Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00304/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00304-1/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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1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEXTER LAWRENCE GRIFFIN,

Petitioner,

v.

BRANDON PRICE,

1

Respondent.

No. 2:20-cv-0304 KJN P

ORDER

Petitioner is housed at the Coalinga State Hospital, and is proceeding pro se. He filed an 

application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to 

proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. However, the petition was not signed by 

petitioner. Rather, petitioner typed his name. Parties proceeding without counsel are required to 

sign all pleadings, motions, and other papers submitted to the court for filing. Fed. R. Civ. P. 

11(a). Thus, the court is unable to consider the petition unless petitioner signs and re-files the 

amended petition. 

In addition, petitioner did not file his petition on the form used by this district. The Clerk 

of the Court is directed to send petitioner the form for filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

under 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

 

1

 Brandon Price, Executive Director of Coalinga State Hospital where petitioner is presently 

housed, is substituted as the proper respondent in this action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d).

Case 2:20-cv-00304-KJM-KJN Document 17 Filed 02/18/20 Page 1 of 2
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On December 4, 2019, petitioner submitted a signed application to proceed in forma 

pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Examination of the in forma pauperis application reveals that 

petitioner is unable to afford the costs of suit. Accordingly, the application to proceed in forma 

pauperis is granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

Accordingly, petitioner is provided an opportunity to re-file the petition on this court’s 

form bearing his signature. Failure to submit a signed amended petition will result in a 

recommendation that this action be dismissed.2

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is granted; 

2. Petitioner’s application for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed with leave to amend 

within thirty days from the date of this order;3

3. Any amended petition must bear the case number assigned to this action, the case 

caption set forth above, and the title “Amended Petition”; and

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner the court’s form application for 

writ of habeas corpus. 

Dated: February 18, 2020

/grif0304.r11

 

2

 Petitioner is cautioned that the habeas corpus statute imposes a one year statute of limitations 

for filing non-capital habeas corpus petitions in federal court. In most cases, the one year period 

will start to run on the date on which the state court judgment became final by the conclusion of 

direct review or the expiration of time for seeking direct review, although the statute of 

limitations is tolled while a properly filed application for state post-conviction or other collateral 

review is pending. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d).

3

 By setting this deadline the court is making no finding or representation that the petition is not 

subject to dismissal as untimely. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d).

Case 2:20-cv-00304-KJM-KJN Document 17 Filed 02/18/20 Page 2 of 2