In Re Lewis
In Re Lewis
Trial Court Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA GREAT FALLS DIVISION
IN RE: Cause No. CV 25-44-GF-DWM SK YCHIEF CHIEFSTICK LEWIS ORDER
Petitioner Skychief Chiefstick Lewis (“Lewis”), a federal pretrial detainee, filed a document entitled “Petition for Writ Habeas Corpus.” (Doc. 1.) Asa pretrial detainee, the Court presumes Lewis intends to proceed under
28 U.S.C. § 2241. This statute “provides generally for the granting of writs of habeas corpus by federal courts, implementing ‘the general grant of habeas authority provided by the Constitution.’” Frantz v. Hazey,
533 F. 3d 724, 735(9" Cir. 2008 (en banc) (quoting White v. Lambert,
370 F. 3d 1002, 1006(9" Cir. 2004). Section 2241 provides the authority for granting habeas relief to a person who is not in custody pursuant to a judgment but, rather, who is in custody for some other reason, such a pretrial detention or awaiting extradition. White,
370 F. 3d at 1006. While Lewis is proceeding pro se in this matter, he is represented by Federal Defender Clark Mathews in his companion criminal case. In January of this year an indictment was handed down charging Lewis with Strangulation in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1153(a) & 113(a)(8). See, US'v. Lewis,
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vindhiicrsai tg iehnt te hts rcioaulAr bts.e nt c"isrpceucmistatahla ct nocuelsd" jus"tadi efyp afrrotmtuh rere e gcuoluarro sjfeu dipcoricaeldi ucnrr ei"m inal proceefeddiendrgeaistln,a em easny o stuppthloansptoer c eedwiinatgnhs
inetrvepneitnifogtr cioolnl haatebearrsea lulin ed§fe2 2 r4 1Rg.ig iv.nU snt ied Satets 1,9U9. 5S4.575,(11 90s5e)ea; l sEodw,a rvd.Vs a nn5o9yU3,. 2S2.5,289 (2021). Given the ongoing nature of his criminal proceedings, this Court declines to interfere with another judge’s case. See, Mullis, v. U.S. Bankr. Ct. for Dist. Of Nevada,
828 F. 2d 1385, 1393(9" Cir. 1987). Moreover, Lewis has presented no extraordinary circumstances to justify intervention in an ongoing criminal proceeding. Accordingly, Lewis’s challenges to his active federal criminal prosecution must be dismissed. Lewis must pursue any jurisdictional claims in his pending criminal case before Judge Morris. Pursuant to the Federal Rules Governing Habeas Cases, this Court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. A certificate of appealability may issue only “if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”
28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). The standard is satisfied if “jurists of reason could disagree with the district court’s resolution of [the] constitutional claims” or “conclude the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Miller-El v. Cockrell,
537 U.S. 322, 327(2003) (citing Slack v. McDaniel,
529 U.S. 473, 484(2000)). For the reasons set forth herein, Lewis has not made a substantial showing of
_ the denial of a constitutional right. Accordingly, reasonable jurists would find no
reason to encourage additional proceedings at this time. A certificate of
appealability is denied. Based on the foregoing, IT IS ORDERED that: 1. Lewis’s Petition (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED. 2. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter a judgment of dismissal. 3. A certificate of appealability is DENIED. . pat DATED this JP day of June, 2025.
MWA Donald W. Molloy, District Judge United States District Court
Reference
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