Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-01219/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-01219-0/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH S. THOMAS,

Petitioner,

 v.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER,

Respondent. /

No. C 07-01219 SBA (PR)

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO

TRANSFER PETITION

(Docket no. 7)

Petitioner Kenneth Thomas, a state prisoner, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas

corpus. 

Respondent has filed an application to transfer the instant petition to the Eastern District of

California (docket no. 7). Petitioner opposes the transfer. 

A petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by a state prisoner in a State that contains two or

more federal judicial districts may be filed in either the district of confinement or the district of

conviction. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). The district court where the petition is filed, however, may

transfer the petition to the other district in the furtherance of justice. See id. Federal courts in

California traditionally have chosen to hear petitions challenging a conviction or sentence in the

district of conviction. See Dannenberg v. Ingle, 831 F. Supp. 767, 767 (N.D. Cal. 1993); Laue v.

Nelson, 279 F. Supp. 265, 266 (N.D. Cal. 1968). But if a habeas petition is directed to the manner in

which a sentence is being executed, e.g., if it involves parole or time credit claims, the district of

confinement is the preferable forum. See Habeas L.R. 2254-3(a); Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244,

249 (9th Cir. 1989).

Petitioner is incarcerated at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County, which lies within the

venue of the Southern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84. He challenges his conviction and

sentence incurred in the Placer County Superior Court, which is in the venue of the Eastern District

of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84. 

Case 4:07-cv-01219-SBA Document 10 Filed 11/14/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.07\Thomas1219.GRANTtransfer.wpd 2

Respondent argues that "[a]lthough the United States District Court for the Southern District

and the United States District Court for the Eastern District have concurrent jurisdiction, in terms of

traditional venue consideration, the Eastern District is clearly the most appropriate forum for

adjudication. It is in the Eastern District that the material events took place, that all pertinent

records are currently located, and that all critical witnesses currently reside with respect to the

conviction he challenges." (Resp't Application for Transfer at 2.)

Because Petitioner is challenging his conviction and sentence, his petition should be handled

by the district of conviction. See Dannenberg, 831 F. Supp. at 767. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a)

and Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b), and in the interest of justice, the Clerk of the Court is ordered to

TRANSFER this action forthwith to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of

California. 

This Order terminates Docket no. 7.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 11/13/07 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:07-cv-01219-SBA Document 10 Filed 11/14/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.07\Thomas1219.GRANTtransfer.wpd 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH S. THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV07-01219 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on November 14, 2007, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Kenneth S. Thomas P-78247

Centinela State Prison

2302 Brown Road

P.O. Box 911

Imperial, CA 92251

Dated: November 14, 2007

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:07-cv-01219-SBA Document 10 Filed 11/14/07 Page 3 of 3