Brown v. Holt

OPINION PER CURIAM. James Brown appeals the dismissal of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 by the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Brown was convicted in the District of New Jersey of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the failure to appear, and was sentenced to a collective term of 92 months imprisonment. In 2001, Brown filed a motion to vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The motion was denied, and we denied a certificate of appealability. Brown v. United States, C.A. No. 03-2952. In 2004, Brown filed a motion to reopen the § 2255 proceedings. The motion was denied, and we denied a certificate of appealability. Brown v. United States, C.A. No. 04-3505. This Court also denied Brown’s application to file a second or successive habeas petition, in which he sought to raise claims under Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004) and United States v. Booker, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). In re Brown, C.A. No. 05-1395. Brown, who is currently confined within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, then filed a habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, again challenging his sentence under Booker. The District Court found that § 2241 was not available to Brown and denied relief. We have appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. A § 2255 motion filed in the sentencing court is the presumptive means for a federal prisoner to challenge to his sentence. 28 U.S.C. § 2255; Okereke v. United States, 307 F.3d 117, 120 (3d Cir.2002). A § 2241 petition may not be entertained unless a motion under § 2255 would be “inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of [the] detention.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255. A § 2255 motion is not “inadequate or ineffective” merely because the petitioner can not meet the stringent gate keeping requirements of § 2255, Okereke, 307 F.3d at 120, or because the sentencing court does not grant relief, Cradle v. United States ex rel. Miner, 290 F.3d 536, 539 (3d Cir.2002). Brown’s claims fall within the purview of § 2255. Furthermore, as found by the District Court, Brown has not demonstrated that § 2255 is “inadequate or ineffective.” Cf. Okereke, 307 F.3d at 120-21 (finding § 2255 not “inadequate or ineffective”, where successive petitioner sought to raise sentencing claim based on intervening decision in New Jersey v. Apprendi, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2001)). To the extent Brown argues that the “inadequate or ineffective” requirement is unconstitutional, the claim is without merit. See United States v. Brooks, 245 F.3d 291, 292 n. 2 (3d Cir. 2001) (recognizing that requiring federal prisoner to seek relief pursuant to § 2255, rather than § 2241, is not a suspension of the writ). Accordingly, as there is no substantial question presented by this appeal, we will summarily affirm. Third Circuit LAR 27.4; Third Circuit I.O.P. 10.6.