In re: Robert Michael Ardis

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 26-1378
In re: ROBERT MICHAEL ARDIS,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.
Submitted: June 25, 2026 Decided: June 30, 2026
Before BENJAMIN and BERNER, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge.
Petition dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Robert Michael Ardis, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

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PER CURIAM:
Robert Michael Ardis, a Florida prisoner, petitions this court for a writ of habeas
corpus, seeking immediate release from state custody. We dismiss the petition for lack of
jurisdiction.*
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a), “[w]rits of habeas corpus may be granted by the
Supreme Court, any justice thereof, the district courts and any circuit judge within their
respective jurisdictions.” But that statute “does not similarly confer jurisdiction on courts
of appeals.” Dragenice v. Ridge, 389 F.3d 92, 100 (4th Cir. 2004) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Instead, “it confers jurisdiction on ‘any circuit judge within their respective
jurisdictions.’” Id. (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a)). So “while a single circuit judge may
entertain a habeas petition, courts of appeals may not.” Id. (emphasis omitted). We
therefore lack jurisdiction over Ardis’s habeas petition. And although we may transfer the
petition to an appropriate district court, we conclude that transfer is not “in the interest of
justice.” 28 U.S.C. § 1631; see 28 U.S.C. § 2241(b).
We therefore dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction. We dispense with oral
argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials
before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
PETITION DISMISSED
* Ardis also moves for immediate release and for a hearing. In light of our dismissal
of the petition for a writ of habeas corpus, we deny those motions as moot.

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