attack on the constitutionality of the statute under which defendant was convicted and sentenced is properly pursued by motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
How later courts described this case
- attack on the constitutionality of the statute under which defendant was convicted and sentenced is properly pursued by motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
- the sentencing court is the only court with jurisdiction to hear defendant‘s complaint regarding errors that occurred before or during sentencing
- where “habeas is an available and potentially efficacious remedy, it is clear beyond reasonable dispute that mandamus will not appropriately lie”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT L E D
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AUG 3 1 2015
Clark as District& Bank
, . m
Courts for the District of Coiuiiigiya
Duane O’Malley, )
r . )
Petitioner, ; Case: 1 :15-cv-O1412
V ) Assigned To : Unassigned
, ) SSSIQn. Date : 8/31/2015
Gina Mccarthy’l Administrator ) escription: Pro Se Gen. Civil
Environmental Protection Agency, )
)
Respondent. )
W
Petitioner, a prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus and
an application to proceed in forma pauperis. The application will be granted and the petition will
be dismissed pursuant tO 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (requiring dismissal of a prisoner’s case upon a
determination that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted).
Currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lisbon, Ohio, petitioner
seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
to comply with a notice provision set out at 42 U.S.C. § 7413. Petitioner states that he was
“unjustly convicted” Of violating the statute “as a result of him not receiving prior notification of
non-compliance with the Illinois State implementation Plan.” Compl. ii 10.
The extraordinary remedy of a writ of mandamus is available to compel an “officer or
employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to plaintiff.” 28
U.S.C. § 1361. The petitioner bears a heavy burden of showing that his right to a writ Of mandamus
is “clear and indisputable.” In re Cheney, 406 F.3d 723, 729 (DC. Cir. 2005) (citation omitted).
‘ Substituted pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d).
Mandamus relief is not appropriate when another adequate remedy is available. LoBue v.
Christopher, 82 F.3d 1081, 1082-84 (DC. Cir. 1996); see Chatman'Bey v. Thornburgh, 864 F.2d
804, 806 (DC. Cir. 1988) (where “habeas is an available and potentially efficacious remedy, it is
clear beyond reasonable dispute that mandamus will not appropriately lie”).
Because petitioner’s legal standing rests on his conviction in the US. District Court for the
Central District of Illinois, see generally United States v. O’Malley, 739 F.3d 1001 (7th Cir. 2014),
he cannot obtain mandamus relief. See Williams v. Hill, 74 F.3d 1339, 1340 (DC. Cir. 1996) (per
curiam) (“[I]t is well-settled that a prisoner seeking relief from his conviction or sentence may not
bring [an action for injunctive and declaratory relief].”) (citations omitted). Petitioner’s remedy
lies exclusively in the sentencing court by motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See Taylor v. United
States Board of Parole, 194 F.2d 882, 883 (DC. Cir. 1952) (attack on the constitutionality of the
statute under which defendant was convicted and sentenced is properly pursued by motion under
28 U.S.C. § 2255); Ojo v. Immigration & Naturalization Service, 106 F.3d 680, 683 (5th Cir. 1997)
(the sentencing court is the only court with jurisdiction to hear defendant‘s complaint regarding
errors that occurred before or during sentencing). Consequently, this mandamus action will be
dismissed with prejudice. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Unite States D'
Date: August 51,2015