The following excerpt is from Robbins v. Washington County Prosecutor's Office, 888 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1989):
This court reviews de novo a district court's decision on a petition for habeas corpus. Carter v. McCarthy, 806 F.2d 1373, 1375 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 108 S.Ct. 198 (1987).
A federal district court has subject-matter jurisdiction to entertain a petition for habeas relief only if the petitioner is "in custody" at the time the petition is brought. See Maleng v. Cook, 109 S.Ct. 1923, 1925 (1989).
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.