Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-00471/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-00471-40/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN W. BONILLA,

Petitioner, 

 v.

RON DAVIS, Warden, San Quentin

State Prison

Respondent. /

No. 08-CV-471 YGR

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER REQUESTING FURTHER

BRIEFING ON MOTION TO TAKE

DEPOSITIONS AND MOTIONS FOR

DISCOVERY, ECF DKT. NOS. 175-

177

Petitioner Steven Bonilla has been sentenced to death by the Superior Court of

California for the County of Alameda. On January 22, 2008, while his state habeas case was

still being litigated, Bonilla filed a request for appointment of counsel for his future federal

habeas litigation in this Court. Pursuant to Habeas Local Rule 2254-25, this Court granted his

request for appointment of counsel and referred this action to the Northern District’s Selection

Board for the recommendation of qualified counsel to represent Petitioner in these proceedings.

On May 2, 2012, this Court issued an order staying all proceedings in this matter until

counsel was appointed to represent Petitioner. On May 23, 2012, this Court denied Petitioner’s

request to represent himself in these proceedings. The Federal Public Defender for the District

of Nevada was appointed to represent Petitioner on July 25, 2012. The stay of proceedings was

lifted at that time.

Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus. (ECF Dkt. No. 139) Subsequent to

the filing of a joint case management conference statement (ECF Dkt. No. 151) and the Court

filed an order permitting petitioner to file motions for discovery (ECF Dkt. No. 153). Petitioner

Case 4:08-cv-00471-YGR Document 277 Filed 04/10/15 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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filed a motion to take depositions (ECF Dkt. No. 175), a petition for order directing release of

various documents (ECF Dkt. No. 176), and a motion for discovery (ECF Dkt. No. 177). The

respondent opposed petitioner’s motions (ECF Dkt. Nos. 183, 184) and petitioner replied (ECF

Dkt. Nos. 199, 200).

In his motions, petitioner noted that the habeas petition filed on February 21, 2013 is not

the final petition and that he intends to file another one “containing all known grounds for relief

in this capital case.” (Motion to Take Depositions 2; Discovery Motion 1). Petitioner discussed

using the discovery process to “augment” his claims. (Discovery Motion 2)

In an effort to assist the Court in reaching a resolution on these motions, the parties are

requested to brief the impact of Cullen v. Pinholster, – U.S. –, 131 S. Ct. 1388 (2010), on

petitioner’s discovery motions and petition. Briefs shall be limited to ten pages. Petitioner’s

brief shall be due no later than May 25, 2015; the answer shall be due no later than June 24,

2015; and the reply shall be due within 15 days of service of the answer.

Petitioner also is requested to file a supplement to the case management conference

statement indicating when petitioner contemplates filing a finalized petition and whether that

petition will be accompanied by an equitable tolling motion and/or a motion to amend the

petition. Additionally, petitioner is requested to identify which claims the parties agree are

exhausted and identify claims whose exhaustion status is disputed. This statement shall be

submitted within 60 days of the filing date of this order. A case management conference will be

scheduled if necessary.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 10, 2015. YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:08-cv-00471-YGR Document 277 Filed 04/10/15 Page 2 of 2