Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-02043/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-02043-0/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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28 JDDL - 1 -

WO RP

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Michael Smalling, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

J. Stearnes, et al.,

Respondents. 

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No. CV-05-2043-PHX-MHM (DKD)

ORDER

Michael Smalling (Petitioner), presently confined in the Cheyenne Unit of the Arizona

State Prison Complex in Yuma, Arizona (ASPC-Yuma), filed with the Clerk of the Court on

July 11, 2005 a pro se “Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State Custody

Pursuant To 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Non-Death Penalty)” (Document #1) (Petition). The five

dollar ($5.00) filing fee has been paid.

PETITION

Named as Respondent in the Petition is J. Stearnes, Warden of ASPC-Yuma. (Petition

at 1). The Attorney General of the State of Arizona is named as an Additional Respondent.

Id.

In his Petition, Petitioner challenges his September 6, 2001 judgment of conviction

for Theft of Means of Transportation, Class Two (2) Burglary, and Possession of Drugs

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entered in the Maricopa County Superior Court in matters 2000-018399, 2000-018629, and

2000-019175. (Petition at 1). 

Under the heading of "Ground," Petitioner appears to present two (2) grounds for

habeas corpus relief in which he alleges that his rights were violated:

1. "My right to a competent counsel who can represent me throughout the judicial

process," (Petition at 8);

2. "My right to have a jury find aggravating factors in enhancing my sentence," Id.

Petitioner appears to allege that these issues were presented to the Arizona Court of

Appeals. (Petition at 2, 8).

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, federal courts “shall entertain an application for a 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) (emphasis added); see also Engle v.

Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 119 (1982). Federal courts may intervene in the state judicial process

only to correct wrongs of a constitutional dimension. Mabry v. Johnson, 467 U.S. 504, 507

(1984); Wainwright v. Goode, 464 U.S. 78, 84 (1983). Habeas corpus relief is not available

for errors of state law, procedure or evidentiary rulings. Gutierrez v. Griggs, 695 F.2d 1195,

1197 (9th Cir. 1983); Quiroz v. Wawrzaszek, 749 F.2d 1375, 1377 (9th Cir. 1984), cert.

denied, 471 U.S. 1055 (1985). 

The Court notes that Petitioner has failed to make any reference to the United States

Constitution, or to any laws or treaties of the United States, in his grounds for relief.

Accordingly, the Petition will be dismissed without prejudice for failure to allege a violation

of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.

However, in the interests of justice, the Court will grant Petitioner leave to file an

amended petition, if he so desires, to show how he is being held in custody in violation of the

Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States, to specify all the exhausted grounds for

relief which are available to him, to set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of

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A prisoner attacking his or her state conviction must exhaust state remedies before a federal

court will entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus. Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509 (1982); Szeto

v. Rushen, 709 F.2d 1340 (9th Cir. 1983). The federal court will not entertain a petition for writ of

habeas corpus unless each and every issue has been exhausted. Rose, 455 U.S. at 521-22. “[E]xcept

in habeas petitions in life-sentence or capital cases, claims of Arizona state prisoners are exhausted

for purposes of federal habeas once the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled on them.” Swoopes v.

Sublett, 196 F.3d 1008, 1010 (9th Cir. 1999). The failure to exhaust subjects the Petitioner to

dismissal. Gutierrez v. Griggs, 695 F.2d 1195 (9th Cir. 1983).

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Title 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b) (as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty

Act of 1996, Pub.L.No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (1996)) states that a District Court shall dismiss a

claim presented in a second or successive habeas corpus application under section 2254 that was not

presented in a prior application, except under certain circumstances. Furthermore, under 28 U.S.C.

JDDL - 3 -

his grounds, and to provide information as to how he has first exhausted his state court

remedies as to each ground on which he requests action by this Court. Accordingly, for each

ground Petitioner alleges in an amended petition, he must allege how he is in custody in

violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States, and should also provide

information as to how he has first exhausted his administrative remedies as to each and every

claim.1

Petitioner must limit each ground to the allegation of the violation of a single

constitutional right, must describe the right and its source in the United States Constitution,

and must clearly state supporting facts showing how that constitutional right was violated.

The grounds and facts must be clearly set out as fully as possible on the Court-approved

petition form itself. If Petitioner cannot fit all of his supporting facts or arguments in favor

of a particular ground on the Court-approved form, then he may continue on an attachment,

but each matter on any attachment must be clearly referenced to a particular ground on the

Court-approved form. 

Petitioner should take notice that by amending his Petition, he will be presumed to

have deliberately waived his right to raise any constitutional errors or deprivations other than

those set forth in his amended habeas petition, and the Court may dismiss any subsequent

petitions. 28 U.S.C. § 2244.2

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§ 2244(b)(3)(A)(1996), before a second or successive application is filed in the district court, the

applicant shall move in the court of appeals for an order authorizing the district court to consider the

application.

JDDL - 4 -

Petitioner should further take notice that all grounds alleged in his original Petition

which are not alleged in any amended petition will be waived. Hal Roach Studios v. Richard

Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990) (“an amended pleading supersedes the

original”); King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565 (9th Cir. 1987).

RULE 41 (b) WARNING

Petitioner is warned that if he fails to timely comply with every provision of this

Order, or any order of the Court entered in this matter, the action will be dismissed pursuant

to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258

(9th Cir.) (District Court may dismiss action for failure to comply with any order of the

Court), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 915 (1992).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

(1) That the “Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State Custody (28

U.S.C. § 2254)” (Document #1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WITH LEAVE

TO AMEND. Petitioner shall have thirty (30) days from the filing date of this Order to

amend his original Petition to show how he is being held in custody in violation of the

Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States, to specify all the exhausted grounds for

relief which are available to him, to set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of

his grounds, and to provide information as to how he has first exhausted his state court

remedies as to each ground on which he requests action by this Court. The amended petition

must be retyped or rewritten in its entirety on a Court-approved form and may not

incorporate any part of the original Petition, including exhibits, by reference. Any amended

petition submitted by Petitioner should be clearly designated as an amended petition on the

face of the document. Petitioner should take notice that if he fails to timely file an amended

petition, the Clerk of the Court will enter a judgment of dismissal of the action without

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further notice to Petitioner;

(2) That the Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to enter a judgment of dismissal of this

action without prejudice, without further notice to Petitioner, if Petitioner fails to file an

amended petition within thirty (30) days from the filing date of this Order; 

(3) That aside from the two (2) copies of an amended petition that must be submitted

pursuant to Rule 3.5(a) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure (LRCiv), a clear, legible copy

of every pleading or other document filed SHALL ACCOMPANY each original pleading

or other document filed with the Clerk for use by the District Judge or Magistrate Judge to

whom the case is assigned. See LRCiv 5.4. Failure to submit a copy along with the

original pleading or document will result in the pleading or document being stricken

without further notice to Petitioner;

(4) That at all times during the pendency of this action, Petitioner SHALL

IMMEDIATELY ADVISE the Court of any change of address and its effective date. Such

notice shall be captioned “NOTICE OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS.” The notice shall contain

only information pertaining to the change of address and its effective date, except that if

Petitioner has been released from custody, the notice should so indicate. The notice shall not

include any motions for any other relief. Failure to file a NOTICE OF CHANGE OF

ADDRESS may result in the dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b);

(5) That the Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to provide Petitioner with a current

Court-approved form for filing a “Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State

Custody Pursuant To 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Non-Death Penalty).”

DATED this 20th day of October, 2005.

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 5 of 19
98-2254ins

Revised 12/3/04 1

INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING A PETITION FOR 

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS BY A PERSON IN STATE CUSTODY

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 2254 IN THE UNITED STATES

 DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

I. General Information About the Habeas Corpus Form:

A. The Form. The petition for writ of habeas corpus by a person in state custody form is

designed to help prisoners prepare a petition challenging their custody on the grounds that their

state conviction or sentence violates the United States Constitution or other federal law. Local

Rule of Civil Procedure 3.5(a) requires that habeas corpus petitions be filed on the courtapproved form. Your petition must be typewritten or legibly handwritten. All questions must

be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If needed, you may

attach additional pages. The form, however, must be completely filled in to the extent

applicable. This form should not be used in death penalty cases.

B. Your Signature. The petition must be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury. Any

false statement of a material fact may serve as the basis for prosecution and conviction for

perjury. Your signature must be an original signature, not a photocopy.

C. The Filing Fee. Your petition for writ of habeas corpus must be accompanied by the $5.00

filing fee (checks or money orders should be made payable to the Clerk of the Court). If you

are unable to pay the filing fee when the petition is filed, you may request permission to proceed

in forma pauperis by completing and signing the Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

provided with the petition form. You must have an official at the prison or jail complete the

certificate at the bottom of the application form. If the amount of money in your prison account

exceeds $25.00, you must pay the $5.00 filing fee. See LRCiv 3.5(b).

D. Court Divisions. If you are challenging a state judgment of conviction entered in Maricopa,

Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, or Gila county, you should file your petition in the Phoenix Division of

the court. If you are challenging a state judgment of conviction entered in Apache, Navajo,

Coconino, Mohave, or Yavapai county, you should file your petition in the Prescott Division

of the court. If you are challenging a state judgment of conviction entered in Pima, Cochise,

Santa Cruz, Graham, or Greenlee county, you should file your petition in the Tucson Division

of the court. See LRCiv 5.1(b) and 77.1(a). 

You should mail THE ORIGINAL AND TWO COPIES of your petition with the $5.00

filing fee or the application to proceed in forma pauperis to:

Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: OR Tucson Division:

U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. District Court Clerk

U.S. Courthouse, Suite 321 U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500

401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 405 West Congress Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 6 of 19
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E. Certificate of Service on Respondents. You must furnish the respondents or their attorney

with a copy of any document you submit to the court (except the initial petition and application

to proceed in forma pauperis). Pursuant to Rules 5(a) and (d) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, each original document (except the initial petition and application for leave to

proceed in forma pauperis) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document

stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the respondents or their attorney and the

address to which it was mailed. Any document received by the court which does not include

a certificate of service may be stricken. A certificate of service should be in the following form:

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed

this day of (month) , (year) , to:

Name: 

Address: 

 Attorney for Defendant(s)/Respondent(s)

 

(Signature)

F. Original and Judge's Copy. You must file an original plus two copies of your petition. After

the petition is filed, you must furnish an original and one copy of any other document submitted

to the court. You must furnish one additional copy to the clerk if you wish to have a filestamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be identical to the original.

G. Exhibits. You should attach a copy of all final state court written decisions and all written

decisions by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the conviction you are challenging.

You should not submit any other exhibits with the petition. Instead, the relevant information

should be paraphrased in the petition.

H. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the clerk and the opposing party or their

attorney in writing of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the court of any

change in your mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case.

I. Amended Petition. If you need to change any of the information in the initial petition, you must

file an amended petition. The amended petition must be written on the court-approved petition

for habeas corpus form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure 15.1(a)(2) prohibits any amended pleading

from referencing any prior pleading. Further, any grounds not included in the amended petition

are considered dismissed.

J. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any of the District

Judges, Magistrates Judges, or the staff of any of the judicial officers. The appropriate way to

communicate with these persons is by filing a written pleading or motion. 

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 7 of 19
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II. Completing the Habeas Corpus Petition Form:

HEADING:

1. Your Name and Address. Print your name, prison or jail inmate number, and mailing

address on the lines provided in the upper left hand corner of the form.

2. Petitioner. Print your full name on the first line of the caption. 

3. Respondent. Print the name of the director of the department of corrections, or the

warden of the institution where you are confined, or some other official who has

responsibility for your current custody.

4. Additional Respondent. Print the name of the state where the judgment of conviction

you are challenging was entered on the blank line below the heading “THE ATTORNEY

GENERAL OF THE STATE OF.” 

PART A. JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION:

Only one state judgment of conviction may be challenged in a single petition for writ of

habeas corpus. Multiple counts which resulted in a single judgment of conviction may be

challenged in the same petition for writ of habeas corpus. If you wish to challenge more than

one judgment, however, you must file separate habeas corpus petitions for each judgment. Print

all of the requested information regarding your judgment of conviction and sentence on the

spaces provided.

Part B. APPEALS:

Answer each of the questions regarding your direct appeals in the state courts. If you

filed appeals in the state courts, you must provide the requested information for each level of

appeal on the spaces provided. Attach a copy of all written decisions on your appeal.

Part C. FIRST STATE POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS:

Most states provide a specific method for challenging a conviction in the state courts

after direct appeals have been completed. In Arizona the method is a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Rule 32 of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. Answer each

of the three questions regarding any first post-conviction relief proceedings you had in the state

courts. If you sought review of your petition in the state appellate courts, you must provide the

requested information for each level of appeal on the spaces provided. Attach a copy of all

written decisions on your petition and appeal.

Part D. SECOND STATE POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS:

Answer each of the three questions regarding any second post-conviction relief

proceedings you had in the state courts. If you sought review of your second petition in the

state appellate courts, you must provide the requested information for each level of appeal on

the spaces provided. Attach a copy of all written decisions on your second petition and appeal.

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 8 of 19
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Part E. OTHER STATE PROCEEDINGS:

The Arizona courts normally permit a defendant to challenge his or her conviction or

sentence only by filing a direct appeal or a Rule 32 petition for post-conviction relief. There

may, however, be a few very narrow exceptions that permit a challenge by filing a “special

action” or a habeas corpus petition in the state courts. Answer each of the three questions

regarding any such proceedings you had in the state courts. Attach a copy of all written

decisions on these proceedings. 

Part F. FEDERAL PROCEEDINGS:

If this is not your first federal habeas corpus petition challenging this conviction, answer

each of the seven questions regarding your prior federal petition. If your previous federal

petition was denied, you must obtain permission from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before

you may file a second petition in the federal courts. If the court of appeals has granted you

permission to file a successive petition, attach a copy of the court’s written decision.

Part G. PENDING PROCEEDINGS:

If you have an appeal, petition, or other proceedings currently pending regarding the

conviction you are challenging in this petition, answer each of the three questions in the spaces

provided. Ordinarily, you may not file a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus if you have

an appeal still pending in the state courts.

Part H. REPRESENTATION:

Print the name of the attorney who represented you at each stage of your state court

criminal proceedings. If you represented yourself at any stage, check the box marked “Pro Se.”

Part I. OTHER SENTENCES:

If you have any other sentences to serve aside from the sentence imposed by the

judgment you are challenging in this petition, answer each of the four questions regarding your

other convictions and sentences.

CLAIMS FOR RELIEF:

State concisely every ground for which you claim that your conviction or sentence

violates the United States Constitution or other federal law. Your claims should not be based

on state law. Summarize briefly the facts supporting each ground. If necessary, you may attach

pages stating additional grounds and supporting facts. You must raise all grounds for relief

that relate to this conviction or sentence. Any grounds not raised in this petition will likely be

barred from being raised in any subsequent federal action.

The following list of the most frequently raised grounds for relief in habeas corpus

proceedings is provided for your information only. You may raise any other federal grounds

if you have exhausted all your state court remedies with respect to those grounds.

1. Conviction obtained by a plea of guilty which was unlawfully induced or not made

voluntarily with the understanding of the nature of the charge or the consequences of the

plea.

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 9 of 19
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2. Conviction obtained by use of a coerced confession.

3. Conviction obtained by use of evidence gained pursuant to an unconstitutional search

and seizure (where the state did not provide a full and fair hearing on the Fourth

Amendment claim).

4. Conviction obtained by use of evidence gained pursuant to an unlawful arrest (where

the state did not provide a full and fair hearing on the Fourth Amendment claim).

5. Conviction obtained by a violation of the privilege against self-incrimination.

6. Conviction obtained by the unconstitutional failure of the prosecution to disclose

evidence favorable to the defendant.

7. Conviction obtained by a violation of the protection against double jeopardy.

8. Conviction obtained by action of a grand or petit jury which was unconstitutionally

selected or impaneled.

9. Denial of effective assistance of trial counsel or counsel on direct appeal in the state

courts.

10. Denial of right of appeal.

Parts G-M GROUNDS:

The form includes space for only four grounds. If you are alleging more than four grounds,

answer all of the questions for each additional ground on a separate page.

1. You must identify which constitutional right or other federal law was violated. You

may allege the violation of only one federal right per ground. Your claim should not

be based on state law.

2. Supporting facts. After you have identified which federal right was violated, you

need to state the supporting facts. Be as specific as possible. Tell your story briefly

without citing cases or law.

3. Exhaustion. In order to proceed in federal court, you ordinarily must exhaust the

remedies available to you in the state courts as to each claim on which you request

action by the federal court. If you did not fairly present each of your grounds to the

state’s highest court, your petition may be dismissed. If you did not present one or more

of your grounds to the state’s highest court, explain why you did not.

SIGNATURE:

You must sign your name and print the date you signed the petition. Your signature

must be an original signature, not a photocopy. Any false statement of a material fact may serve

as the basis for prosecution and conviction for perjury.

FINAL NOTE

You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your

petition being stricken or dismissed by the court. All questions must be answered concisely

in the proper space on the form. If needed, you may attach additional pages. The form,

however, must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages,

be sure to identify which section of the petition is being continued and number all pages.

Case 2:05-cv-02043-MHM Document 3 Filed 10/21/05 Page 10 of 19
98-2254

Revised 6/98 1 530

Name and Prisoner/Booking Number

Place of Confinement

Mailing Address

City, State, Zip Code

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

 , )

(Full Name of Petitioner) )

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 

) (To be supplied by the Clerk)

 , )

(Name of Warden, Superintendent, Jailor or )

authorized person having custody of Petitioner) )

) PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

Respondent, ) BY A PERSON IN STATE CUSTODY

and ) PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 2254

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF ) (NON-DEATH PENALTY)

)

, )

Additional Respondent. )

)

A. JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION

1. Name and location of court which entered the judgment of conviction you are challenging: 

2. Case Number: 

3. Date of judgment of conviction: (month/day/year)

4. Length and terms of sentence(s): 

5. Nature of offense(s) of which you were convicted (all counts): 

6. What was your plea? G Guilty G Not guilty G Nolo contendere

7. Kind of trial: G Jury G Judge only

8. Did you testify at the trial? G Yes G No

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B. APPEALS

1. Did you appeal the conviction or sentence? G Yes G No

If you did appeal, answer the following:

a. Name of court: 

b. Date the appeal was filed: (month/day/year)

c. Result: 

d. Date the appeal was decided: (month/day/year)

e. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

2. Did you seek review of your appeal in the state supreme court? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

b. Result: 

c. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

d. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

C. FIRST STATE POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS

1. Did you file a petition for post-conviction relief in the state court? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for post-conviction relief, answer the following:

a. Name of court: 

b. Date the notice of post-conviction relief was filed: (month/day/year)

c. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

d. Result: 

e. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

2. Did you seek review of your first petition in the court of appeals? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

b. Result: 

c. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

d. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

3. Did you seek review of your first petition in the state supreme court? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

b. Result: 

c. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

d. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

D. SECOND STATE POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS

1. Did you file a second petition for post-conviction relief in the state court? G Yes G No

If you did file a second petition for post-conviction relief, answer the following:

a. Name of court: 

b. Date the notice of post-conviction relief was filed: (month/day/year)

c. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

d. Result: 

e. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

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2. Did you seek review of your second petition in the court of appeals? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

b. Result: 

c. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

d. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

3. Did you seek review of your second petition in the state supreme court? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

b. Result: 

c. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

d. Date the mandate was issued: (month/day/year)

E. OTHER STATE PROCEEDINGS

1. Did you seek review of your conviction in any other state proceeding? G Yes G No

If you did challenge your conviction in some other action, answer the following:

a. Nature of the action: (e.g., special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

b. Name of court: 

c. Date the action was filed: (month/day/year)

d. Result: 

e. Date the action was decided: (month/day/year)

2. Did you seek review of the other action in the court of appeals? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Result: 

b. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

3. Did you seek review of the other action in the state supreme court? G Yes G No

If you did file a petition for review, answer the following:

a. Result: 

b. Date the petition was decided: (month/day/year)

Attach a copy of all state court written decisions regarding your conviction or sentence

F. FEDERAL PROCEEDINGS

Is this your first federal petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging this conviction? G Yes G No

If this is not your first federal petition challenging this conviction, answer the following:

1. Name of court where the prior petition was filed: 

2. Date the petition was filed: (month/day/year)

3. Case number of the prior action: 

4. Date the action was decided: (month/day/year)

5. Did you raise any of the issues in this petition in your prior petition? G Yes G No

6. Was the prior petition G Granted, G Denied on the merits, or G Denied on procedural grounds?

7. If the prior petition was denied, has the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted permission to file this

successive petition? G Yes G No

Attach a copy of all Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals written decisions

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G. PENDING PROCEEDINGS

Do you have any appeal, petition, application, motion or other action currently pending regarding the

conviction you are challenging in this petition? G Yes G No

If you do have an action currently pending regarding your conviction, answer the following:

1. Nature of the action: (e.g., appeal, special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

2. Name of court where the action is pending: 

3. Date the action was filed: (month/day/year)

H. REPRESENTATION

Who was the attorney who represented you in the following state court proceedings? Identify whether

the attorney was appointed, retained, or whether you represented yourself pro se (without counsel).

Name of Attorney Appointed Retained Pro Se

1. Preliminary hearing: G G G

2. Arraignment and plea: G G G

3. Trial/guilty plea: G G G

4. Sentencing: G G G

5. Direct appeal: G G G

6. First post-conviction petition: G G G

7. Second post-conviction petition: G G G

I. OTHER SENTENCES

Do you have any other sentences to serve after you complete the sentence imposed by the judgment you

are challenging in this petition? G Yes G No

If you do have other sentences to serve, answer the following:

1. Name of the court that imposed the other sentence: 

2. Date of judgment of conviction: (month/day/year)

3. Length and terms of sentence: 

4. Have you filed or do you plan to file any petition attacking the judgment which imposed the sentence to

be served in the future? G Yes G No

CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

On the following pages, state concisely every ground for which you claim that your conviction or sentence

violates the United States Constitution or other federal law. Your claims should not be based on state law.

Summarize briefly the facts supporting each ground. If necessary, you may attach pages stating additional

grounds and supporting facts. You must raise all grounds for relief that relate to this conviction. Any

grounds not raised in this petition will likely be barred from being raised in any subsequent federal action.

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J. GROUND I

1. My state conviction or sentence violates the following constitutional right or other federal law: 

2. Supporting Facts: (State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Ground I. State the facts clearly

in your own words without citing cases or legal arguments).

3. Exhaustion of state court remedies:

a. Did you present the issue raised in Ground I to the state supreme court? G Yes G No

b. If you did present the issue to the state supreme court, was the issue presented:

G In a direct appeal

G In your first post-conviction relief proceeding

G In your second post-conviction relief proceeding

G Other: (e.g., special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

c. If you did not present the issue to the state supreme court, explain why you did not:

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K. GROUND II

1. My state conviction or sentence violates the following constitutional right or other federal law: 

2. Supporting Facts: (State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Ground II. State the facts clearly

in your own words without citing cases or legal arguments).

3. Exhaustion of state court remedies:

a. Did you present the issue raised in Ground II to the state supreme court? G Yes G No

b. If you did present the issue to the state supreme court, was the issue presented:

G In a direct appeal

G In your first post-conviction relief proceeding

G In your second post-conviction relief proceeding

G Other: (e.g., special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

c. If you did not present the issue to the state supreme court, explain why you did not:

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L. GROUND III

1. My state conviction or sentence violates the following constitutional right or other federal law: 

2. Supporting Facts: (State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Ground III. State the facts clearly

in your own words without citing cases or legal arguments).

3. Exhaustion of state court remedies:

a. Did you present the issue raised in Ground III to the state supreme court? G Yes G No

b. If you did present the issue to the state supreme court, was the issue presented:

G In a direct appeal

G In your first post-conviction relief proceeding

G In your second post-conviction relief proceeding

G Other: (e.g., special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

c. If you did not present the issue to the state supreme court, explain why you did not:

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M. GROUND IV

1. My state conviction or sentence violates the following constitutional right or other federal law: 

2. Supporting Facts: (State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Ground IV. State the facts clearly

in your own words without citing cases or legal arguments).

3. Exhaustion of state court remedies:

a. Did you present the issue raised in Ground IV to the state supreme court? G Yes G No

b. If you did present the issue to the state supreme court, was the issue presented:

G In a direct appeal

G In your first post-conviction relief proceeding

G In your second post-conviction relief proceeding

G Other: (e.g., special action, habeas corpus, etc.)

c. If you did not present the issue to the state supreme court, explain why you did not:

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WHEREFORE, Petitioner prays that the court will grant Petitioner the relief to which he may be entitled

in this proceeding.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on 

DATE SIGNATURE OF PETITIONER

(Name and title of paralegal, legal assistant or

other person who helped prepare this petition)

(Signature of attorney, if any)

(Attorney’s address & telephone number)

ADDITIONAL PAGES

All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If needed, you may attach

additional pages. The form, however, must be completely filled in to the extent applicable.

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