Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00687/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00687-12/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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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT RODNEY RUBISH, )

)

Petitioner, )

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v. )

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M. S. EVANS, Warden, )

)

Respondent. )

____________________________________)

1:05-CV-00687 OWW LJO HC 

ORDER APPOINTING FEDERAL

DEFENDER

ORDER STAYING ORDER TO SUBMIT

TRAVERSE [Doc. #39]

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

On September 22, 2005, Respondent filed an answer to the petition. Since that time, the case

has been delayed over a year pending Petitioner’s filing of his traverse. Petitioner was granted

numerous extensions of time because of his physical problems and because he claims his attempts to

access his legal property had been frustrated by Respondent. 

On November 2, 2006, the undersigned issued an order granting Petitioner’s motion for

reconsideration. Petitioner was directed to show the order to prison officials, and Respondent was

directed to assist Petitioner in allowing him to prepare his traverse by providing him with reasonable

access to his legal materials. Petitioner was directed to file a status report with respect to his attempts

to secure his legal documents.

Case 1:05-cv-00687-LJO -GSA Document 44 Filed 01/11/07 Page 1 of 3
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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 2

On November 3, 2006, and November 13, 2006, Petitioner informed the Court that his

attempts had again been frustrated. Therefore, on December 6, 2006, the undersigned authored a

letter directly to Respondent’s counsel inquiring into the matter. Counsel responded by providing the

Court with copies of the law library log. According to the law library log, Petitioner apparently had

been granted access to his legal materials on the following dates:

October 17, 2006

October 24, 2006

October 31, 2006

November 7, 2006

November 14, 2006

November 21, 2006

November 28, 2006

December 5, 2006

December 8, 2006

In his status reports, Petitioner acknowledged having been granted access to his legal

materials on October 17 and 24, which is consistent with the law library records provided by

Respondent. However, in Petitioner’s subsequent communications to the Court, he complains he has

not been granted full access to his legal materials. He claims the specific legal materials he needs to

complete the traverse were seized on October 4, 2006, and he has not been granted access to these

materials since. Petitioner states these legal materials include the work he had completed thus far on

his traverse. 

Therefore, the Court hereby appoints the Federal Defender to represent Petitioner for the

limited purpose of investigating Petitioner’s complaints regarding access to his legal materials. 18

U.S.C. § 3006A; Rule 8(c), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. The Federal Defender is directed

to submit a status report within thirty (30) days to advise the Court whether an evidentiary hearing is

necessary to resolve this issue of access to legal materials. If an evidentiary hearing is recommended,

the Federal Defender should advise the Court how much time is necessary to prepare for said

hearing, identify the witnesses the Federal Defender intends to call, and the estimated duration of

said hearing. Respondent may file a reply to Petitioner’s status report within fifteen (15) days of the

date of filing of the status report. 

///

///

Case 1:05-cv-00687-LJO -GSA Document 44 Filed 01/11/07 Page 2 of 3
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U.S. District Court

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ORDER

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1) The Federal Defender is hereby APPOINTED for the limited purpose of investigating

Petitioner’s complaints regarding access to his legal materials;

2) The Federal Defender is DIRECTED to file a status report within thirty (30) days of the

date of service of this order; Respondent may file a reply within fifteen (15) days thereafter; and

3) The Court’s order directing Petitioner to submit his traverse is STAYED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 10, 2007 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00687-LJO -GSA Document 44 Filed 01/11/07 Page 3 of 3