Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_95-cv-05108/USCOURTS-caed-1_95-cv-05108-24/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RONALD AVERY McPETERS,

Petitioner,

v.

RON DAVIS, Warden of California State 

Prison at San Quentin,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:95-cv-05108-DAD-SAB

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER DENYING JOINT REQUEST TO VACATE 

EVIDENTIARY HEARING SCHEDULE

(Doc. No. 305)

ORDER MODIFYING EVIDENTIARY HEARING 

SCHEDULE AND SETTING STATUS 

CONFERENCE

Disclosure Deadlines: 

Rule 26(a)(2): October 31, 2016

Rebuttal Experts: December 9, 2016 

Discovery Deadline: 

Completion Of All Discovery: December 9, 2016 

Document Submission Deadlines: 

Final Witness Lists: January 2, 2017

Final Exhibit Lists: January 2, 2017

Pre-Marked Exhibits: January 2, 2017

Pre-Hearing Motions/Submittals: January 10, 2017

Exhibit Binders: January 12, 2017

Closing Briefs: 90 days after hearing 

Rebuttal Briefs: 30 days after closing brief 

Continued Evidentiary Hearing:

January 18, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Courtroom 5

Status Conference Hearing:

October 3, 2016 at 11: a.m. Courtroom 9

Before the court is the parties’ March 11, 2016 joint request to vacate the evidentiary 

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hearing schedule. The parties seek this relief pending final disposition of petitioner’s June 5, 

2015 petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in the California Supreme Court (California 

Supreme Court Case No. S226918) alleging his incompetency to be executed under Ford v. 

Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986) (Claim One) and entitlement to relief for false evidence under 

California Penal Code § 1473(e)(1) (Claims Two and Three). 

The court has reviewed the joint request and its appendices and the record in this matter. 

The request to vacate evidentiary hearing scheduling shall be denied because that relief is akin to 

holding these proceedings in abeyance, which the parties have neither noticed nor supported. 

The court, however, finds good cause to modify scheduled dates for a continued evidentiary 

hearing before United States District Judge Dale A. Drozd, and to set a status conference. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The joint request to vacate the evidentiary hearing schedule (Doc. No. 305) is 

denied without prejudice. 

2. The June 11, 2015 scheduling order is modified as follows:

a. The evidentiary hearing is continued to January 18, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., in 

Department 5, before the United States District Court Judge Dale A. 

Drozd.

b. The deadline for the parties to provide Rule 26(a)(2) expert testimony and 

reports and lay witness lists and to request petitioner’s attendance at 

hearing is continued to October 31, 2016. Any motion to conduct a prehearing discovery deposition of an opposing party’s expert shall be filed 

within 10 days of the disclosure. Any motion to exclude an opposing 

party’s proffered expert witness shall also be filed within 10 days of the 

disclosure. Opposition to either motion shall be filed 10 days thereafter, 

and if the court deems a hearing necessary the matter shall be set for 

telephonic hearing 7 days thereafter or on the next available date on the 

court’s calendar.

c. The deadline for disclosure of rebuttal expert witness testimony and 

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related reports, and filing of discovery motions is continued to December 

9, 2016. Any motion to conduct a pre-hearing discovery deposition of an 

opposing party’s rebuttal expert shall be made within 10 days of the 

disclosure. Any motion to exclude an opposing party’s proffered rebuttal 

expert shall also be filed within 10 days of the disclosure. Opposition to 

either motion shall be filed 10 days thereafter, and if the court deems a 

hearing necessary the matter shall be set for telephonic hearing 7 days 

thereafter or on the next available date on the court’s calendar. 

d. Either party may file any discovery motion(s) not otherwise provided for 

in this schedule, by not later than December 9, 2016. Opposition to such 

motions shall be filed 10 days thereafter, and if the court deems a hearing 

necessary the matter(s) shall be set for telephonic hearing 7 days thereafter 

or on the next available date on the court’s calendar. Within 5 days of the 

court’s ruling on any motion for discovery, any additional discovery 

ordered by the court shall be produced.

e. The deadline for the parties to serve the final witness and exhibit lists 

pursuant to Rule 26(a)(3), and to file copies of exhibits not previously 

filed in this matter is continued to January 2, 2017. The parties shall 

also file by that date copies of any listed exhibits not previously filed in 

this matter.

f. Following exchange of the witness and exhibit lists, the parties shall meet 

and confer to determine (i) whether the testimony of certain witnesses, if 

any, can be introduced via written declaration with either a waiver of 

cross-examination, or consent to conduct cross-examination by written 

interrogatories or by production of the witness by the proffering party for 

cross-examination in court, and (ii) whether they can stipulate to any 

undisputed facts or legal or evidentiary issues.

g. The deadline for filing in limine motions, any supplemental joint preCase 1:95-cv-05108-DAD-SAB Document 307 Filed 03/18/16 Page 3 of 5
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hearing statement and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law is 

continued to January 10, 2017. 

h. The deadline for the parties to deliver complete, legible and identical sets 

of exhibits in binders is continued to January 12, 2017. Three sets of 

binders shall be delivered to Courtroom Deputy, Ms. Renee Gaumnitz, 

(one for use by the Courtroom Clerk and one for use by the court and one 

for purposes of questioning witnesses to be placed at the witness stand). 

One set each shall be delivered to counsel. All of petitioner’s exhibits 

shall be marked sequentially beginning with 1 (e.g., 1, 2, etc.). All of

respondent’s exhibits shall be marked sequentially beginning with A (e.g., 

A, B, C...AA, BB, CC...AAA, BBB, CCC, etc.).

i. The evidentiary hearing will address claims 4, 6, 15A, 16, 21 and 22. 

After the evidentiary hearing, the court may, if necessary, address reserved 

claims 11 and 35 as well as record-based claims 8, 18, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 

33, and 34.

j. Evidence shall be presented via live testimony unless the parties stipulate 

otherwise, or the court so orders. If the other party waives the right to 

cross-examination or consents to conduct cross-examination by written 

interrogatories, see 28 U.S.C. § 2246, or in court, the court will generally 

permit the admission of testimony by written declaration. Further, under 

certain circumstances the court may allow testimony to be introduced from 

a pre-hearing deposition.

k. Not later than 90 days after receipt of the court reporter’s transcript of the 

evidentiary hearing, the parties shall simultaneously file closing briefs. 

l. Not later than 30 days after the filed date of closing briefs, the parties shall 

simultaneously file any rebuttal briefs. 

3. A status conference hearing is set for October 3, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., in 

Department 9, before the undersigned. The parties may appear by teleconference. 

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The attorneys are directed to contact the court’s Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Ms. 

Mamie Hernandez, to advise that they will be appearing telephonically and to 

obtain the teleconference number and pass code. 

4. Counsel shall also file a joint status conference report not later than 7 days prior 

to the status conference hearing and within 15 days of issuance of any decision by 

the California Supreme Court on the June 5, 2015 state habeas petition.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 16, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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