U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2002

Mohler v. Gunja

Mohler v. Gunja
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided February 28, 2002 · Wilkins, Traxler, King
30 F. App'x 136

Mohler v. Gunja

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Ward Mohler appeals the district court’s order dismissing his petition for habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (1994), in which he sought to raise claims under Bailey v. United States, 516 U.S. 137, 116 S.Ct. 501, 133 L.Ed.2d 472 (1995). Mohler asserted that he was entitled to proceed with a § 2241 petition under the savings clause of 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 (West Supp. 2001) because the latter statute was “inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.” The district court dismissed, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to review Mohler’s conviction.

The district court’s conclusion that it was without jurisdiction seems based, at least in part, on its belief that a motion for authorization to file a second or successive § 2255 motion was pending in this court at the time of its decision. A review of our records, however, discloses that no such motion was pending at the time. Therefore, we conclude that the district court had jurisdiction to review Mohler’s claims, and that the district court should proceed to do so in light of our decision in In re Jones, 226 F.3d 328 (4th Cir. 2000).

Accordingly, we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, vacate the decision of the district court dismissing the petition for lack of jurisdiction, and remand the case for further proceedings. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

VACATED AND REMANDED.

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