Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01037/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01037-0/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 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEOVARDO SALCEDA,

Petitioner,

v.

JOHN F. SALAZAR, WARDEN,

Respondent.

Case No. 08cv1037 IEG (PCL)

ORDER GRANTING

PETITIONER’S MOTION TO

AMEND PETITION FOR WRIT

OF HABEAS CORPUS

(Doc. No. 17)

I.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner Leovardo Salceda (“Petitioner”), a state prisoner, filed a Petition for Writ of

Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging a conviction following a jury trial in

San Diego Superior Court on October 3, 1995. (Doc. No. 1.) Petitioner’s original Petition set

forth four claims: (1) ineffective assistance of counsel at trial; (2) invalid previous convictions;

(3) denial of his right to a fair trial; and (4) unconstitutional sentence. Petitioner now moves the

Court to amend his pleading by adding an additional two claims: (5) ineffective assistance of

counsel caused by prejudicial conflict of interest; and (6) ineffective assistance of appellate

counsel. (Doc. No. 17.) For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner’s Motion to Amend his

Petition to include the exhausted Claims Five and Six is GRANTED.

/ /

/ /

/ /

Case 3:08-cv-01037-IEG-PCL Document 18 Filed 12/16/08 Page 1 of 3
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

08 cv 1037 IEG (PCL)

2

II.

DISCUSSION

A § 2254 petitioner may amend his petition as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. 28 U.S.C. § 2242 (2008). Rule 15 of the Federal Rules allows amendment of a

pleading once as a matter of right “at any time before a responsive pleading is served[.] 

Otherwise a party may amend the party’s pleading only by leave of court or by written consent

of the adverse party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Where a party unnecessarily moves for leave to

amend despite being able to amend as a matter of course, the court should not deny the motion.

See Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 635, 638 (9th Cir. 1988); Nolen v. Fitzharris, 450

F.2d 958, 959 (9th Cir. 1971). 

Moreover, Rule 15(c) allows the amended pleading to “relate back” to the date of the

original pleading “when the claim or defense asserted in the amended pleading arose out of the

conduct, transaction or occurrence set forth or attempted to be set forth in the original pleading.” 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 15 (2008). Therefore, if applicable, under Rule 15(c) a habeas petitioner may add

claims to a timely filed petition even after the expiration of the statute of limitations. Anthony v.

Cambra, 236 F.3d 568, 574 (9th Cir. 2000). 

In the instant case, Petitioner filed his original Petition on June 10, 2008. (Doc. No. 1.) 

On October 22, 2008, Respondent was granted an extension of time to file an Answer to Petition

for Writ of Habeas Corpus or a Motion to Dismiss Petition to December 19, 2008. (Doc. No.

15.) To date, Respondent has not filed a responsive pleading in the form of either an Answer or

a Motion to Dismiss with this Court. Therefore, as a matter of right, Petition is allowed to

amend his Petition to include his additional claims. See Rule 15(a). 

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

Case 3:08-cv-01037-IEG-PCL Document 18 Filed 12/16/08 Page 2 of 3
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

08 cv 1037 IEG (PCL)

3

III.

CONCLUSION

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s Motion to Amend his Petition to include

Claims Five and Six is GRANTED. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED Respondent shall file either an Answer or a Motion to

Dismiss on or before January 23, 2009. Petitioner shall have until February 13, 2009 to file

either a Traverse or Response to the Motion, respectively. 

DATE: December 15, 2008 

Peter C. Lewis

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

cc: The Honorable Irma E. Gonzalez

All Parties and Counsel of Record

Case 3:08-cv-01037-IEG-PCL Document 18 Filed 12/16/08 Page 3 of 3