Eddie Milton Garey v. Federal Detention Ctr. , 180 F. App'x 118 ( 2006 )

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________ FILED
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
No. 05-10864 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
MAY 22, 2006
Argument Calendar
THOMAS K. KAHN
________________________
CLERK
D. C. Docket No. 03-23189-CV-JAL
EDDIE MILTON GAREY,
Petitioner-Appellant,
versus
FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER, MIAMI,
Richard Stiff Warden,
WILBUR D. OWENS,
U.S. District Court Judge (M.D. GA),
MICHAEL G. THOMPSON,
F.B.I. Agent,
SCOTT C. HUGGINS,
Court appointed counsel,
U.S. MARSHAL’S SERVICE, et al.,
Respondents-Appellees.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
_________________________
(May 22, 2006)
Before BIRCH and MARCUS, Circuit Judges, and NANGLE*, District Judge.
PER CURIAM:
Eddie Milton Garey, a federal prisoner, appeals the denial of his habeas
corpus petition. His petition was filed on December 1, 2003 pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241 while he was in pretrial detention. Garey was being detained on federal
charges brought in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. He
was charged with making bomb threats in Georgia during September of 2003 in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 513, 844(e), 922(g)(1), 1951, and 2332(a)(2).
Garey filed the instant “Emergency Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus”
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2244, claiming that the respondents violated: (1)
his Fourth Amendment rights (a) during the investigation that led to his arrest, (b)
in securing the warrant, and (c) in publicizing his arrest; (2) his Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendment rights to procedural and substantive due process when (a)
they secured the warrant for his arrest, (b) they punished him for his refusal to
waive his constitutional rights, (c) they abused him and mistreated him during his
incarceration, and (d) the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
issued a ruling that denied him his liberty interest; (3) his Sixth Amendment rights
*
Honorable John F. Nangle, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Missouri, sitting by designation.
2
to (a) effective assistance of counsel, (b) confrontation of his accusers, and (c) a
speedy trial; and (4) First, Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights to (a)
be free from government intrusion into his thoughts and beliefs, (b) petition for
redress of grievances, and (c) be free from forceful mental evaluations and
medication.
Gary’s petition alleged, among other things, that his constitutional right to
be present at a hearing on the government’s motion for a psychiatric examination
had been violated. The government sought psychiatric evaluation of Garey in
order to assist the court in a determination of Garey’s competence to stand trial.
The district court granted the motion over Garey’s objections and without a
hearing. Garey was transported to the Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida
for the evaluation.
The magistrate judge, relying upon Falcon v. United States Bureau of
Prisons, 52 F.3d 137 (7th Cir. 1995), found that Garey was not entitled to habeas
corpus relief because all of his claims related to the pending criminal charges, and
should have been raised in his criminal case. The district court adopted the
magistrate’s recommendation and dismissed Garey’s petition. Citing Government
of the Virgin Islands v. Bolones, 427 F.2d. 1135, 1136 (1st Cir. 1970), the district
court noted that “where a defendant is awaiting trial, the appropriate vehicle for
3
violations of the defendant’s constitutional rights are pre-trial evidentiary motions,
not habeas petitions.” R72 at 4. The court concluded that an “adequate and
unexhausted” remedy was available in the criminal case, and therefore Garey was
not entitled to habeas corpus relief. R72 at 5. In December 2004, a jury convicted
Garey on all counts.
On appeal of his §2241 case, Garey argues that the district court erred by
relying upon Falcon, which is distinguishable from his case. Garey argues that
habeas corpus relief is an appropriate remedy despite the fact that his criminal case
was pending, and that relief should be granted on the merits of his petition.
We review de novo the district court’s denial of habeas relief under § 2241.
Cook v. Wiley, 208 F.3d 1314, 1317 (11th Cir. 2000). However, a case must be
dismissed as moot if the issues presented are no longer ‘live’ such that the Court
cannot give meaningful relief. Soliman v. U.S. ex rel. INS, 296 F.3d 1237, 1242
(11th Cir. 2002). Therefore, “[i]f events that occur subsequent to the filing of a
lawsuit or an appeal deprive the court of the ability to give the plaintiff or
appellant meaningful relief, then the case is moot and must be dismissed.” Id.As to Garey’s claim which relates to his transfer for psychiatric evaluation,
that claim is now moot. Garey’s transfer for evaluation ceased upon his transfer
back to the Middle District of Georgia for trial and sentencing. Moreover, the
4
government states that Garey was credited for time spent in evaluation towards his
final sentence. Because Garey’s transfer ended and he was credited for time spent
in evaluation, this Court cannot provide Garey with meaningful relief in the
context of his § 2241 petition. Unless this case falls within the mootness
exception, it must be dismissed as moot.
Although there is an exception to the mootness doctrine when the action
being challenged by the lawsuit is capable of repetition yet evading review, this
Court has held that “this exception is narrow, and applies only in exceptional
situations.” Soliman v. U.S. ex rel. INS, 296 F.3d 1237, 1242 (11th Cir. 2002).
See Weinstein v. Bradford, 423 U.S. 147 (1975) (per curiam). To invoke the
exception, Garey must show that “(1) there [is] a reasonable expectation or a
demonstrated probability that the same controversy will recur involving the same
complaining party, and (2) the challenged action is in its duration too short to be
fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration.” Id. at 1242-3.
In the current case, there is no “reasonable expectation” or “demonstrated
probability” that the same controversy will recur involving Garey. Although his
criminal case is on direct appeal to this Court, there is neither a reasonable
expectation nor a demonstrated probability that the case will be overturned and the
district court will order another psychological evaluation to determine Garey’s
5
competence to stand trial a second time. Appellant has failed to satisfy the first
prong of the exception, and therefore fails to qualify for the mootness exception.
As to the remainder of Garey’s claims in his § 2241 petition, this Court
affirms the judgment and ruling of the district court that these claims were not
properly brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2241, but should have been raised in his
pending criminal case.
When a case, or an issue in a case, becomes moot on appeal, the Court of
Appeals must not only dismiss the case, but also vacate the district court's order.
This practice “clears the path for future relitigation of the issues between the
parties and eliminates a judgment, review of which was prevented through
happenstance.” Soliman, 296 F.3d at 1243 (quoting Atlanta Gas Light Co. v. Fed.
Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 140 F.3d 1392, 1402 (11th Cir.1998)). Accordingly,
as to Garey’s claims regarding his transfer for psychiatric evaluation, we vacate
the district court’s order for lack of jurisdiction and dismiss Garey’s appeal as
moot. As to all other claims raised in the instant § 2241 petition, we affirm the
judgment of the district court.
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART.
6