Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01451/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01451-5/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

KENT KEIGWIN,

Petitioner,

v.

J. LIZARRAGA,

Respondent.

Case No.: 3:16-cv-01451-GPC-NLS

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND 

RECOMMENDATION, GRANTING 

MOTION TO DISMISS, AND 

DISMISSING PETITION AS MOOT

[ECF Nos. 14, 17.]

On June 10, 2016, Petitioner Kent Keigwin (“Petitioner”), a state inmate 

proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 

(“Petition”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging his judgment of conviction in the 

Superior Court of California in San Diego. (Dkt. No. 1.) On October 12, 2016, 

Respondent J. Lizarraga (“Respondent”) filed a motion to dismiss the Petition, requesting 

that the Court dismiss the Petition as moot, because Petitioner died on August 8, 2016. 

(Dkt. No. 14 at 2, 4.)

Before the Court is a Report and Recommendation (“Report”) issued by Magistrate 

Judge Nita L. Stormes recommending that this Court grant Respondent’s motion to 

Case 3:16-cv-01451-GPC-NLS Document 19 Filed 12/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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dismiss and dismiss the Petition as moot. (Dkt. No. 17.) For the reasons set forth below, 

this Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s Report, GRANTS Respondent’s motion to 

dismiss the Petition, and DISMISSES AS MOOT the Petition. 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) set forth a district 

judge’s duties in connection with a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation. The 

district judge must “make a de novo determination of those portions of the report to

which objection is made,” and “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the 

finding or recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see 

also United States v. Remsing, 874 F.2d 614, 617 (9th Cir. 1989). But “[t]he statute 

makes it clear that the district judge must review the magistrate judge’s findings and 

recommendations de novo if objection is made, but not otherwise.” United States v. 

Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1121 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (emphasis in original). 

In this case, the Court may adopt the Report on the basis that it is unopposed. See 

Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d at 1121. Where a habeas petitioner dies while the petition is 

pending, the petition must be dismissed as moot. Garceau v. Woodford, 399 F.3d 1101 

(9th Cir. 2005); Griffey v. Lindsey, 349 F.3d 1157 (9th Cir. 2003). Respondent provided 

proof that Mr. Keigwin died on August 8, 2016. (Dkt. No. 14 at 4.) Accordingly, the 

Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s Report, GRANTS Respondent’s motion to 

dismiss the Petition, and DISMISSES AS MOOT the Petition.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 15, 2016

Case 3:16-cv-01451-GPC-NLS Document 19 Filed 12/15/16 Page 2 of 2