Tran v. Conner
Tran v. Conner
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 01-40285 Conference Calendar
NHA KHIEM TRAN,
Petitioner-Appellant,
versus
N.L. CONNER, Warden,
Respondent-Appellee.
-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 5:00-CV-57 -------------------- October 26, 2001
Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Nha Khiem Tran, federal prisoner No. 48793-079 #E, argues
that the district court erred in dismissing his
28 U.S.C. § 2241habeas petition challenging his conviction and sentence for lack
of jurisdiction. Tran argues that he does not have an adequate
remedy to challenge his conviction and sentence under
28 U.S.C. § 2255because his purported counsel failed to file a timely
motion under that provision in accord with their agreement.
The proper vehicle for attacking errors that occurred
during or before sentencing is a
28 U.S.C. § 2255motion. Reyes-
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 01-40285 -2-
Requena v. United States,
243 F.3d 893, 901(5th Cir. 2001).
Under the "Savings Clause," however, if a prisoner can
demonstrate that the
28 U.S.C. § 2255remedy would be
"ineffective or inadequate to test the legality of [the
prisoner's ] detention," he may be permitted to bring a habeas
corpus claim pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 2241instead. See
id.(quoting
28 U.S.C. § 2255). The petitioner bears the burden of
demonstrating that
28 U.S.C. § 2255relief would be ineffective
or inadequate.
Id.Because Tran had no constitutional right to counsel during
postconviction proceedings, he cannot rely on counsel’s failure
to file the motion to seek relief under the Savings Clause.
Pennsylvania v. Finley,
481 U.S. 551, 555(1987). Nor does the
fact that Tran’s
28 U.S.C. § 2255motion is time-barred render
the
28 U.S.C. § 2255remedy "ineffective or inadequate." Pack v.
Yusuff,
218 F.3d 448, 452(5th Cir. 2000).
The Savings Clause applies to a claim that is based upon a
retroactively applicable Supreme Court decision which establishes
that the petitioner may have been convicted of a nonexistent
offense, and that was foreclosed by circuit law at the time when
the claim should have been raised in the petitioner's trial,
appeal, or first
28 U.S.C. § 2255motion. Reyes-Requena,
243 F.3d at 904.
Tran has failed to demonstrate that his claims of actual
innocence are based upon a change in the law resulting from a
retroactively applicable Supreme Court decision rendering his
conduct noncriminal. Thus, he has failed to show that his 28 No. 01-40285 -3-
U.S.C. § 2255 remedies are ineffective and inadequate under the
Savings Clause. The district court did not err in dismissing
Tran’s
28 U.S.C. § 2241petition for lack of jurisdiction. The
district court also properly dismissed the jurisdictional issue
with prejudice and properly dismissed all other issues raised by
the petition without prejudice. Pack,
218 F.3d at 454-55.
Tran’s motion in his reply brief to strike the respondent’s
brief is DENIED.
AFFIRMED; MOTION DENIED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished