Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02190/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02190-3/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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K :\C O M M O N \E V E R Y O N E \_EFILE-PRO SE\L A B \11cv2190 d ism iss SAP.w pd, 12711 -1- 11cv2190

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARVIN GOLDSTON, Jr, Civil No. 11-2190 LAB (CAB)

Petitioner,

ORDER:

(1) WITHDRAWING NOVEMBER 30,

2011, ORDER [ECF No. 9] and 

(2) DISMISSING SECOND AMENDED

PETITION WITHOUT PREJUDICE

AND WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND

[ECF No. 8.]

v.

WARDEN BIRGA, 

Respondent.

On September 19, 2011, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, submitted a

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to

proceed in forma pauperis. The Court denied Petitioner’s in forma pauperis request and

dismissed the case without prejudice and with leave to amend on September 27, 2011. (See ECF

No. 3.) Petitioner was given until November 29, 2011, to either pay the $5.00 filing fee or

submit adequate proof of his inability to pay the fee, and to submit a First Amended Petition

which cured the pleading deficiencies outlined in the Order. (Id.) 

On October 12, 2011, Petitioner submitted a First Amended Petition. (See ECF No. 4.)

On October 19, 2011, Petitioner submitted a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (See ECF No.

5.) By Order dated October 25, 2011, the Court granted Petitioner’s application to proceed in

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forma pauperis, and dismissed the case for his failure to allege exhaustion of state judicial

remedies, and state a cognizable federal claim. Petitioner was advised that he could proceed

with the case if he filed a Second Amended Petition which cured the pleading deficiencies noted

in the Order no later than December 26, 2011. (See ECF No. 6.) 

On November 14, 2011, Petitioner filed a Second Amended Petition. (See ECF No. 8.)

By Order dated November 30, 2011, this Court dismissed Petitioner’s Second Amended Petition

for his failure to allege exhaustion of state judicial remedies and for his failure to state grounds

for relief in the Second Amended Petition. (See ECF. No. 9.) Upon further review, the Court

WITHDRAWS its November 30, 2011, Order and DISMISSES the case without prejudice and

without leave to amend for the following reasons. 

FAILURE TO ALLEGE EXHAUSTION OF STATE JUDICIAL REMEDIES

Petitioner has again indicated that he did not seek review in the California Supreme Court

to exhaust his state judicial remedies. (See Second Amended Petition at 6-7.) Petitioner was

notified in this Court’s October 25, 2011, Order that habeas petitioners who wish to challenge

either their state court conviction or the length of their confinement in state prison, must first

exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c); Granberry v. Greer, 481 U.S. 129,

133-34 (1987). Because Petitioner has indicated twice that he did not seek review in the

California Supreme Court, it appears plain that Petitioner is not presently entitled to federal

habeas relief.

FAILURE TO STATE GROUNDS FOR RELIEF IN PETITION

In addition, Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases states that the petition

“shall set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of the grounds . . . specified [in the

petition].” Rule 2(c), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. See also Boehme v. Maxwell, 423 F.2d 1056, 1058

(9th Cir. 1970) (trial court’s dismissal of federal habeas proceeding affirmed where petitioner

made conclusory allegations instead of factual allegations showing that he was entitled to relief).

Here, Petitioner has again violated Rule 2(c) because although he claims counsel was ineffective,

he has failed to support the claim with specific factual allegations. (See Pet. at 6, ECF No. 8.)

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While courts should liberally interpret pro se pleadings with leniency and understanding,

this should not place on the reviewing court the entire onus of ferreting out grounds for relief.

See Zichko v. Idaho, 247 F.3d 1015, 1020 (9th Cir. 2001). The Court finds that the Petition

contains conclusory allegations without any grounds for relief. A federal court may not entertain

a petition that contains allegations which are conclusory. 

This Court would have to engage in a tenuous analysis in order to attempt to identify and

make sense of the Petition. In order to satisfy Rule 2(c), Petitioner must point to a “real

possibility of constitutional error.” Cf. Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75 n.7 (1977)

(internal quotation marks omitted). Facts must be stated, in the petition, with sufficient detail

to enable the Court to determine, from the face of the petition, whether further habeas corpus

review is warranted. Adams v. Armontrout, 897 F.2d 332, 334 (8th Cir. 1990). Moreover, the

allegations should be sufficiently specific to permit the respondent to assert appropriate

objections and defenses. Harris v. Allen, 739 F. Supp. 564, 565 (W.D. Okla. 1989). Here, the

lack of grounds for relief in the Petition prevents the Respondent from being able to assert

appropriate objections and defenses.

CONCLUSION

In light of the above, the Court WITHDRAWS its November 30, 2011, Order, and

DISMISSES the case without prejudice and without leave to amend. The Clerk of Court is

directed to close the case. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 6, 2011

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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