Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00028/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00028-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONALD RAY WILLIAMS,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-07-0028 FCD DAD P

vs.

HOREL, et al.,

Respondents. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with an application to proceed in forma

pauperis.

Examination of the in forma pauperis application reveals that petitioner is unable

to afford the costs of suit. Accordingly, the application to proceed in forma pauperis will be

granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

It appears from petitioner’s petition that he is challenging his 1996 nolo

contendere plea in the Sacramento Superior Court and the judgment of conviction entered

pursuant thereto. However, petitioner has not clearly stated his federal constitutional claims nor

has he clarified whether those claims have been presented to the California Supreme Court. 

Therefore, the court will order petitioner to file an amended petition and to complete each

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question on the form federal habeas petition. Petitioner is also advised that this habeas action

must challenge his conviction or plea on federal constitutional grounds. This federal habeas

action cannot be based on alleged violation of state law or the California Constitution.

Petitioner has also filed several letters and documents which are described by

petitioner as motions. To the extent that petitioner is attempting to present additional arguments

in support of his claims, those arguments should be included in petitioner’s amended petition. 

The court also notes that petitioner continues to rely on state law in support of his arguments. As

indicated above, state law does not provide a basis for federal habeas relief. The court will place

petitioner’s letters and motions in the file and they will be disregarded.

Petitioner is also informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order

to make petitioner’s amended petition complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended

petition be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a

general rule, an amended petition supersedes the original petition. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d

55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once petitioner files an amended petition, the original pleading no longer

serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended petition, as in an original petition,

each claim and the supporting facts must be sufficiently alleged. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s January 5, 2007 request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is

granted;

2. Petitioner’s petition is dismissed;

3. Petitioner is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an

amended petition that complies with the requirements set forth above; petitioner shall use the

form petition provided by the court; the amended petition must bear the docket number assigned

this case and must be labeled “Amended Petition;” petitioner must file an original and one copy

of the amended petition; and petitioner’s failure to file an amended petition in accordance with

this order will result in the dismissal of this action;

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4. Petitioner’s letters, documents, and motions filed on January 22, 2007; January

26, 2007; April 23, 2007; June 11, 2007; July 5, 2007 and July 9, 2007 shall be placed in the file

and disregarded; and

5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to provide petitioner with the court’s form

petition for a writ of habeas corpus by a state prisoner.

DATED: October 12, 2007.

DAD:4

will0028.9

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