Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04746/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04746-0/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)

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

NOT FOR CITATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOE O’NEAL,

Petitioner,

 vs.

Warden R. A. HOREL; HARLAN

WATKINS & DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS, 

Respondents. /

No. C 06-4746 PJH (PR)

ORDER FOR RESPONDENT

TO SHOW CAUSE

This is a habeas case filed pro se by a state prisoner. The petition is directed to

petitioner’s “validation” as a gang member and consequent confinement in the Security

Housing Unit (“SHU”) at Pelican Bay State Prison. Petitioner contended in the petition that: 

(1) he was not given an opportunity to tell his side of the story regarding his validation; (2)

he was not provided with the “discovery” regarding the basis for his validation required by

the consent decree in Castillo v. Alamieda, state law, and due process; and (3) conditions

of his confinement in the SHU violated his Eighth Amendment rights. In the court’s initial

review order it dismissed his state law, Castillo, and conditions of confinement claims, and

ordered petitioner to show cause why the remaining issues should not be dismissed as not

going to the length of his confinement. 

Petitioner has responded that while he is in the SHU he cannot earn good time

credits, amounting to one day for every two actually served. His claims that his

confinement in the SHU is unconstitutional therefore do go to the length of his confinement,

and may properly be brought in a habeas case. An order to show cause will issue to

respondent as to the remaining issues.

///

Case 4:06-cv-04746-PJH Document 11 Filed 06/26/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

CONCLUSION 

1. The clerk shall serve by regular mail a copy of the petition, the court’s order

entered April 9, 2007, and this order 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. 

2. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within sixty 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. 

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 thirty days of his receipt of the answer.

3. 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, petitioner shall file with the court

and serve on respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within thirty days of

receipt of the motion, and respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner a reply

within fifteen days of receipt of any opposition.

4. 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). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 26, 2007. 

 PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

G:\PRO-SE\PJH\HC.06\ONEAL746.OSC-R United States District Judge 

Case 4:06-cv-04746-PJH Document 11 Filed 06/26/07 Page 2 of 2