Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01954/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01954-8/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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 As noted in the prior order, filed on July 26, 2006, respondent brought a motion to 1

dismiss the first amended petition as barred by the AEDPA one-year statute of limitations. In

opposition to the motion, petitioner sought an evidentiary hearing to demonstrate a basis for

equitable tolling, in light of Mendoza v. Carey, 449 F.3d 1065 (9 Cir. 2006), a recent case in th

which the Ninth Circuit found that a non-English speaking petitioner’s alleged lack of access to

Spanish language materials or translation assistance during the limitations period could entitle

the petitioner to equitable tolling. 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEJANDRO RANGEL GONZALEZ,

Petitioner, No. CIV S- 05-1954 LKK GGH P

vs.

DAVID L. RUNNELS, Warden,

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, proceeding with appointed counsel, has filed a petition pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §2254. Petitioner’s motion for an evidentiary hearing and to expand the record came on

for hearing on December 14, 2006. Mary Lou Hillberg appeared for petitioner. Respondent was 1

represented by Maggy Krell.

Pursuant to the court’s order filed on July 26, 2006, the parties evidently having

been unable to submit a stipulation providing a factual basis demonstrating petitioner’s access, or

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lack thereof, to translation assistance for timely filing and to file a stipulated motion to expand

the record by declaration and any other documents, petitioner filed such a motion on behalf of

petitioner alone. Petitioner’s counsel, also as directed, filed, along with petitioner’s original

declaration in Spanish, an English translation of the declaration with respect to the impediments

to timely filing that he faced with regard to the lack of access to assistance from bilingual

inmates or others during the relevant period. 

Respondent failed to respond in writing to petitioner’s motion, either in the form

of an opposition or a statement of non-opposition, nor did counsel make respondent’s own

motion, but stated at the hearing an intent to challenge, inter alia, the credibility of petitioner’s

representations in the declaration currently before the court in an evidentiary hearing. The court

therefore granted petitioner’s unopposed motion for an evidentiary hearing and granted

petitioner’s motion to expand the record to include petitioner’s declaration, in its original form

and in the English translation, submitted by petitioner. The court makes the following ORDERS

with respect to the impending evidentiary hearing, scheduled for February 26, 2007, at 9:00 a.m.:

A. Witnesses

On or before ten days prior to the hearing the parties shall provide witness lists,

including addresses and telephone numbers, to opposing counsel.

Each party may call any witnesses designated by the other.

1. No other witness will be permitted to testify unless:

a. The party offering the witness demonstrates that the witness is for the

purpose of rebutting evidence which could not be reasonably anticipated

prior to the evidentiary hearing.

b. The witness was discovered after the exchange of witnesses and the

proffering party makes the showing required in “2,” below.

2. If not timely designated within the ten day period prior to the evidentiary

hearing, the parties shall promptly inform the court and opposing parties of the

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existence of the unlisted witnesses so that the court may consider at the

evidentiary hearing whether the witnesses shall be permitted to testify. The

witnesses will not be permitted unless:

a. The witnesses could not reasonably have been discovered prior to the

exchange of witness lists;

b. The court and the opposing party were promptly notified upon

discovery of the witnesses;

c. If time permitted, the party proffered the witnesses for deposition; or 

d. If time did not permit, a reasonable summary of the witnesses’

testimony was provided to the opposing party.

3. On or before twenty days prior to the hearing, the parties shall designate their

expert witnesses, if any; on or before thirty days prior to the hearing, movant shall provide

respondent and respondent shall provide movant, with the report of each party’s expert

witness(es) in compliance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26; 

B. Exhibits, Schedules and Summaries

Both parties shall exchange copies of their exhibits twenty days prior to the

evidentiary hearing. Any objections to exhibits may be raised at the hearing.

Movant will use numbers to mark exhibits; respondents will use letters.

1. No other exhibits will be permitted to be introduced unless:

a. The party proffering the exhibit demonstrates that the exhibit is for the

purpose of rebutting evidence which could not have been reasonably

anticipated, or

b. The exhibit was discovered after the exchange of exhibits and the

proffering party makes the showing required in Paragraph “2 ” below.

2. If not timely exchanged within the fifteen day period prior to the evidentiary

hearing, the parties shall promptly inform the court and opposing party of the

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existence of such exhibits so that the court may consider their admissibility at the

evidentiary hearing. The exhibits will not be received unless the proffering party

demonstrates:

a. The exhibits could not reasonably have been discovered earlier;

b. The court and the opposing party were promptly informed of their

existence; or

c. The proffering party forwarded a copy of the exhibit(s) (if physically

possible) to the opposing party. If the exhibit(s) may not be copied the

proffering party must show that he has made the exhibit(s) reasonably

available for inspection by the opposing party.

The parties are directed to each bring an “exhibit book” containing copies of their

exhibits to the evidentiary hearing. The “exhibit book” is for bench use during trial.

C. Miscellaneous

Counsel shall make the appropriate writ ad testificandum filings if the presence of

movant or any other incarcerated witness is desired. Petitioner shall file these writs at least thirty

days prior to the hearing. The parties shall otherwise make their own arrangements for the

attendance of non-incarcerated witnesses.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s unopposed motion for an evidentiary hearing, filed on October 20,

2006, is granted and a hearing has been set for February 26, 2007, at 9:00 a.m., in Courtroom 24

before the undersigned; the parties shall prepare for hearing in accordance with the terms set

forth in this order; and

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2. Petitioner’s motion to expand the record, filed on October 20, 2006, to include

the original (Spanish) and the English translation of petitioner’s declaration is granted.

DATED: 12/20/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

 GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

gonz1954.evi

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