Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00654/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00654-0/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)

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WMc\08cv0654 sub resp.wpd, 799 -1- 08cv0654

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARK TITCH, Civil No. 08-0654 J (WMc)

Petitioner,

ORDER SUA SPONTE SUBSTITUTING

v. RESPONDENT

ROBERT J. HERNANDEZ, Warden,

Respondent.

At the time of filing, Petitioner was apparently housed at R. J. Donovan Correctional

Facility and thus named Robert Hernandez, Warden, as Respondent. Based on the notice of

change of address Petitioner submitted to the Court on June 29, 2009, it appears Petitioner is no

longer housed at R. J. Donovan Correctional Facility; rather, it appears he is presently

incarcerated at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, California.

Additionally, Edmond G. Brown, the Attorney General of the State of California, is not

a proper respondent in this action. Rule 2 of the Rules following § 2254 provides that the state

officer having custody of the petitioner shall be named as respondent. Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll.

§ 2254. However, “if the applicant is not presently in custody pursuant to a state judgement

against which he seeks relief but may be subject to such custody in the future,” then “the officer

having present custody of the applicant as well as the attorney general of the state in which the

judgment which he seeks to attack was entered shall each be named as respondents.” Rule 2 (b),

28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Here, there is no basis for Petitioner to have named the Attorney General

Case 3:08-cv-00654-JAH-WMC Document 15 Filed 07/10/09 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WMc\08cv0654 sub resp.wpd, 799 -2- 08cv0654

as a respondent in this action.

A writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 2242; Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Because Petitioner’s place of custody has changed,

so has his custodian. Accordingly, in order to conform with the requirements of Rule 2(a) of the

Rules Governing § 2254 Cases and to avoid changing the Respondent again if Petitioner is

transferred to another prison or paroled, the Court hereby sua sponte ORDERS the substitution

of Matthew Cate, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as

Respondent in place of “Robert Hernandez .” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894

(9th Cir. 1996) (stating that the respondent in § 2254 proceedings may be the chief officer in

charge of state penal institutions).

The Clerk of the Court shall modify the docket to reflect “Matthew Cate, Secretary” as

respondent in place of “Robert Hernandez.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 9, 2009

Hon. William McCurine, Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Case 3:08-cv-00654-JAH-WMC Document 15 Filed 07/10/09 Page 2 of 2