Willie Gaster Davis v. Dexter Payne, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction

2023 Ark. 169

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: November 30, 2023
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2023 Ark. 169 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. CV-23-57

Opinion Delivered: November 30, 2023 WILLIE GASTER DAVIS APPELLANT PRO SE APPEAL FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 35CV-22-720]

DEXTER PAYNE, DIRECTOR, HONORABLE JODI RAINES ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF DENNIS, JUDGE CORRECTION APPELLEE APPEAL DISMISSED.

KAREN R. BAKER, Associate Justice

Appellant Willie Gaster Davis lodged an appeal in this court from the dismissal of his

petition for writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated section 16-

112-101 (Repl. 2016). At the time the petition was filed, Davis was incarcerated in Jefferson

County; however, Davis was later transferred to the East Arkansas Regional Unit, located

in Lee County, before the circuit court entered its order dismissing the petition.

In lieu of filing a responsive brief, appellee moved to dismiss the appeal on the

grounds of lack of jurisdiction or, in the alternative, a motion for extension to file its

responsive brief. We grant the motion to dismiss the appeal.

Any petition for writ of habeas corpus to effect the release of a prisoner is properly

addressed to the circuit court located in the county where the prisoner is held in custody

unless the petition is filed pursuant to Act 1780 of 2001, codified at Arkansas Code

Annotated sections 16-112-201 to -208 (Repl. 2016). Perry v. State, 2018 Ark. 14, 535 S.W.3d 264. Although a circuit court may have subject-matter jurisdiction to issue the writ,

a court does not have personal jurisdiction to issue and make returnable before itself a writ

of habeas corpus to release a petitioner held in another county. Id. Arkansas Code Annotated

section 16-112-105(b)(1) (Repl. 2016) requires that the writ be directed to the person in

whose custody the petitioner is detained. Id. Accordingly, although Davis was incarcerated

in Jefferson County when he filed the habeas petition, a writ of habeas corpus issued by the

Jefferson County Circuit Court could not be returned because he is no longer within its

jurisdiction. Id.

Appeal dismissed.

Willie Gaster Davis, pro se appellant.

Tim Griffin, Att’y Gen., by: A. Evangeline Bacon, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.