Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03874/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03874-0/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

CLAUDE BENT,

Petitioner,

 v

MICHAEL S EVANS, Warden,

Respondent.

 /

No C-09-3874 VRW (PR)

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER’S

MOTION TO STAY FEDERAL

PROCEEDINGS; GRANTING REQUEST

TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS;

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CLERK

(Doc #2)

Petitioner, a state prisoner at Old Folsom State Prison in

Folsom, California, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas

corpus under 28 USC § 2254 challenging a judgment of conviction from

Alameda County superior court. Petitioner sets forth three separate

claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, one of which he

concedes has not been exhausted (claim three). Petitioner has

requested a stay of these proceedings to allow him to exhaust this

unexhausted claim. Doc #1 at 6. He also seeks leave to proceed in

forma pauperis, Doc #2, which, based on the information contained in

his application, is GRANTED. 

//

Case 3:09-cv-03874-JW Document 4 Filed 01/29/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Good cause shown, petitioner’s request for a stay of these

proceedings so he can return to state court and exhaust claim three

is GRANTED. See Rhines v Webber, 544 US 269, 277 (2005) (stay

appropriate where there was good cause for petitioner’s failure to

exhaust his unexhausted claim in state court and the claim is

potentially meritorious). 

The clerk is instructed TO CLOSE the case

ADMINISTRATIVELY. Nothing further will take place in this matter

until petitioner exhausts claim three, and, within thirty (30) days

thereafter, moves to reopen the case, lift the court’s stay and

amend the stayed petition to add the newly-exhausted claim. 

 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 

VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge

G:\PRO-SE\VRW\HC.09\Bent-09-3874-stay-exhaust-administratively close.wpd

Case 3:09-cv-03874-JW Document 4 Filed 01/29/10 Page 2 of 2