Anthony Parker v. Eric Holder, Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Anthony Parker v. Eric Holder, Jr., 423 F. App'x 408 (5th Cir. 2011)

Anthony Parker v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Anthony Dewayne Parker, federal prisoner # 13620-076, is serving a 327-month sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He appeals the district court’s dismissal of a petition that he filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. He argues that the district court should have interpreted the pleading as arising under 18 U.S.C. § 3569 because he alleged that he was being imprisoned for the nonpayment of a fine. Parker also contends that the district court failed to address the merits of his constitutional claim and to conduct an evidentiary hearing to examine the basis for his claim.

The record supports that the district court reasonably could have construed Parker’s pleading as arising under § 2241. Parker requested a habeas petition from the court and filed a petition pursuant to § 2241 that ostensibly raised claims regarding sentencing that are cognizable in a habeas petition. See Tolliver v. Dobre, 211 F.3d 876, 877 (5th Cir. 2000) (noting that federal habeas petitions are used to challenge the imposition or execution of a sentence). The court could not construe Parker’s sentencing claims as arising under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 because he had previously filed § 2255 motions challenging his instant conviction. See Hooker v. Sivley, 187 F.3d 680, 681-82 (5th Cir. 1999). To the extent that the court concluded that the petition did not qualify for the “savings clause” of § 2255, Parker has effectively waived any challenge to that determination by not addressing it. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). Moreover, to the extent that the petition was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, the district court was not required to address the merits of Parker’s claims or to conduct an evidentia-ry hearing regarding the claims.

Parker’s assertion that the court should have construed his petition as arising under § 3569 lacks merit. Section 3569 established a procedure whereby an indigent prisoner could obtain release from imprisonment if he were being held solely for the non-payment of a fine. United States v. Estrada, 878 F.2d 823, 824 (5th Cir. 1989). Section 3569 was repealed in 1984, effective November 1, 1987. See 18 U.S.C.A. Pt. II, Ch. 227, preceding § 3551 (West 2010).

Parker is not imprisoned for the nonpayment of a fine or any other debt. Parker also was convicted in 2001, i.e., after the repeal of § 3569 took effect. Accordingly, if Parker’s petition was a motion under § 3569, it would have been subject to dismissal by the district court as an unauthorized motion over which the court lacked jurisdiction. See United States v. Early, 27 F.3d 140, 141 (5th Cir. 1994). The district court could not construe the pleading as something over which it lacked jurisdiction. See Hooker, 187 F.3d at 681-82.

AFFIRMED.

*

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.

Reference

Full Case Name
Anthony Dewayne PARKER, Petitioner-Appellant v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., U.S. Attorney General, Respondent-Appellee
Cited By
1 case
Status
Unpublished