Cornell v. Bennett, No. 4:2021cv04056 - Document 16 (D.S.D. 2021)

Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER granting 12 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange on 7/21/21. (SKK)

Download PDF
Cornell v. Bennett Doc. 16 Case 4:21-cv-04056-RAL Document 16 Filed 07/21/21 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: 136 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTHERN DIVISION DAVID ALLEN CORNELL, 4:21-CV-04056-RAL Petitioner, V ' OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING VS. RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS K. BENNETT, WARDEN YANKTON FPC, Respondent. On April 7, 2021, David Allen Cornell, an inmate at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Doc. 1. Respondent moves to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, for failure to state a claim, and for failure to exhaust. Doe. 12. Cornell opposes the motion. Doc. 15. Cornell seeks the "immediate application of[his] earned time credits" and claims that he is entitled to immediate release. Doc. 1 at 8. Under the First Step Act(FSA)time credits may be earned by eligible prisoners who successfully complete "evidence-based recidivism reduction programming" or "productive activities." 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(A). The Bureau of Prisons (BOP)has a phase-in period until January 15, 2022, to provide evidence-based recidivism programs and productive activities to all prisoners. Id. § 3621(h)(2)(emphasis added). In Holt v. Warden, this Court held that it caimot force the BOP to apply earned time credits toward prerelease custody before January 15, 2022. No. 20-4064, 2021 WL 1925503, at *5-6(D.S.D. May 13, 2021). Thus, an inmate that seeks to have the Court compel the BOP to apply the credits Dockets.Justia.com Case 4:21-cv-04056-RAL Document 16 Filed 07/21/21 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: 137 before January 15, 2022, does not have standing and his/her petition must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. See id. Here, Cornell seeks the immediate application of his eamed time credits. See Doc. 1 at 8. In his opposition to Respondent's motion, Cornell relies on the minority position, Goodman v. Ortiz. Civ. No. 20-7582, 2020 WL 5015613 (D.N.J. Aug. 25, 2020), to support his proposition that his eamed time credits must be applied due to the FSA's statutory language. Doc. 15. But this Court already considered Goodman and specifically sided with the majority position and against Goodman's interpretation of the FSA. See Holt. 2020 WL 5015613 at ""S. At this time, the Court cannot compel the BOP to apply eamed time credits. Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Respondent's motion to dismiss for lack ofsubject matter jurisdiction. Doc. 12,is granted. DATED July 2021 BY THE COURT: ROBERTO A. LANGE CHIEF JUDGE

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.