---
title: "Rodriguez v. Copenhaver"
citation: "Rodriguez v. Copenhaver, 823 F.3d 1238 (9th Cir. 2016)"
authority_id: "AUTH-CA9-RODRIGUEZ-COPENHAVER-823-F3D-1238"
authority_type: "case"
jurisdiction: "federal_ninth_circuit"
precedential_status: "binding_in_ninth_circuit"
official_url: "https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/05/25/14-16399.pdf"
url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-CA9-RODRIGUEZ-COPENHAVER-823-F3D-1238/"
legal_review: "2026-08-25"
links_checked: "2026-10-15"
links_available: 1
links_checked_count: 1
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Rodriguez v. Copenhaver

## Holdings and disposition used

- The district court could review whether BOP acted contrary to federal law when making the § 3621 designation decision.
- The Ninth Circuit directed BOP to reconsider the nunc pro tunc designation request without the improper letter; it did not order the designation.

## Material limitations

The decision is binding only in the Ninth Circuit and addresses a specific § 3621(b) error. It does not establish a universal § 2241 remedy. A comprehensive commercial citator was not run.

## Official source and pinpoint

Ninth Circuit published opinion, 823 F.3d 1243: <https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/05/25/14-16399.pdf>


## Used in

- [28 U.S.C. § 2241 — Appeal, Certificate of Appealability, and Relief](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/2241-appeal-and-relief.md)
- [Ninth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/ninth-circuit.md)