Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04178/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04178-0/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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FILED
E-filing JUL 14 2006

RICHARD
LERK, U,8. Deine aaes ne
NORTHERN DISTRICT OFC ree ANIA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN A JOHNSON,
Plaintiff(s), No C 06-4178 VRW (PR)
vs ORDER OF DISMISSAL
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et } (Doc # 2)
al,
)
Defendant(s). 3

Plaintiff, a prisoner at California State Prison, Sacramento, has filed:a pro
se action under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 USC § 2201 ("DJA"), seeking
"a determination of whether the state of California violated both state and federal
bar against ex post facto, by refusing to acknowledge penal code section
667(a)(1), which requires that prior conviction(s) governed under this section be
‘brought and tried separately,' even though the state uses these prior conviction(s)
in its 'three strikes law.""

Plaintiffs action is DISMISSED without prejudice to his seeking relief by
way of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 USC § 2254. Although
DJA permits a federal court to declare the rights of a party whether or not further
relief is or could be sought, a district court's exercise of jurisdiction under DJA is
discretionary even when the suit otherwise satisfies subject matter jurisdictional
prerequisites. See Wilton v Seven Falls Co, 515 US 277, 282 (1995). DJA does
not impose a duty on the court to declare rights. See Government Employees Ins

Co v Dizol, 133 F3d 1220, 1223 (9th Cir 1998).

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Here, where the relief sought would necessarily implicate the invalidity of
plaintiff's state court conviction, the court is satisfied that the constitutional and
prudential concerns embraced by DJA are best served by plaintiff pursuing the
relief he seeks in the habeas arena. See id at 1222-23.

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis
(doc # 2) is DENIED and the action DISMISSED without prejudice.

The clerk enter judgment in accordance with this order, terminate all

pending motions as moot, and close the file. No fee is due.

SO ORDERED.
fu—~_}

VAUGHN R WALKER
United States District Chief Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN A. JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,

Case Number: CV06-04178 VRW

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
v.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER et al,

Defendant.

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 July 14, 2006, 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.

John A Johnson E-89817
CSP-Sacramento

P O Box 290066-FB6105
Represa, CA 95671-0066 —_
Dated: July 14, 2006

Richard W.-Wieking, Clerk
By: Edward Butler, Deputy Clerk