Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00958/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00958-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEON ROBINSON,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-09-958 JAM KJM P

vs.

JOHN HAVILAND, 

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Petitioner is a state prison inmate proceeding pro se with a petition for a writ of

habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On November 23, 2009, petitioner filed an amended

petition for a writ of habeas corpus and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis; the petition was

signed on November 10, 2009. Generally, once an answer has been filed, a party may amend a

pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

15(a). An answer was filed on November 23, 2009. However, under the prison mailbox rule, a

prisoner’s document is deemed filed when it is provided to prison authorities for mailing. 

Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276 (1988). Accordingly, this amended petition was filed before

the answer was filed and is properly before the court.

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Accordingly, IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

1. Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (docket no. 13) is denied as

moot;

2. Respondents are directed to file a response to petitioner’s amended habeas

petition within sixty days from the date of this order. See Rule 4, Fed. R. Governing § 2254

Cases. Because respondent has already filed the record in response to the court’s previous order,

he need not file a duplicate record, but may refer to the record by the docket number of his

previous answer; and

3. Petitioner’s reply, if any, shall be filed and served within thirty days after

service of the answer. 

DATED: April 6, 2010. 

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robi0958.100amd

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