Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_20-cv-02188/USCOURTS-cand-5_20-cv-02188-0/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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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

JAMAR RASHAD GEETER,

Plaintiff,

v.

MARCUS POLLARD, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 20-cv-02188-VKD 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE 

PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS

Petitioner Jamar Geeter, a prisoner of the State of California, filed a habeas corpus petition 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Mr. Geeter has paid the $5.00 filing fee. His petition sets forth 

several claims challenging the constitutionality of his conviction in state court. Specifically, Mr. 

Geeter claims:

• “Petitioner was denied his Fifth Amendment right to testify in his own defense and 

his Fourteenth Amendment right to a fair trial when the trial court instructed the 

jury with CALCRIM 361, because the instruction improperly singled out his 

testimony for special scrutiny.”

• “Petitioner was denied his Fourteenth Amendment right to Due Process when the 

trial court erroneously admitted highly prejudicial other crimes evidence.”

• “Petitioner was denied his Fourteenth Amendment right to Due Process when the 

trial court improperly permitted Detective Bray to testify that he believed Z.H. 

because a witness may not express an opinion on a defendant’s guilt or innocence.”

• “Petitioner was denied his Fourteenth Amendment right to Due Process by the 

cumulative effect of multiple trial errors.”

Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 10-13.

Case 5:20-cv-02188-VKD Document 3 Filed 04/08/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

These claims, when liberally construed, are cognizable and potentially meritorious. Good 

cause appearing, respondent Marcus Pollard is hereby ordered to show cause why the petition 

should not be granted.

In order to expedite the resolution of this case, it is further ordered as follows:

1. The Clerk shall serve Mr. Pollard and his attorney, the Attorney General of the 

State of California, with a copy of this order and the petition with all attachments.

2. Consistent with Habeas Local Rule 2254-6, Mr. Pollard shall file with the Court 

and serve on petitioner, within 60 days of service of the petition and 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 based on the claims found cognizable herein. 

Mr. Pollard shall file with the answer and serve on Mr. Geeter 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.

3. If Mr. Geeter wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse 

with the Court and serving it on Mr. Pollard within 30 days of the date the answer is filed.

4. Mr. Pollard may file, within 60 days, 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 Mr. Pollard files such a motion, Mr. Geeter shall file with the Court and 

serve on Mr. Pollard an opposition or statement of non-opposition within 30 days of the date the 

motion is filed, and Mr. Pollard shall file with the Court and serve on Mr. Geeter a reply within 14 

days of the date any opposition is filed.

5. The Clerk shall send a notice to Messrs. Geeter and Pollard regarding consenting to 

or declining the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 8, 2020

VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:20-cv-02188-VKD Document 3 Filed 04/08/20 Page 2 of 2