Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-00102/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-00102-0/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 – 16cv102

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRIS LEON SPELLS,

Petitioner,

Case No. 16-cv-102-BAS-WVG

ORDER GRANTING MOTION 

TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS

v.

SCOTT KERNAN, et al.,1

Respondents.

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

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to proceed in 

forma pauperis (“IFP”). (ECF Nos. 1, 2.) Petitioner has $0.00 on account at the 

California correctional institution in which he is presently confined and cannot afford 

the $5.00 filing fee. (ECF No. 2.) Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Petitioner’s 

 

1 Petitioner originally named Jeffrey Beard, the former Secretary of the California Department of 

Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR), in his petition. The current Secretary of the CDCR is Scott 

Kernan. See http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/. Accordingly, this Court sua sponte substitutes Scott Kernan 

as Respondent. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d) (“An action does not abate when a public officer who is a 

party in an official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while the action is 

pending. The officer’s successor is automatically substituted as a party.”).

Case 3:16-cv-00102-BAS-WVG Document 3 Filed 02/04/16 Page 1 of 2
– 2 – 16cv102

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

application to proceed IFP. Petitioner may prosecute this action without prepayment

of filing fees or costs, and without posting security. The Clerk of Court shall file the 

Petition. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 4, 2016

Case 3:16-cv-00102-BAS-WVG Document 3 Filed 02/04/16 Page 2 of 2