Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-01818/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-01818-0/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

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID LEON DEW,

Petitioner, No. C 07-1818 PJH

v.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

BEN CURRY, Warden, 

Respondent.

______________________/

Petitioner David Leon Dew (“Dew”), a state prisoner, has filed a petition for a writ of

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

BACKGROUND

In 1983, Dew pled guilty in the San Diego County Superior Court to second degree

murder, and was sentenced to fifteen years to life in prison. Dew claims to have appeared

before California’s Board of Parole (“Board”) for at least eight parole consideration

hearings since 1983, the most recent of which appears to have occurred on May 12, 2005. 

Dew has already sought habeas corpus relief in the state courts based on the

Board’s denial of parole. On June 14, 2006, the San Diego County Superior Court denied

Dew’s habeas petition. Subsequently, the California Court of Appeal denied habeas relief

on August 14, 2006, and the California Supreme Court denied review on February 7, 2007.

DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

This court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus "in behalf of a person in

custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody

in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. §

2254(a). It shall "award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause

why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant

Case 4:07-cv-01818-PJH Document 5 Filed 04/09/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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28 Habeas.osc

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or person detained is not entitled thereto." 28 U.S.C. § 2243.

B. Petitioner’s Legal Claims

Although petitioner has not succinctly stated his claim for federal habeas corpus

relief, it appears that he is arguing that the Board’s repeated denial of his release on parole

violates his federal due process rights, and that as a result, this court should compel the

Board to order his discharge and/or order the Board to conduct another parole

consideration hearing at which it finds him suitable for release. Liberally construed, the

claim appears colorable under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and merits an answer from respondents.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown

1. The clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition and

all attachments thereto upon respondents. The clerk shall also serve a copy of this order

on petitioner.

2. Respondents shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within 60 days of

the date of 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

issued. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on petitioner a copy of all portions

of the administrative record that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by

the petition.

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

traverse with the court and serving it on respondent within 30 days of his receipt of the

answer.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 9, 2007 

______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:07-cv-01818-PJH Document 5 Filed 04/09/07 Page 2 of 2