Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01643/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01643-2/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHESTER A. JOHNSON, No. CIV S-07-1643-MCE-CMK-P

Petitioner, 

vs. ORDER

D.K. SISTO, et al.,

Respondents.

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Pending before the court is petitioner’s “Motion for

Judgment by Default” (Doc. 11), filed on September 26, 2007. In his motion, petitioner seeks

“Default by the Court” based on respondents’ failure to respond to the petition. Before a party

may obtain default judgment, the party must first obtain entry of default by the Clerk of the

Court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55. Because petitioner has not previously sought entry of default, the

court construes plaintiff’s motion as such a request. Here, entry of default is not appropriate

because respondents have filed an answer to the petition. That document, with supporting

exhibits, was entered on the docket on September 24, 2007, and an amended answer was filed on

September 26, 2007 – the same day as petitioner’s motion. 

Case 2:07-cv-01643-MCE -CMK Document 12 Filed 10/03/07 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s “Motion for Judgment

by Default” (Doc. 11) is construed as a motion for entry of default by the Clerk of the Court and,

so construed, petitioner’s motion is denied. 

DATED: October 3, 2007

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:07-cv-01643-MCE -CMK Document 12 Filed 10/03/07 Page 2 of 2