BANKS v. UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THIRD CIRCUIT (2020)

OPINION *

On November 7, 2019, a federal jury found Frederick Banks guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prior to his trial, Banks filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the District Court. He claimed that this Court's delay in ruling on two of his appeals extended his time in pre-trial detention by “unlawfully stop[ing] the Speedy Trial Act clock” with a “de facto detainer.” Pet. 7, ECF No. 2. He also claimed that the United States Attorney's Office conspired to keep him detained and harassed him, because he had refused to accept their plea offers.

The District Court dismissed the case under vexatious-litigant orders entered in two civil actions filed by Banks, W.D. Civ. Nos. 15-cv-01400 and 15-cv-01385, as expanded by an order in a criminal case, United States v. Miller, W.D. Crim. No. 15-cr-00174. In the civil actions, the District Court found that Banks had abused the judicial process by filing frivolous and duplicative lawsuits. The Court designated Banks a vexatious litigant and enjoined him from filing any complaint, lawsuit, or mandamus petition without authorization from the District Court. See, e.g. Frederick Banks v. Pope Francis, No. CV 15-1385, 2015 WL 8207532, at *4-*5 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 2015). In the criminal action, the District Court extended its vexatious-litigant order “to all filings made by Mr. Banks, in his name or under his known alias(es), whether on his behalf or on behalf of anyone else.” Miller, W.D. Crim. No. 15-cr-00174 (order entered on October 3, 2017). The District Court noted that the order did not apply to filings in Banks’ active criminal case. Banks appealed, and this Court affirmed. United States v. Miller, 726 F. App'x 107, 108 (3d Cir. 2018) (per curiam) (non-precedential). Banks 2 now appeals the District Court's order dismissing his habeas petition pursuant to its vexatious-litigant orders.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.¹ We exercise plenary review over the District Court's legal conclusions and apply a clearly erroneous standard to its factual findings. Cradle v. U.S. ex rel. Miner, 290 F.3d 536, 538 (3d Cir. 2002) (per curiam).

Banks asserts in his notice of appeal that the District Court erred because its vexatious-litigant orders do not apply to habeas corpus actions. As discussed above, however, the District Court extended its vexatious-litigant order to all filings by Banks other than those in his active criminal case. However, even if the vexatious-litigant orders did not apply to habeas petitions, we find no error in the District Court's application of the orders here as Banks’ claims are not cognizable under § 2241. See Reese v. Warden Phila. FDC, 904 F.3d 244, 247 (3d Cir. 2018) (stating that § 2241 is not the proper vehicle for a federal prisoner to challenge detention pending trial).²

Because this appeal does not raise a substantial question, we will summarily affirm the judgment of the District Court. See 3d Cir. LAR 27.4.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Because Banks is a federal prisoner appealing the dismissal of a § 2241 petition, he need not obtain a certificate of appealability to proceed on appeal. See United States v. Cepero 224 F.3d 256, 264–65 (3d Cir. 2000) (en banc), abrogated on other grounds by Gonzalez v. Thaler, 565 U.S. 134, 132 S.Ct. 641, 181 L.Ed.2d 619 (2012).

2.   To the extent that Banks could have challenged his detention in pretrial motions in his active criminal case, such challenges would now be moot in light of his convictions. See Thorne v. Warden, Brooklyn House of Det. for Men, 479 F.2d 297, 299 (2d Cir. 1973).

PER CURIAM