Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-01783/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-01783-0/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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 1 “Doc.#” refers to the docket number of filings in this case.

 2

 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032000/m0112263.pdf.

 3

 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/112002/m0816540.pdf.

TERMPSREF

WO SC

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Rocky Ross, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Dora B. Schriro, et al.,

Respondents. 

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No. CV 07-1783-PHX-SMM (MHB)

ORDER

Petitioner Rocky Ross, who is confined in the Arizona State Prison Complex-South,

in Florence, Arizona, has filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2254. (Doc.# 1.)1

 He has paid the $5.00 filing fee. The Court will require an

answer to the Petition.

I. Petition

On February 28, 2000, Petitioner pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted child

molestation in Maricopa County Superior Court, case # CR 1998-004856, pursuant to a plea

agreement.2

 On March 6, 2000, consecutive ten-year sentences were imposed and suspended

and Petitioner was placed on probation.3

 On January 10, 2002, Petitioner admitted violation

Case 2:07-cv-01783-SMM Document 3 Filed 11/21/07 Page 1 of 4
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 4 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012002/m0528829.pdf.

 5

 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/022002/m0549614.pdf.

 6

 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/102002/m0783930.pdf.

 7

 See http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/112002/m0816540.pdf.

TERMPSREF - 2 -

of the terms of probation.4 At the disposition hearing on February 4, 2002, Petitioner was

reinstated to intensive probation, which was extended to lifetime.5

 On October 2, 2002,

Petitioner admitted another probation violation.6

 At the disposition hearing on November

5, 2002, the state court revoked Petitioner’s probation and committed him to the Arizona

Department of Corrections to serve two consecutive ten-year terms.7

 

In his Petition, Petitioner names Dora B. Schriro and the Arizona Attorney General

as Respondents. Petitioner raises four grounds for relief. He alleges that his First

Amendment rights were violated by the lack of access to the courts to challenge his allegedly

unconstitutional convictions. Second, he alleges that his federal due process rights were

violated because the court refused to accept an exhibit that established his innocence. Third,

he alleges that he was denied the right to the effective assistance of counsel based on

counsel’s failure to investigate and present evidence that he was out of state at the time of

the crime, i.e., actually innocent. Last, he alleges violation of his federal due process rights

claiming that the state court simultaneously violated his constitutional rights and convicted

an innocent man. The Court will require Respondents to answer the Petition. 28 U.S.C.

§ 2254(a). 

II. Warnings

A. Address Changes

Petitioner must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule

83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Petitioner must not include a motion for other

relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this

action.

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TERMPSREF - 3 -

B. Copies

Petitioner must serve Respondents, or counsel if an appearance has been entered, a

copy of every document that he files. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a). Each filing must include a

certificate stating that a copy of the filing was served. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d). Also, Petitioner

must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. LRCiv 5.4. Failure to

comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice to Petitioner.

C. Possible Dismissal

If Petitioner fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these

warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet,

963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to

comply with any order of the Court).

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) The Clerk of Court must serve a copy of the Petition (doc.# 1) and this Order

on the Respondent and the Attorney General of the State of Arizona by certified mail

pursuant to Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 

(2) Respondents must answer the Petition within 40 days of the date of service.

Respondents must not file a dispositive motion in place of an answer but may file an answer

limited to relevant affirmative defenses, including but not limited to, statute of limitations,

procedural bar, or non-retroactivity. If the answer is limited to affirmative defenses, only

those portions of the record relevant to those defenses need be attached to the answer.

Failure to set forth an affirmative defense in an answer may be treated as a waiver of the

defense. Day v. McDonough, 126 S. Ct. 1675, 1684 (2006). If not limited to affirmative

defenses, the answer must fully comply with all of the requirements of Rule 5 of the Rules

Governing Section 2254 Cases.

(3) Petitioner may file a reply within 30 days from the date of service of the

answer.

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TERMPSREF - 4 -

(4) This matter is referred to Magistrate Judge Michelle H. Burns pursuant to Rules

72.1 and 72.2 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for further proceedings and a report and

recommendation.

DATED this 20th day of November, 2007.

Case 2:07-cv-01783-SMM Document 3 Filed 11/21/07 Page 4 of 4