Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-01224/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-01224-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID ALLEN LUCAS,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 15cv1224 GPC (WVG)

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER:

(1) GRANTING MOTION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS;

(2) STAYING EXECUTION OF

DEATH SENTENCE;

(3) GRANTING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL,

AND; 

(4) REFERRING MATTER TO

SELECTION BOARD FOR

SUGGESTION OF APPOINTED

COUNSEL

vs.

RON DAVIS, Acting Warden of San

Quentin State Prison,

Respondent.1

On June 2, 2015, Petitioner David Allen Lucas filed a request for appointment

of counsel for federal habeas proceedings, a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, and

a motion for a stay of execution of his sentence. For the reasons discussed below, the

Court GRANTS the request and motions, ORDERS a temporary stay of execution for

The case caption for the instant case lists Robert L. Ayers, Jr. as Warden of 1

San Quentin State Prison. The Court notes that Ron Davis currently serves as the

Acting Warden of the California State Prison at San Quentin, and is thus Respondent

to thisfederal habeas action. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS the Clerk to reflect this

substitution in the case caption.

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45 days to allow for appointment of counsel and REFERS the matter to the Selection

Board for the Southern District of California for the recommendation of one or more

attorneys for appointment.

I. BACKGROUND

Petitioner was convicted in San Diego County Superior Court of three counts of

first degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murder, one count of

attempted murder, and two counts of kidnapping and was sentenced to death. On

August 21, 2014, the California Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence

on direct appeal. People v. Lucas, 60 Cal. 4th 153 (2014). The petition for a writ of

certiorari was denied by the United States Supreme Court on June 1, 2015. Lucas,

David A. v. California, ___ S.Ct. ___, No. 14-9137, 2015 WL 1482308 (U.S. Cal. June

1, 2015).

On November 6, 2008, Petitioner filed a habeas petition (Case No. S168103)

with the California Supreme Court. An informal response was filed on July 7, 2009,

and a reply was filed on March 22, 2010. The California Supreme Court has not yet

ruled on the state habeas petition.

II. DISCUSSION

In a declaration dated May 5, 2015, Petitioner stated that he had a pending

petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court with respect to his

direct appeal, as well as a pending state habeas petition in the California Supreme

Court, but prepared and filed the request for federal counsel at that time in anticipation

that those courts may deny the pending matters, and in light of the fact that the time

available for federal review will begin to run at the conclusion of those matters. (ECF

No. 1 at 4.) Petitioner also indicates that his state habeas counsel has advised that he

is unavailable to represent Petitioner in the federal proceedings. (Id.)

The Ninth Circuit has held that “when . . . an appeal of a state criminal

conviction is pending, a would-be petitioner must await the outcome of his appeal

before his state remedies are exhausted.” Sherwood v. Tomkins, 716 F.2d 632, 634

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(9th Cir. 1983); see also 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)-(c). As noted above, Petitioner’s state

appeal is now concluded, as the United States Supreme Court recently denied the

petition for writ of certiorari. Petitioner’s state habeas petition remains pending in state

court. However, the Ninth Circuit recently clarified that Sherwood applies only to

pending direct appeals. See Henderson v. Johnson, 710 F.3d 872 (9th Cir. 2013)

(rejecting district court’s reliance on Sherwood to dismiss federal habeas action filed

while state habeas action was pending without allowing leave to amend or considering

a stay, stating that “Sherwood stands for the proposition that a district court may not

adjudicate a federal petition while a petitioner’s direct state appeal is pending.”) 

The Court is also cognizant of the fact that in prior capital habeas actions in this

district, as well as in other California federal districts, the process of locating qualified

prospective counsel to recommend for appointment can take time. (See e.g. Jurado v.

Davis, S.D. Cal. Case No. 08cv1400-JLS-JMA, ECF Nos. 1, 23 (327 days between

request for, and appointment of, counsel), Hoyos v. Cullen, S.D. Cal. Case No.

09cv0388-L-NLS, ECF Nos. 1, 12 (217 days between request and appointment),

Ramos v. Chappell, 05cv3752-SI, 2013 WL 3815644, at *1 fn. 1 (N.D. Cal. 2013)

(collecting cases).) The relevant federal statute providing for the appointment of

counsel in capital habeas actionssimply statesthat: “In any post conviction proceeding

under section 2254 or 2255 of title 28, United States Code, seeking to vacate or set

aside a death sentence, any defendant who is or becomes financially unable to obtain

adequate representation orinvestigative, expert, or other reasonably necessary services

shall be entitled to the appointment of one or more attorneys and the furnishing ofsuch

other servicesin accordance with subsections(b) through (f).” 18 U.S.C. § 3599. This

district’s local rules provide for the appointment of federal habeas counsel “at the

earliest practicable time.” See CivLR HC.3(d)(1). For these reasons, Petitioner’s

request for appointment of counsel and accompanying motion for stay of execution

appear reasonable and are therefore GRANTED.

///

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With respect to the motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Petitioner has attached

a declaration and trust account statement, which reflects that Petitioner has $4.91 in his

account at San Quentin State Prison, where he is presently confined. (ECF No. 2.) 

Petitioner cannot afford the $5.00 filing fee. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS

Petitioner’s motion and allows Petitioner to proceed in the above-referenced matter

without being required to prepay fees or costs and without being required to post

security.

III. CONCLUSION

Pursuant to Local Rule HC.3(d) and 18 U.S.C. § 3599, Petitioner’s request for

appointment of counsel is GRANTED, and it is HEREBY ORDERED that this matter

be referred to the Selection Board for the United States District Court, Southern

District of California, for suggestion of one or more counsel to be appointed to

represent Petitioner in his federal habeas corpus proceedings. The Court also

GRANTS Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis. Pursuant to Local Rule

HC.3(g)(2), Petitioner’s motion for stay of execution is GRANTED and a temporary

stay “will remain in effect for forty-five (45) days,” up to and including Monday, July

20, 2015, “unless extended by the court.” Id.

The Clerk of the Court shall serve a certified copy of this order on Petitioner

David Allen Lucas; Attorney Thomas Lundy; Respondent Ron Davis, Acting Warden

of San Quentin Prison; the Clerk of the San Diego County Superior Court; Kamala

Harris, Attorney General of the State of California; Holly D. Wilkins, Deputy

Supervising Attorney General of the State of California; Office of the District Attorney

of San Diego County; and Joe Schlesinger,California Appellate Project, San Francisco.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 5, 2015

HON. GONZALO P. CURIEL

United States District Judge

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