Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01925/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01925-3/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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17cv1925-LAB (RBB) 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID LERMA, 

Petitioner,

v. 

RALPH DIAZ, Secretary, 

Respondent.

 Case No.: 17cv1925-LAB (RBB) 

ORDER SUA SPONTE 

SUBSTITUTING RESPONDENT 

 

On December 8, 2017, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a First 

Amended Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, naming 

Raymond Madden, the Warden of Centinela State Prison where Petitioner was confined at 

the time, as Respondent. (ECF No. 3.) On February 11, 2019, Petitioner notified the Court 

he had been transferred to Avenal State Prison. (ECF No. 16.) 

 A writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2242; Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Because Petitioner’s place of custody has 

changed, so has the Respondent to this action. In order to conform with the requirements 

of Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases and to avoid changing the Respondent 

if Petitioner is transferred again, the Court hereby sua sponte orders the substitution of 

Ralph Diaz, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as 

Respondent in place of “Raymond Madden.” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 

Case 3:17-cv-01925-LAB-RBB Document 17 Filed 02/19/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 2
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17cv1925-LAB (RBB) 

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894 (9th Cir. 1996) (stating that the respondent in § 2254 proceedings may be the chief 

officer in charge of state penal institutions). 

 The Court HEREBY ORDERS the substitution of “Ralph Diaz, Secretary,” as 

Respondent in place of “Raymond Madden.” The Clerk of Court will modify the docket 

to reflect “Ralph Diaz, Secretary” in place of the former respondent. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 19, 2019 _________________________________________ 

 Ruben B. Brooks 

 United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 3:17-cv-01925-LAB-RBB Document 17 Filed 02/19/19 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 2