Chavis v. Smith

834 F. Supp. 153, 1993 WL 381558
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedSeptember 13, 1993
DocketCiv. A. N-91-3731
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 834 F. Supp. 153 (Chavis v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chavis v. Smith, 834 F. Supp. 153, 1993 WL 381558 (D. Md. 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

NORTHROP, Senior District Judge.

I. Introduction

Presently before the Court for consideration is a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Petitioner William Daniel Chavis. On March 13, 1992, this Court referred the instant petition to Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Klein, Jr. for processing and Report and Recommendation, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 301 (D.Md.1992). A Report and Recommendation was thereafter issued by Magistrate Judge Klein on May 4, 1993. Respondents have filed a timely objection to the Report and Recommendation to which Petitioner has responded. For the reasons set forth below, the Report and Recommendation will be adopted, and Petitioner’s Petition will be granted to the extent recommended therein.

II. Facts and Procedure

As noted by Magistrate Judge Klein, the facts of this case are “very particular” and have been set forth in detail in the Report and Recommendation. It being that no objections have been raised with respect to this factual recitation, it need not be repeated herein.

At issue in this case is Petitioner’s claim that he has been unconstitutionally deprived of a liberty interest by Maryland’s failure to credit time spent by Petitioner in a Georgia prison towards a Maryland sentence. The parties also dispute whether Petitioner’s claim is procedurally barred by Petitioner’s failure to timely appeal the denial of his State habeas petition. In his Report and Recommendation, Magistrate Judge Klein found that an issue of procedural default did not exist because under Maryland law, Petitioner was not required to appeal the denial of his state habeas petition. He thereafter determined that while Petitioner was not entitled to the full amount of credit sought, there was reason to recommend that Petitioner be credited for roughly fourteen months towards his Maryland sentence.

Respondents’ Objection takes issue as to both of the conclusions made by Magistrate Judge Klein. They maintain first that Petitioner’s case is procedurally barred absent a showing of cause and prejudice. Second, Respondents contend that Magistrate Judge Klein erred in finding a liberty interest with respect to the “dead time” served in Georgia where one of Petitioner’s Georgia convictions was vacated. Petitioner has responded to both objections.

III.Discussion

Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b), this Court is required to make a de novo review of this case on the record and then accept, reject or modify the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation, as needed. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). The Court need only conduct a de novo review of those portions of the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation to which objection is made. See generally United States v. George, 971 F.2d 1113 (4th Cir.1992).

The Court first considers Respondents’ Objection with respect to procedural default. They argue that the instant Petition for Writ of Habeas corpus does not relate to Petitioner’s Maryland convictions nor to the sentence imposed thereunder. As such, they essentially assert that Petitioner’s claim for credit for time served in the interim for a Georgia conviction does not represent a challenge to the serving of Petitioner’s Maryland prison term. This argument is without merit. The duration of Petitioner’s imprisonment is directly affected by the within claim. In the alternative, the Court concurs with Petitioner’s argument that were this Court to have made a determination of procedural default, there is ample reason to find that the cause and prejudice standard is satisfied. See generally Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986); Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S; 72, 97 S.Ct. 2497, 63 L.Ed.2d 594 (1977).

*155 Remaining for consideration is Respondents’ objection to Magistrate Judge Klein’s recommendation that Petitioner be given credit on his Maryland sentence for “dead time” served in Georgia between March 7, 1984 and May 23, 1985. Respondents offer several arguments with respect to the application of Md.Ann.Code art. 27, § 638C and DCR 285-6. This Court, however, agrees with Petitioner that Respondents’ interpretation of the Maryland Statute would render it meaningless. The Court also finds that Respondents’ argument with respect to DCR 285-6 is without merit.

Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, and based upon a de novo review of the instant case, this Court will adopt the May 4, 1993 Report and Recommendation issued by Magistrate Judge Klein.

A separate Order shall enter.

ORDER

For the reasons set forth in the foregoing Memorandum, IT IS this 8th day of September, 1993, by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland,

ORDERED:

1. That the May 4, 1993 Report and Recommendation issued by Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Klein, Jr. is ADOPTED;

2. That Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is GRANTED to the limited extent recommended by Magistrate Judge Klein in his May 4, 1993 Report and Recommendation;

3. That this case is CLOSED; and

4. That the Clerk of Court MAIL copies of this Order, together with foregoing Memorandum to Petitioner and all counsel of record.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

KLEIN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Petitioner William Daniel Chavis, presently incarcerated in the Eastern Correctional Institution, Westover, Maryland, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Paper No. I. 1 The Court having appointed the Federal Public Defender to represent petitioner, the Public Defender has filed a supplemental brief (Paper No. 14), respondents have filed a response (Paper No. 15), and the Public Defender has filed a reply (Paper No. 16). The facts of this case are very particular. Petitioner asserts that he has been unconstitutionally deprived of a liberty interest by Maryland’s failure to credit time spent in a Georgia prison toward a Maryland sentence. Respondents argue that the claim is procedurally barred and, in any event, Maryland law does not support granting such credit. As the issue has been fully briefed, no hearing is deemed necessary. Rule 8 Governing § 2254 Cases. It will be recommended that the petition be granted.

I. Background

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Bluebook (online)
834 F. Supp. 153, 1993 WL 381558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chavis-v-smith-mdd-1993.