Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00600/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00600-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN A. JOHNSON,

Petitioner,

v.

MATEVOUSIAN, Warden,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:15-cv-00600 MJS (HC)

ORDER WITHDRAWING FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATION TO DISMISS 

PETITION (Doc. 4)

REQUIRING RESPONDENT TO SUBMIT 

ANSWER ADDRESSING MERITS OF 

PETITION 

ORDER REQUIRING RESPONDENT TO 

SUBMIT NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT 

TO SERVE DOCUMENTS

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

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. 

On April 27, 2014, this Court issued a Findings and Recommendation to dismiss 

the case without prejudice for failure to allege claims cognizable by way of a Petition for 

Writ of Habeas Corpus. (ECF No. 4.) However, in light of the recent Ninth Circuit 

decision in Nettles v. Grounds, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 8825 (9th Cir., May 28, 2015), it 

appears that because Petitioner seeks release from the Secured Housing Unit, Petitioner 

is seeking a quantum change in his level of confinement and is potentially eligible for 

habeas corpus relief. (See e.g., ECF No. 12.)

Case 1:15-cv-00600-DAD-MJS Document 16 Filed 06/18/15 Page 1 of 4
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Writ of habeas corpus relief extends to a person in custody under the authority of 

the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241. While a federal prisoner who wishes to 

challenge the validity or constitutionality of his conviction must bring a petition for writ of 

habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a petitioner challenging the manner, location, or 

conditions of that sentence's execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. See, e.g., Capaldi v. Pontesso, 135 F.3d 1122, 1123 (6th Cir. 

1998); United States v. Tubwell, 37 F.3d 175, 177 (5th Cir. 1994); Kingsley v. Bureau of 

Prisons, 937 F.2d 26, 30 n.5 (2nd Cir. 1991); United States v. Jalili, 925 F.2d 889, 893-

94 (6th Cir. 1991); Barden v. Keohane, 921 F.2d 476, 478-79 (3rd Cir. 1991); United 

States v. Hutchings, 835 F.2d 185, 186-87 (8th Cir. 1987); Brown v. United States, 610

F.2d 672, 677 (9th Cir. 1990). A petitioner filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 

28 U.S.C. § 2241 must file the petition in the judicial district of the petitioner's custodian. 

Brown, 610 F.2d at 677. 

In this case, Petitioner contends that the Bureau of Prisons has wrongfully 

determined that he should be housed in a secured housing unit. Petitioner is seeking a 

quantum change in the level of his confinement, therefore his petition is proper under 28 

U.S.C. § 2241. In addition, because Petitioner is currently incarcerated at United States 

Penitentiary Atwater ("USPA"), and USPA is within the Eastern District of California, this 

Court has jurisdiction to proceed to the merits of the petition. See U.S. v. Giddings, 740 

F.2d 770, 772 (9th Cir.1984). 

ORDER

Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases1, the 

Court HEREBY ORDERS: 

 

1

The Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases may be applied to petitions for writ of habeas corpus 

other than those brought under § 2254 at the Court’s discretion. See, Rule 1(b) of the Rules Governing 

Section 2254 Cases. Civil Rule 81(a)(4) provides that the rules “apply to proceedings for habeas corpus . 

. . to the extent that the practice in such proceedings is not specified in a federal statute, the Rules 

Governing Section 2254 Cases, or the Rules Governing 2255 Cases; and has previously conformed to the 

practice in civil actions.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(a)(4). 

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1. The April 27, 2015 Findings and Recommendation is hereby WITHDRAWN. (Doc. 

4.)

2. Respondent SHALL FILE an ANSWER addressing the merits of the Petition 

within SIXTY (60) days of the date of service of this order. Respondent shall 

include with the response any and all transcripts or other documents relevant to 

the resolution of the issues presented in the petition, including copies of appeals 

taken by a prisoner within the prison and before the Bureau of Prisons.2 Rule 5 of 

the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. The Court recognizes that Counsel on 

behalf of the Government and/or the Institution3 may wish to respond on separate

issues raised in the Petition. However, the Court will accept only one (1) 

“Answer.” Such Answer SHALL CONTAIN all arguments with respect to all of the 

issues raised in the Petition, whether formulated by Counsel for the Government 

or the Institution. 

3. Respondent SHALL FILE a Notice of Appearance within TWENTY (20) days of 

the date of service of this Order. The Notice SHALL indicate the name of the 

individual(s) who will be representing the Government and/or the Institution. The 

Notice is necessary to ensure that the appropriate counsel for Respondent is 

being served by the Court. The submission of the Notice of Appearance will 

terminate Court service on those listed in paragraph 4.

4. Petitioner’s TRAVERSE, if any, is due on or before THIRTY (30) days from the 

date Respondent’s Answer is filed.

5. The Clerk of the Court SHALL serve a copy of this Order along with a copy of the 

 

2

In the event Respondent is unable to obtain a photocopy of prisoner appeals and intends to file a 

computerized printout of the disposition, Respondent must also provide the Court with translation of the 

internal codes used in the printout. To the extent the claims concern prison policy and procedure not 

accessible to the Court by electronic means (Westlaw/Lexis), Respondent must provide the Court with a 

photocopy of all prison policies and/or procedures at issue in the case. This includes any internal prison 

policies of which a prisoner complains and is subject to. 

3 Counsel for the “Institution” means private Counsel representing contracted facilities such as Taft 

Correctional Institution, (Management & Training Corporation), or California City Correctional Center 

(Corrections Corporation of America).

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Petition and all exhibits on the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern 

District of California, an agent for the appropriate Correctional Institution if 

applicable, and the United States Bureau of Prisons. 

All motions shall be submitted on the record and briefs filed without oral argument 

unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Local Rule 230(l). All provisions of Local Rule 

110 are applicable to this order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 17, 2015 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-00600-DAD-MJS Document 16 Filed 06/18/15 Page 4 of 4