2
Reference
- Status
- Published