Torres v. People

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 2, 2024
Docket1:23-cv-09380
StatusUnknown

This text of Torres v. People (Torres v. People) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Torres v. People, (S.D.N.Y. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK JESUS TORRES, Petitioner, 23-CV-9380 (LTS) -against- ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH LEAVE TO REPLEAD PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

Respondent. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Petitioner Jesus Torres is in pretrial detention in the Orange County Jail. In his original submission, written in letter form, Petitioner raised numerous alleged errors in his ongoing state court criminal proceedings.1 He sought release on bail, dismissal of the indictment, and other relief. (ECF 1 at 1-6, 10-14.) Petitioner further stated his intention to file a “civil suit” against the prosecutor, the judge, the jail, and the Legal Aid Society. (Id. at 7-8.) Attached to the pleading are copies of complaints that Petitioner filed against his criminal defense attorneys, a motion for recusal of the state court judge, articles about other criminal defendants and their sentences, and other documents in which Petitioner challenges the legality and fairness of his criminal proceedings. (Id. at 15-43.) The Court construed Petitioner’s submission as a petition for habeas corpus, brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. By order dated October 26, 2023, the Court granted Petitioner leave to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (“IFP”).2

1 The Court received Petitioner’s undated submission on October 11, 2023. (ECF 1.) 2 Petitioner submitted this filing without paying the $5.00 fee for filing a habeas corpus petition or submitting an IFP application. By order dated October 26, 2023, the Court directed Petitioner to remedy this deficiency, which he did by submitting an IFP application on November 14, 2023. Since filing his pleading, Petitioner has filed four letters, two additional IFP applications, a complaint, and an amended complaint. (ECF 3-4, 6-8, 9-10, 12.) Petitioner makes clear in the letters that he seeks to remove his state court criminal proceedings to this Court. (ECF 3, 4, 9, 10.) By way, of example, Petitioner asserts in one letter that he seeks “to change my felony case

from state to federal [court], 28 U.S.C. § 1455,” and refers to the submission as a “notice of removal.” (ECF 4 at 2.) STANDARD OF REVIEW The Court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus from a person in custody challenging the legality of his detention on the ground that “[h]e is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). The Court has the authority to review the petition, and “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person detained is not entitled [to such relief].” 28 U.S.C. § 2243. The Court is obliged, however, to construe pro se pleadings liberally and interpret them “to raise the strongest arguments they suggest.” Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474-75 (2d Cir.

2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see Green v. United States, 260 F.3d 78, 83 (2d Cir. 2001). Nevertheless, a pro se litigant is not exempt “from compliance with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law.” Triestman, 470 F.3d at 477 (quoting Traguth v. Zuck, 710 F.2d 90, 95 (2d Cir. 1983)). DISCUSSION A. Notice of removal To remove a state court criminal action to a federal district court: [a] defendant . . . shall file in the district court of the United States for the district and division within which such prosecution is pending a notice of removal signed pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and containing a short and plain statement of the grounds for removal, together with a copy of all process, pleadings, and orders served upon such defendant or defendants in such action. 28 U.S.C. § 1455(a). A defendant removing a criminal action to a federal district court is generally required to file a notice of removal in the appropriate federal district court “not later than 30 days after the arraignment in the State court, or at any time before trial, whichever is earlier.” 28 U.S.C. § 1455(b)(1). The criminal defendant must file with the notice of removal “a copy of all process, pleadings, and orders served upon such defendant or defendants in such action.” Id. “The filing of a notice of removal of a criminal prosecution shall not prevent the State court in which such prosecution is pending from proceeding further, except that a judgment of conviction shall not be entered unless the prosecution is first remanded.” §1455(b)(3). The removing defendant has the burden of establishing that a case is within the federal district court’s removal jurisdiction. Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 108 (1941). Because removal to a federal district court deprives the state court of jurisdiction, “federal courts construe the removal statute[s] narrowly, resolving any doubts against removability.” Somlyo v. J. Lu–Rob Enters., Inc., 932 F.2d 1043, 1045-46 (2d Cir. 1991);

Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 109 (1941). If it clearly appears on the face of a notice of removal that removal of a criminal case is impermissible, the district court must summarily remand the action to state court. § 1455(4). The ability to remove a criminal action to a federal district court is very limited. A criminal prosecution commenced in a state court against a federal officer or member of the armed forces for actions taken under the color of his or her office may be removed to federal court. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1442(a), 1442a. Criminal prosecutions commenced in a state court may also be removed if the defendant “is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such State a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1). Petitioner does not allege that he is a federal officer or member of the armed forces being prosecuted for actions taken under color of his office. He also does not allege that he cannot enforce, in his state court criminal proceedings, his civil rights. See Johnson v. Mississippi, 421 U.S. 213, 219 (1975) (setting forth two-pronged test for removal of criminal prosecution where

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Torres v. People, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/torres-v-people-nysd-2024.