Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01032/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01032-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KERRY L. BAXTER, 

Petitioner,

 vs.

T. FELKER, Warden, 

Respondent.

 

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No. C 07-1032 JSW (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

(Docket No. 2)

INTRODUCTION

Petitioner, a prisoner of the State of California, currently incarcerated at High

Desert State Prison in Susanville, California, has filed a habeas corpus petition pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging the constitutional validity of his state conviction. Petitioner

has paid the filing fee. Therefore, his motion to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED as

moot (docket no. 2). This order directs Respondent to show cause why the petition should

not be granted.

BACKGROUND

According to the petition, Petitioner was sentenced to 66 years-to-life in state prison

after a jury trial in Alameda County Superior Court in which he was convicted of second

degree murder, two firearm enhancements, attempted murder with a firearm enhancement,

and possession of a weapon by an ex-felon. Petitioner appealed his conviction to

California Court of Appeal, which denied the appeal in 2005. The Supreme Court of

California denied his petition for review in 2006. The instant federal habeas petition was

filed on February 20, 2007. 

Case 3:07-cv-01032-JSW Document 4 Filed 07/26/07 Page 1 of 4
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DISCUSSION

I Standard of Review

This court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a person

in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in

custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C.

§ 2254(a). 

It shall “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause

why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant

or person detained is not entitled thereto.” Id. § 2243. 

II Legal Claims

The petition raises the following ground for relief: 1) jury selection was tainted by

the prosecutor’s exclusion of jurors based on race, in violation of Petitioner’s Sixth

Amendment rights; 2) a witness’ out-of-court testimonial statements were admitted in

violation of Petitioner’s due process and confrontation rights; 3) the facts of Petitioner’s

prior conviction were improperly admitted in violation of his due process rights; 4)

cumulative errors by the trial court violated Petitioner’s due process rights; 5) improper

admission of evidence of Petitioner’s character for violence in violation of his rights to due

process and a fair trial; and 6) prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of trial

counsel. Liberally construed, it does not appear from the face of the petition that

Petitioner is not entitled to relief on his claims. Accordingly, Respondent is ordered to

respond to the petition as set forth below.

CONCLUSION 

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown,

1. The Clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition, and

all attachments thereto, on Respondent and Respondent's attorney, the Attorney General of

the State of California. The Clerk also shall serve a copy of this order on Petitioner. 

2. Respondent shall file with the Court and serve on Petitioner, within sixty (60)

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days of the issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should

not be granted. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on Petitioner a copy of all

portions of the state trial record that have been transcribed previously and that are relevant

to a determination of the issues presented by the petition. If Petitioner wishes to respond

to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse with the Court and serving it on

Respondent within thirty (30) days of his receipt of the answer.

3. Respondent may file a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds in lieu of an

answer, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing

Section 2254 Cases. If Respondent files such a motion, Petitioner shall file with the Court

and serve on Respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within thirty (30)

days of receipt of the motion, and Respondent shall file with the Court and serve on

Petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) days of receipt of any opposition.

4. It is Petitioner’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner must keep 

the Court informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper captioned “Notice

of Change of Address.” He must comply with the Court’s orders in a timely fashion. 

Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant

to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 26, 2007

 JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KERRY L BAXTER,

Plaintiff,

 v.

T FELKER et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV07-01032 JSW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on July 26, 2007, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing

said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Kerry L. Baxter

V17238

High Desert State Prison

P.O. Box 3030

Susanville, CA 96127

Dated: July 26, 2007

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Jennifer Ottolini, Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-01032-JSW Document 4 Filed 07/26/07 Page 4 of 4