144 Conn. App. 375
Conn. App. Ct.2013Background
- Petitioner Jancis Fuller, self-represented, petitions for a writ of habeas corpus challenging incarceration.
- Petition dismissed in habeas court for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction; petitioner appeals."
- Convicted of attempt to commit assault in the first degree and carrying a pistol without a permit.
- Effective sentence: thirty years in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; prior habeas petitions denied or dismissed.
- Petition filed July 22, 2010 alleging parole board practices deprived her of due process and that parole hearing schedule disrupted her life.
- Court applies Baker framework to determine if parole-related claims fall within habeas jurisdiction.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether habeas jurisdiction lies for parole-related claims | Fuller asserts parole-board actions render confinement illegal | State maintains no liberty interest in parole; no habeas jurisdiction | Parole eligibility does not create a cognizable liberty interest; jurisdiction lacks |
| Whether parole eligibility creates a due-process liberty interest to invoke habeas | Fuller seeks relief based on parole procedures | Parole eligibility is discretionary and not part of the sentence | No liberty interest in parole; habeas relief unavailable |
Key Cases Cited
- Baker v. Commissioner of Correction, 281 Conn. 241 (2007) (parole eligibility not within sentence; no habeas jurisdiction)
- Greenholtz v. Inmates of the Nebraska Penal & Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1 (1979) (no constitutional right to parole; discretion of state)
- Vincenzo v. Warden, 26 Conn. App. 132 (1991) (parole procedures not sufficient for habeas relief)
- State v. Faria, 254 Conn. 613 (2000) (parole eligibility not a cognizable liberty interest)
- Baker v. Commissioner of Correction (additional citation note), 281 Conn. 241 (2007) (reiterates jurisdictional limits on parole-based habeas)