Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-02030/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-02030-0/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VIRGIL LOUIS RATLIFF, Civil No. 13cv2030-GPC(NLS)

Petitioner,

SUMMARY DISMISSAL OF SECOND

OR SUCCESSIVE PETITION PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A)

GATEKEEPER PROVISION

v.

M. MARTEL, Warden 1

Respondent.

Petitioner, Virgil Louis Ratliff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has submitted a

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, but without paying the $5.00

filing fee or requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Irrespective of that obstacle to

proceeding with this case, the case is summarily dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2244(b)(3)(A) as an unauthorized second or successive petition.

PRIOR FEDERAL HABEAS PETITIONS DENIED ON THE MERITS

The instant Petition is not the first Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Ratliff has

submitted to this Court challenging his conviction in San Diego CountySuperior Court Case No.

SCD275300, despite some discrepancies in his statement ofthe date of conviction and the length

of his sentence when compared to his prior Petition.

Petitioner names an improper defendant. He is presently confined in Pelican Bay State Prison. The 1

current warden of that institution is Greg Lewis. On federal habeas, a state prisoner must name the state officer

having custody of him as the respondent. Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Rule

2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254). "[T]he 'state officer having custody' may be 'either the warden of the institution

in which the petitioner is incarcerated . . . or the chief officer in charge of state penal institutions.' " Id. The 

chief officer of the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation is currently Jeffrey Beard.

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On August 11, 2010, Ratliff filed in this Court a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in

Case No. 10cv1705. In that petition, Ratliff challenged his conviction in San Diego Superior

Court Case No. SCE275300. On August 9, 2012, this Court denied that petition on the merits

and denied Ratliff's request for a certificate of appealability. (See Order filed Aug. 9, 2012 in

Case No.10cv1705, ECF No. 140.) Ratliff appealed those determinations. The Ninth Circuit

Court of Appeals also denied Ratliff's request for a certificate of appealability, terminating the

action. (See Order filed May 24, 2013 in Case No. 10cv1705, ECF No. 155.)

INSTANT PETITION BARRED BY GATEKEEPER PROVISION

Ratliff is now seeking to challenge the same conviction he challenged in his prior federal

habeas petition. Unless a petitioner shows he or she has obtained an order from the appropriate

court of appeals authorizing the district court to consider a second or successive petition, the

petition may not be filed in the district court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3)(A). Here, there is no

indication the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted Petitioner leave to file a second or

successive petition.

CONCLUSION

Because there is no indication Petitioner has obtained permission from the Ninth Circuit

Court of Appeals to file a second or successive petition, this Court cannot consider his Petition. 

Accordingly, the CourtDISMISSES this action without prejudice to Petitioner’s filing a petition

in this court if he obtains the necessary order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

(Attached for Petitioner’s convenience is a blank Ninth Circuit Application for Leave to File

Second or Successive Petition.)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 17, 2013

HON. GONZALO P. CURIEL

United States District Judge

CC: ALL PARTIES

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