Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01656/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01656-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEONARDO ESTRADA,

Petitioner,

v.

D.G. ADAMS, Warden,

Respondent.

 /

CV F 06-1656 AWI SMS HC

ORDER EXPANDING THE RECORD ON

ISSUE OF EQUITABLE TOLLING

[Docs. 11, 15, 18, 20]

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

On March 23, 2007, Respondent filed a motion to dismiss the petition as time-barred. 

(Court Doc. 11.) Petitioner filed an opposition on May 29, 2007. (Court Doc. 15.) Respondent

filed a reply on September 10, 2007, and Petitioner filed a sur-reply on October 11, 2007. (Court

Docs. 18, 20.) 

Petitioner contends that he is entitled to tolling based on a state-created impediment

and/or equitable tolling due to the closure of the prison law library. In his reply, Respondent

contends that, 

there is no evidence that the closure of the library was extraordinary or that the

delay was caused by any wrongful conduct. Limited access to the law library was

available during the seven month period in which Petitioner failed to file his

claim. Further, if the law library is closed or otherwise unavailable to the inmate,

the inmate may complete an inmate request form, and the document requested will

be sent to them via institutional mail. These circumstances are not extraordinary. 

There is no evidence that the limited library access was intended to impede

Estrada’s ability to file a habeas corpus petition. Therefore, there is no basis for

Case 1:06-cv-01656-AWI -SMS Document 21 Filed 01/22/08 Page 1 of 2
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the limitations period to have been equitably tolled. 

 

(Reply, at 3-4.) Respondent does not support his contention with any evidence. 

In his sur-reply, Petitioner contends that from April 12, 2006 to November 2, 2006, the

law library was under revocation and it was it was completely shut-down. (Sur-reply, at 2.) 

Petitioner contends that he submitted numerous requests to use the library, but received no

response. In his declaration attached to his Opposition of May 29, 2007, Petitioner further states

that after receiving no response, he filed two separate inmate grievances, one filed on his behalf

and the other was co-filed with other inmates. Both appeals were unanswered. (Declaration, at

1-2, attached to Opposition; Court Doc. 15.) Petitioner states that when he finally obtained a

blank federal habeas corpus petition, it was prepared less a week later. (Id. at 2.) 

There is insufficient evidence in the record to resolve the issue of whether Petitioner is

entitled to equitable tolling based on the closure of the law library. Pursuant to Rule 7 of the

Rules Governing Habeas Corpus Cases Under Section 2254, the Court finds the necessity to

expand the record. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within twenty (20) days from the date of service of this order, Respondent shall

submit any and all evidence bearing on Petitioner’s claim for equitable tolling

based on the closure of the law library; and

2. Within twenty (20) days from date Respondent submits its evidence, Petitioner

may submit a response.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 18, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-01656-AWI -SMS Document 21 Filed 01/22/08 Page 2 of 2