U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1974

Minafee v. Estelle

Minafee v. Estelle
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided March 29, 1974 · Clark, Gewin, Godbold
491 F.2d 1096; 1974 U.S. App. LEXIS 9407 (Federal Reporter, Second Series)

Minafee v. Estelle

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM:

The district court dismissed the habeas petition of Otis Minafee on the merits of all but one of the contentions raised. Finding that contention had not been exhausted in the state forum, it was dismissed without prejudice.

Although it recognized that the specific constitutional arguments in Minafee’s petition had not been presented to the Texas courts, the district court found that the alleged errors asserted on Minafee’s direct appeal in Texas had been predicated upon the same factual bases as his federal habeas contentions. This factual sameness will not support a holding that such constitutional assertions have been exhausted. See Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 277, 92 S.Ct. 509, 513, 30 L.Ed.2d 438, 444 (1971).

The cause is vacated and remanded with instructions to the district court to dismiss without prejudice as to all issues.

Vacated and remanded.

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