Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02353/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02353-0/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSEPH VALENTIN BULLOCK, No. CIV S-07-2353-GEB-CMK-P

Petitioner, 

vs. ORDER

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS, et al.,

Respondents.

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

Pending before the court is petitioner’s application for leave to proceed in forma

pauperis (Doc. 2). Petitioner has not, however, submitted a “certification from the warden or

other appropriate officer of the place of confinement showing the amount of money or securities

that the petitioner has in any account in the institution” as required by Rule 3(a)(2) of the Federal

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. This requirement may be satisfied by having the

appropriate prison official complete the certificate portion of the form application or by

submitting a certified copy of petitioner’s prison trust account statement. Petitioner will be

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provided the opportunity to submit the required certification or the appropriate filing fee. 

As to petitioner’s petition (Doc. 1), petitioner has not named the proper

respondent. “A petitioner for habeas corpus relief must name the state officer having custody of

him or her as the respondent to the petition.” Stanley v. California Supreme Court, 21 F.3d 359,

360 (9th Cir. 1994); see also Rule 2(a), Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. Because

petitioner has not named the appropriate state officer, the petition must be dismissed with leave

to amend to name the correct respondent. See Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360. 

Finally, the court notes that, according to petitioner’s admission, his claims are

not exhausted. Specifically, he states in the current petition that his direct appeal is still pending. 

Therefore, the instant petition appears to be premature. If petitioner chooses not to file an

amended petition within the time provided by this order, or does not resolve the fees status for

this case within the time provided, the court will construe such inaction as an acceptance of

dismissal of the premature petition and will issue appropriate findings and recommendations. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed with leave to

amend; 

2. Petitioner may file an amended petition on the form employed by this

court, and which names the proper respondent and states all claims and requests for relief, within

30 days of the date of this order;

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner the court’s form

habeas corpus application; and

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

/ / /

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4. If petitioner elects to file an amended petition, he must also resolve the fee

status for this case by submitting within 30 days of the date of this order a certification as

required by Rule 3(a)(2), or the appropriate filing fee.

DATED: January 14, 2008

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:07-cv-02353-GEB-CMK Document 5 Filed 01/15/08 Page 3 of 3