Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01816/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01816-0/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

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

K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WQH\07cv1816ifpgrt&dism.wpd, 9267 -1- 07cv1816

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES LYNN HINES, Civil No. 07-1816 WQH (RBB)

Petitioner,

ORDER: 

(1) GRANTING APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS; and

(2) DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT

PREJUDICE AND WITH LEAVE TO

AMEND

v.

JANET NAPOLITANO, et al., 

Respondents.

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has submitted a Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis. 

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

 Petitioner has $0.00 on account at the California correctional institution in which he is

presently confined. Petitioner cannot afford the $5.00 filing fee. Thus, the Court GRANTS

Petitioner’s application to proceed in forma pauperis, and allows Petitioner to prosecute the

above-referenced action as a poor person without being required to prepay fees or costs and

without being required to post security. The Clerk of the Court shall file the Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus without prepayment of the filing fee.

FAILURE TO STATE A COGNIZABLE CLAIM

Further, Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases states that the petition

“shall set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of the grounds . . . specified [in the

Case 3:07-cv-01816-WQH-RBB Document 3 Filed 09/26/07 Page 1 of 2
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

K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WQH\07cv1816ifpgrt&dism.wpd, 9267 -2- 07cv1816

petition].” Rule 2(c), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. See also Boehme v. Maxwell, 423 F.2d 1056, 1058

(9th Cir. 1970) (trial court’s dismissal of federal habeas proceeding affirmed where petitioner

made conclusory allegations instead of factual allegations showing that he was entitled to relief).

Here, Petitioner has violated Rule 2(c). Although Petitioner does not fail to state factual

allegations in the Petition, he does fail to state any grounds for relief in the Petition. 

While courts should liberally interpret pro se pleadings with leniency and understanding,

this should not place on the reviewing court the entire onus of ferreting out grounds for relief.

See Zichko v. Idaho, 247 F.3d 1015, 1020 (9th Cir. 2001). Here, the Petition contains

unintelligible allegations without any specific federal constitutional grounds for relief. This

Court would have to engage in a tenuous analysis in order to attempt to identify and make sense

of the Petition. In order to satisfy Rule 2(c), Petitioner must point to a “real possibility of

constitutional error.” Cf. Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75 n.7 (1977) (internal quotation

marks omitted). Moreover, the allegations should be sufficiently specific to permit the

respondent to assert appropriate objections and defenses. Harris v. Allen, 739 F. Supp. 564, 565

(W.D. Okla. 1989). Here, the lack of grounds for relief in the Petition prevents the Respondent

from being able to assert appropriate objections and defenses.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons the Court GRANTS Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma

pauperis and DISMISSES the case without prejudice and with leave to amend. If Petitioner

wishes to proceed with this case, he must, no later than November 26, 2007, file a First

Amended Petition which clearly and succinctly states all federal constitutional grounds for relief.

THE CLERK OF COURT IS DIRECTED TO MAIL PETITIONER A BLANK FIRST

AMENDED PETITION FORM.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 26, 2007

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-01816-WQH-RBB Document 3 Filed 09/26/07 Page 2 of 2