Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00141/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00141-0/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

NEIL EDWARD STONE, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. )

)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF )

CORRECTIONS, )

)

Respondent. )

 )

1:08-cv-00141-LJO-TAG HC 

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER’S

MOTION TO FILE AMENDED PETITION

(Doc. 6)

ORDER REQUIRING AMENDED PETITION

TO BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO

SEND PETITIONER A FORM PETITION FOR

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS 

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

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

Petitioner filed his original federal petition on January 28, 2008. (Doc. 1). On February

8, 2008, Petitioner filed a motion for leave to file an amended petition, contending that he wished

to withdraw Grounds One and Two because he had determined that they had not been exhausted. 

(Doc. 6). 

DISCUSSION

A petitioner may amend a petition for writ of habeas corpus once “as a matter of course,”

and without leave of Court, before a response has been filed under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 15(a), as applied to habeas corpus actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2242 and Rule 11 of

the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. Calderon v. United States District Court (Thomas),

Case 1:08-cv-00141-JMD Document 9 Filed 05/16/08 Page 1 of 3
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144 F.3d 618, 620 (9th Cir. 1998); Bonn v. Calderon, 59 F.3d 815, 845 (9 Cir. 1995). Leave th

of Court is required for all other amendments. Rule Civ. P. 15(a). 

Here, no responsive pleading has been filed. Hence, there is no impediment to

Petitioner’s filing of an amended petition. Petitioner should note, however, that, at this early

point in the proceedings, the Court expresses no opinion whatsoever regarding whether

Grounds One and Two in the original petition were or were not exhausted in the California

Supreme Court. In lieu of Petitioner’s motion to file an amended petition, the Court has

not conducted a preliminary screening of the original petition, and, in light of Petitioner’s

stated intent to file an amended petition, any such preliminary screening of the original

petition would now be meaningless. Petitioner may include whatever claims he wishes in

his amended petition; the Court will then screen the amended petition, as it does all other

habeas petitions, to determine if the amended meets the basic requirements regarding the

applicable statute of limitations, federal question jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, and

exhaustion. 

Accordingly, GOOD CAUSE having been presented, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as

follows:

1 Petitioner’s motion to amend (Doc. 6), is GRANTED. Petitioner is granted thirty

(30) days from the date of service of this order in which to file his amended

petition for writ of habeas corpus. Petitioner is also cautioned that all grounds for

relief must raise cognizable federal claims. The amended petition should be

clearly and boldly titled “AMENDED PETITION,” contain the appropriate case

number, and be an original signed under penalty of perjury. Petitioner is advised

that the form petition must set forth all claims for relief, including the facts and

arguments in support of those claims. Petitioner should also note that every

pleading to which an amendment is permitted must be retyped or rewritten

and filed so that it is complete in itself without reference to the prior or

superseded pleading. Local Rule 15-220. 

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Case 1:08-cv-00141-JMD Document 9 Filed 05/16/08 Page 2 of 3
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2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner a blank form petition for

federal prisoners filing pursuant to § 2254. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 16, 2008 /s/ Theresa A. Goldner 

j6eb3d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 1:08-cv-00141-JMD Document 9 Filed 05/16/08 Page 3 of 3