Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04804/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04804-0/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)

---

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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GEORGE RUIZ, 

Petitioner,

 vs.

ROBERT HOREL, WARDEN, 

Respondent

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. C 07-4804 JSW (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

(Docket No. 4)

INTRODUCTION

Petitioner, a prisoner of the State of California, currently incarcerated at Pelican

Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California, has filed a habeas corpus petition pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging the Board of Prison Terms ("BPT") denial of parole

during parole suitability proceedings. Petitioner has paid the filing fee. Petitioner has

also filed a motion to relate his case to that of another prisoner whose case is currently

pending before another Judge of this Court, which is DENIED (docket no. 4). This order

directs Respondent, Robert Horel, the Warden of Pelican Bay, to show cause why the

petition should not be granted.

BACKGROUND

According to the petition, Petitioner was convicted by a San Diego County

Superior Court jury of robbery and kidnapping. In 1981, Petitioner was sentenced to eight

years plus seven years-to-life in state prison. In this habeas action, Petitioner does not

challenge his conviction, but instead challenges the execution of his sentence. Petitioner

Case 3:07-cv-04804-JSW Document 5 Filed 01/30/08 Page 1 of 4
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

alleges that after his seventh parole suitability hearing in 2006, the BPT found him

unsuitable for parole, in violation of his federal constitutional right to due process. He

alleges that he has exhausted state judicial remedies as to all of the claims raised in his

federal petition.

DISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review

This court may entertain a petition for a 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). 

It shall "award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause

why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the

applicant or person detained is not entitled thereto." Id. § 2243. 

II. Legal Claims

Petitioner alleges that his constitutional rights were violated by the BPT’s finding

of parole unsuitability in 2006 and that the BPT has violated his constitutional rights by

requiring that he become a confidential informant in order to be able to fulfill the

requirements necessary for him to be found eligible for parole. Liberally construed, the

allegations are sufficient to warrant a response from Respondent. See Biggs v. Terhune,

334 F.3d 910, 914-15 (9th Cir. 2003); Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369 (1987);

see, e.g., Morales. v. California Dep't of Corrections, 16 F.3d 1001, 1005 (9th Cir.

1994), rev'd on other grounds, 514 U.S. 499 (1995).

CONCLUSION 

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown,

1. The Clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition, and

all attachments thereto, on Respondent Robert Horel, Warden of Pelican Bay State

Prison, who is Petitioner's custodian, and Respondent's attorney, the Attorney General

Case 3:07-cv-04804-JSW Document 5 Filed 01/30/08 Page 2 of 4
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 3

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 (60)

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 thirty (30) 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 (30)

days of receipt of the motion, and Respondent shall file with the Court and serve on

Petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) days of receipt of any opposition.

4. It is Petitioner’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner must keep 

the Court informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper captioned “Notice

of Change of Address.” He 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)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 30, 2008 JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-04804-JSW Document 5 Filed 01/30/08 Page 3 of 4
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

GEORGE RUIZ,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ROBERT HOREL et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV07-04804 JSW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on January 30, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing

said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office

delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

George Ruiz

B82089

Pelican Bay State Prison

P.O. Box 7500

Crescent City, CA 95532

Dated: January 30, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Jennifer Ottolini, Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-04804-JSW Document 5 Filed 01/30/08 Page 4 of 4