Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-1_20-cv-00631/USCOURTS-cand-1_20-cv-00631-0/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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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EUREKA DIVISION

CHRISTOPHER LEMA,

Plaintiff,

v.

THE PEOPLE,

Defendant.

Case No. 20-cv-00631-RMI 

ORDER FOR RESPONDENT TO 

SHOW CAUSE

Petitioner, a California prisoner, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner was convicted in Santa Clara County, so venue is proper here. See

28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). Petitioner has paid the filing fee and consented to the jurisdiction of a 

Magistrate Judge. (Dkts. 1, 3).

BACKGROUND

Petitioner was convicted of second-degree murder. People v. Lema, No. H044128, 2019 

WL 1970325, at *1 (Cal. Ct. App. May. 3, 2019). Petitioner was sentenced to 16 years to life in 

state prison. Id. The California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment. Id. The California 

Supreme Court denied review. See Pet. at 3. 

DISCUSSION

Standard of Review 

This court may entertain a petition for 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); Rose v. 

Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975). Habeas corpus petitions must meet heightened pleading 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

requirements. McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994). An application for a federal writ of 

habeas corpus filed by a prisoner who is in state custody pursuant to a judgment of a state court 

must “specify all the grounds for relief available to the petitioner . . . [and] state the facts 

supporting each ground.” Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. 

“‘[N]otice’ pleading is not sufficient, for the petition is expected to state facts that point to a ‘real 

possibility of constitutional error.’” Rule 4 Advisory Committee Notes (quoting Aubut v. Maine, 

431 F.2d 688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)).

Legal Claims

Petitioner’s sole ground for federal habeas relief asserts that his due process rights and 

right to a fair trial were denied by the trial court’s response to a jury request for further explanation 

of the differences between first-degree murder, second-degree murder and voluntary 

manslaughter. Liberally construed, this claim is sufficient to require a response.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Respondent shall file with the court, and serve on Petitioner, 

within fifty-six (56) days of the issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to 

Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus 

should not be granted. Respondent shall file with the answer, and serve on Petitioner, a copy of all 

portions of the state trial record that have been transcribed previously and that are relevant to a 

determination of the issues presented by the petition. If Petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, 

he shall do so by filing a traverse with the court and serving it on respondent within twenty-eight 

(28) days of his receipt of the answer.

Respondent may file a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds in lieu of an answer, as set 

forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. If 

Respondent files such a motion, it is due fifty-six (56) days from the date this order is entered. If a 

motion is filed, Petitioner shall file with the court and serve on Respondent an opposition or 

statement of non-opposition within twenty-eight (28) days of receipt of the motion, and 

Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner a reply within fourteen (14) days of 

receipt of any opposition.

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United States District Court

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Petitioner is reminded that all communications with the court must be served on 

Respondent by mailing a true copy of the document to Respondent’s counsel. Petitioner must keep 

the court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a timely 

fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant 

to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). See Martinez v. Johnson, 104 F.3d 769, 772 (5th Cir. 

1997) (Rule 41(b) applicable in habeas cases).

The clerk shall serve by regular mail a copy of this order, the petition and all attachments 

thereto and a Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction consent form on Respondent and Respondent's 

attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California. The clerk also shall serve a copy of this 

order on Petitioner. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

ROBERT M. ILLMAN

United States Magistrate Judge

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