Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04727/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04727-29/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARREN CORNELIUS STANLEY,

Petitioner,

v.

RON DAVIS, Warden of San Quentin State

Prison,

Respondent.

___________________________________/

No. C-07-4727 EMC

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER LIFTING STAY AND

GRANTING PETITIONER’S MOTION

FOR EQUITABLE TOLLING 

(Docket Nos. 190, 208)

I. INTRODUCTION

Petitioner, a condemned inmate at San Quentin State Prison, has filed a motion requesting

equitable tolling of the one-year statute of limitations applicable to federal habeas petitions. 

Respondent has opposed the motion. For the reasons below, Petitioner’s motion for equitable tolling

is GRANTED. 

II. BACKGROUND

Petitioner initiated the present capital habeas action when he asked the Court to appoint

counsel and to stay his execution on September 13, 2007. He filed a protective petition on July 8,

2010. On November 28, 2011, the Court issued a stay of this matter in order to examine issues

related to Petitioner’s competency under Rohan v. Woodford, 334 F. 3d 803, 817 (9th Cir. 2003). 

(Doc. No. 39.) On July 26, 2013, the stay was partially lifted in order to examine issues related to

Petitioner’s competency under Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986), and to refer the case to

Case 3:07-cv-04727-EMC Document 214 Filed 03/10/16 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 Petitioner had earlier filed a pro se Motion for Equitable Tolling which was denied without

prejudice. (Doc. No. 10). His Second Motion for Equitable Tolling was granted in part and denied

in part. (Doc. No. 26). 

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ADR. In addition, Petitioner’s Third Motion for Equitable Tolling was denied without prejudice.1

(Doc. No. 106.)

During the case management conference of December 17, 2015, the Court indicated that it

intends to lift the stay so that a finalized petition may be filed and this matter may proceed. The

parties agree that once the stay is lifted, Petitioner will have 127 days remaining to file a finalized

federal petition. In addition, Petitioner moves the Court to equitably toll the time in which Petitioner

must file his finalized petition for an additional period of 90 days. For the reasons previously stated

on the record, including the fact that a budget for the preparation of a final petition has been

approved, the stay is hereby LIFTED. Accordingly, Petitioner would have a total of 217 days from

the date of this order in which to file a timely finalized petition. 

III. LEGAL STANDARD

A one-year statute of limitations applies to federal habeas petitions filed by state prisoners,

and starts to run when the state court judgment becomes final. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). “[T]he

timeliness provision in the federal habeas corpus statute is subject to equitable tolling.” Holland v.

Florida, 130 S. Ct. 2549, 2554 (2010). A federal habeas petitioner is entitled to equitable tolling “if

he shows: (1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary

circumstance stood in his way and prevented timely filing.” Id. at 2562 (internal quotation marks

omitted). This determination is made “on a case-by-case basis.” Id. at 2653 (internal quotation

marks omitted).

IV. ANALYSIS

Petitioner asserts that he is entitled to equitable tolling because of the “extraordinary

circumstance” of his adjudicated incompetency. Petitioner argues that because he is unable to

adequately communicate with his habeas counsel, his counsel must find alternate sources of

information to adequately plead certain claims in the finalized petition. Petitioner also points out

that his lead trial counsel has died, eliminating one source of potential information. 

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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In opposing Petitioner’s motion, Respondent does not deny that the incompetence of a

habeas petitioner may constitute an “extraordinary circumstance.” See, e.g., Calderon v. District

Court (“Kelly”), 163 F.3d 530, 541 (9th Cir. 1998) (holding that incompetency is “a condition that

is, obviously, an extraordinary circumstance beyond the prisoner’s control.”) Rather, Respondent

argues that Petitioner has not been pursuing his rights diligently. See Holland, 130 S. Ct. at 2562. 

Respondent is incorrect. The record clearly demonstrates that Petitioner has more than

diligently pursued habeas relief since counsel was appointed. Pursuant to settlement negotiations

ordered by the Court, Petitioner properly focused on factual development that might assist the

parties in reaching a settlement. (Doc. No. 125). More recently, the Court ordered Petitioner to

develop the record regarding the question of whether he is permanently incompetent to be executed. 

(Doc. No. 164). There is nothing indicating that Petitioner has been less than diligent in litigating

this matter. 

Given that Petitioner has demonstrated both extraordinary circumstances and diligent pursuit

of his rights, his motion is GRANTED. 

V. CONCLUSION

For the above reasons, the stay is LIFTED and Petitioner’s motion for equitable tolling is

GRANTED. Petitioner will have a total of 217 days from March 10, 2016 in which to file a timely

finalized petition. 

This order disposes of Docket No. 190.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 10, 2016

_________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-04727-EMC Document 214 Filed 03/10/16 Page 3 of 3