Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-00886/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-00886-0/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WAYNE WADKINS,

Petitioner,

v.

CITY AND COUNTY OF TULARE,

et al.,

Respondents.

Case No.: 18cv0886-MMA (NLS)

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

[Doc. No. 1]

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for a writ of 

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging a conviction from the Tulare 

County California Superior Court. Doc. No. 1. The Petition is subject to dismissal 

without prejudice because Petitioner has failed to pay the filing fee or move to proceed in 

forma pauperis. In addition, it appears proper venue for the Petition lies in the Eastern 

District of California where Petitioner was convicted and where he is currently 

incarcerated. 

FAILURE TO SATISFY FILING FEE REQUIREMENT

Because this Court cannot proceed until Petitioner has either paid the $5.00 filing 

fee or qualified to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court DISMISSES the case without 

prejudice. See Rule 3(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. 

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VENUE

A petition for writ of habeas corpus may be filed in the United States District Court 

of either the judicial district in which the petitioner is presently confined or the judicial 

district in which he was convicted and sentenced. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d); Braden v. 

30th Judicial Circuit Court, 410 U.S. 484, 497 (1973). The application in the present 

matter attacks a judgment of conviction that was entered in the Tulare County Superior 

Court, which is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the United States District Court for 

the Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84(b). Petitioner is presently confined 

at the California Institute for Men in Chino, California, which is also within the 

jurisdictional boundaries of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of 

California. Id. Thus, jurisdiction exists in Eastern District but not the Southern District

of California.

The Court may, in the furtherance of justice, transfer this matter to the United 

States District Court for the Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). 

However, because Petitioner has left most of the habeas petition form blank (see Doc.

No. 1), the Court finds the interests of justice do not counsel in favor of transferring a 

facially defective Petition containing no claims for relief or factual allegations. 

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

The Petition is DISMISSED for failure to satisfy the filing fee requirement. The 

dismissal is without prejudice to Petitioner to refile his Petition in the Eastern District of 

California. The Clerk of this Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon Petitioner and 

upon the California Attorney General.

Dated: May 9, 2018

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