Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-02181/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-02181-1/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

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CLAUDE STEELE,

Petitioner,

 vs.

ROBERT L. AYERS, JR., Warden,

Respondent. /

No. C 08-2181 PJH (PR)

ORDER GRANTING

RESPONDENT’S MOTION

TO DISMISS PETITION AS

MOOT

This is a habeas corpus case filed by a state prisoner pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2254. 

The petition is directed to a denial of parole. Respondent has moved to dismiss the petition

as moot because petitioner has been released on parole. Petitioner has not opposed the

motion. 

Petitioner was sentenced to prison for fifteen years to life for second degree murder. 

It is undisputed that on May 15, 2009, the governor sustained the decision of the Board of

Parole Hearings granting petitioner parole. 

Under California law, parole for murderers such as petitioner is for life. See Cal.

Penal Code § 3000.1(a); 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 2515(f). As a result, if petitioner were to

prevail here, that success could not affect the length of his parole – that is, even if the court

were to find that he should have been paroled earlier, it could not shorten his parole. And

because petitioner has not opposed the motion, he has not identified any collateral

consequences that might keep this action from being considered moot, and the court is not

aware of any. Petitioner’s release from prison moots his habeas petition. See Burnett v.

Lampert, 432 F.3d 996, 999-1001 (9th Cir. 2005) (claim moot if injury cannot be redressed

by court action).

Case 4:08-cv-02181-PJH Document 12 Filed 01/15/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Respondent's motion to dismiss (document number 10 on the docket) is GRANTED. 

This case is DISMISSED as moot. The clerk shall close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 1/15/10 

 PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

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Case 4:08-cv-02181-PJH Document 12 Filed 01/15/10 Page 2 of 2