Martinez v. Chronister (Hillsborough)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION MARIA MARTINEZ, Applicant, v. CASE NO. 8:25-cv-2034-SDM-AEP SHERIFF CHAD CHRONISTER, Respondent. ____________________________________/ ORDER Martinez applies under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 for the writ of habeas corpus and challenges her detention in the Hillsborough County jail under an out-of-state fugitive warrant. Relief under Section 2241 is the proper remedy because Martinez asserts no challenge to a state court judgment. Although jurisdiction resides in the federal courts, Martinez cannot proceed in federal court before presenting the claim to the state courts — a process called exhaustion of state court remedies — as explained in Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484, 490 (1973) (internal quotation omitted): The exhaustion doctrine is a judicially crafted instrument which reflects a careful balance between important interests of federalism and the need to preserve the writ of habeas corpus as a swift and imperative remedy in all cases of illegal restraint or confinement. Unlike Section 2254, which explicitly requires exhaustion, Section 2241 contains no statutory exhaustion requirement. Nevertheless, a party seeking relief under Section 2241 must present the claim to the state court before seeking relief in federal court. Moore v. DeYoung, 515 F.2d 437, 442 (3rd Cir. 1975), explains that ‘although there is a distinction in the statutory language of §§ 2254 and 2241, there is no distinction insofar as the exhaustion requirement is concerned.” Accord Johnson v. Florida, 32 F.4th 1092, 1095-96 (11th Cir. 2022) (“It is by now well-settled that district court may not grant a Section 2241 petition ‘unless the petitioner has exhausted all available state remedies.’”’) (quoting Georgalis v. Dixon, 776 F.2d 261, 262 (11th Cir. 1985)); Thomas v. Crosby, 371 F.3d 782, 812 (11th Cir. 2004) (“Among the most fundamental common law requirements of § 2241 is that petitioners must first exhaust their state court remedies.”) (Tjoflat, J., concurring) (citing Braden and Moore). Martinez fails to show that she has exhausted the available state court remedies before seeking relief in federal court. Moreover, a review of the online docket for the circuit court for Hillsborough County shows both that counsel was appointed to represent Martinez and that a petition for the writ of habeas corpus was recently filed in state court. Martinez cannot simultaneously proceed with an action in both a state court and a federal district court to obtain the same relief. The application for the writ of habeas corpus (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The clerk must close this case. ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on August 11, 2025. Asdonnaging STEVEN D. MERRYDAY UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE -2-