Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01994/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01994-1/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 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ERIC JEFFREY COWAN, 

Petitioner,

v. 

JOSE GASTELO, et al., Warden, 

Respondent.

 Case No.: 17cv1994 WQH (BLM) 

(1) NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO 

CONSENT TO MAGISTRATE 

JUDGE JURISDICTION (28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(c), F.R.C.P. 73); and (2) ORDER 

REQUIRING RESPONSE TO 

PETITION (28 U.S.C. § 2254, Rule 4) 

On June 6, 2017, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a Petition for 

Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The Court notified Petitioner in an 

Order dated October 3, 2017, that the Petition was subject to dismissal because Petitioner 

had failed to satisfy the filing fee requirement and had failed to use a court-approved form. 

(ECF No. 2.) Petitioner was given until November 30, 2017, to either pay the $5.00 filing 

fee or submit adequate proof of his inability to pay the fee, and file a First Amended Petition 

on the proper form. (Id.) 

On November 22, 2017, Petitioner filed a motion for extension of time, a motion to 

proceed in forma pauperis, and a First Amended Petition. (ECF Nos. 3-5.) The Court 

granted Petitioner an extension of time but denied his motion to proceed in forma pauperis 

because Petitioner’s trust account statement reflected a balance of $17.25. (ECF 

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No. 6.) Petitioner was given until April 30, 2018, to satisfy the filing fee requirement. (Id.) 

On April 12, 2018, Petitioner paid the $5.00 filing fee. (ECF No. 7.) 

In accordance with Rule 4 of the rules governing petitions for a writ of habeas corpus 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, and upon a preliminary review of the Amended Petition, the 

case is reopened. IT IS ORDERED that: 

 1. The Clerk of this Court must promptly (a) serve a copy of the Petition and a copy 

of this Order on the Attorney General for the State of California, or her authorized agent; 

and (b) serve a copy of this Order on Petitioner. 

 2. Respondent must file a “Notice of Appearance” no later than May 10, 2018. 

 3. If Respondent contends the Petition can be decided without the Court’s reaching 

the merits of Petitioner’s claims (e.g., because Respondent contends Petitioner has failed 

to exhaust any state remedies as to any ground for relief alleged in the Petition, or that the 

Petition is barred by the statute of limitations, or that the Petition is subject to dismissal 

under Rule 9 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, or that all of the claims are procedurally 

defaulted, or that Petitioner is not in custody), Respondent must file a motion to dismiss 

pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases no later than June 25, 2018. The 

motion to dismiss must not address the merits of Petitioner’s claims, but rather must be 

confined to the basis for Respondent’s contention that dismissal without reaching the 

merits of Petitioner’s claims is warranted. At the time the motion to dismiss is filed, 

Respondent must lodge with the Court all records bearing on Respondent’s contention in 

this regard. A hearing date is not required for the motion to dismiss. 

 4. If Respondent files a motion to dismiss, Petitioner must file his opposition, if any, 

to the motion no later than July 25, 2018. At the time the opposition is filed, Petitioner 

must lodge with the Court any records not lodged by Respondent which Petitioner believes 

may be relevant to the Court’s determination of the motion. 

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 5. Unless the Court orders otherwise, Respondent must not file a reply to Petitioner’s 

opposition to a motion to dismiss. If the motion is denied, the Court will afford Respondent 

adequate time to respond to Petitioner’s claims on the merits. 

 6. If Respondent does not contend that the Petition can be decided without the Court 

reaching the merits of Petitioner’s claims, Respondent must file and serve an answer to the 

Petition pursuant to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases no later than June 25, 

2018. At the time the answer is filed, Respondent must lodge with the Court all records 

bearing on the merits of Petitioner’s claims. The lodgments must be accompanied by a 

notice of lodgment which must be captioned “Notice of Lodgment in 28 U.S.C. § 2254 

Habeas Corpus Case — To Be Sent to Clerk’s Office.” Respondent must not combine 

separate pleadings, orders or other items into a combined lodgment entry. Each item must 

be numbered separately and sequentially. 

 7. Petitioner may file a traverse to matters raised in the answer no later than July 

25, 2018. Any traverse by Petitioner (a) must state whether Petitioner admits or denies 

each allegation of fact contained in the answer; (b) must be limited to facts or arguments 

responsive to matters raised in the answer; and (c) must not raise new grounds for relief 

that were not asserted in the Petition. Grounds for relief withheld until the traverse will 

not be considered. No traverse can exceed ten (10) pages in length absent advance leave 

of Court for good cause shown. 

 8. A request by a party for an extension of time within which to file any of the 

pleadings required by this Order must be made in advance of the due date of the pleading, 

and the Court will grant such a request only upon a showing of good cause. Any such 

request must be accompanied by a declaration under penalty of perjury explaining why an 

extension of time is necessary. 

 9. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, this case will be deemed submitted on the 

day following the date Petitioner’s opposition to a motion to dismiss and/or his traverse is 

due. 

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 10. Every document delivered to the Court must include a certificate of service 

attesting that a copy of such document was served on opposing counsel (or on the opposing 

party, if such party is not represented by counsel). Any document delivered to the Court 

without a certificate of service will be returned to the submitting party and will be 

disregarded by the Court. 

 11. Petitioner must immediately notify the Court and counsel for Respondent of any 

change of Petitioner’s address. If Petitioner fails to keep the Court informed of where 

Petitioner may be contacted, this action will be subject to dismissal for failure to prosecute. 

 12. Petitioner has consented to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. 

Respondent must execute and return either a “Consent to Exercise of Jurisdiction by a 

United States Magistrate Judge and Order of Reference” or a “Notice of Intent to Proceed 

before District Judge” to the Clerk of Court on or before June 11, 2018. The parties are 

free to withhold consent without adverse substantive consequences. The Clerk of Court 

must send the appropriate Southern District forms to Respondent along with this Order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 4/19/2018 

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