Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00544/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00544-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

COREY BURGESS, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

)

v. )

)

HECTOR ALFONSO RIOS, Warden, ) 

 )

Respondent. )

)

 )

1:12-cv—00544-AWI-SKO-HC

ORDER DEFERRING CONSIDERATION OF

PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR

PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS UNTIL THE

COURT CONSIDERS THE MERITS OF THE

PETITION (DOC. 30)

Petitioner is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and in

forma pauperis with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. The matter has been referred to the

Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local

Rules 302 through 304. Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s

motion for production of documents, which was served on

Respondent on October 21, 2012, and filed on November 5, 2012. 

Respondent filed opposition to the motion on November 20, 2012,

considering Petitioner’s motion to be a request for leave to

conduct discovery. Petitioner filed a reply on January 8, 2013.

///

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Petitioner seeks to have the Court require Respondent to 1)

produce photocopies of all prison policies and procedures that

are in issue in this case pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 34; and 2)

respond to 112 requests for admissions. 

The petition concerns a disciplinary finding that Petitioner

committed an assault upon a fellow inmate on September 7, 2009,

which resulted in a loss of forty-days good time credit,

placement in the secured housing unit for five months, and

limitations of various privileges. On November 19, 2012,

Respondent filed an answer to the petition in which Respondent

contended that Petitioner was not denied his constitutional

rights in connection with the disciplinary procedures and

findings, and that the finding of guilt was supported by some

evidence. Petitioner filed a traverse on December 17, 2012. 

Thus, the case is fully briefed.

“The writ of habeas corpus is not a proceeding in the

original criminal prosecution, but an independent civil suit....” 

Riddle v. Dyche, 262 U.S. 333, 335-336 (1923); see, e.g., Keeney

v. Tamayo-Reyes, 504 U.S. 1, 14 (1992) (O’Connor, J.,

dissenting). However, modern habeas corpus procedure has the

same function as an appeal of a criminal trial. O’Neal v.

McAninch, 513 U.S. 440, 442 (1995). A habeas proceeding does not

proceed to a regular trial, and unlike a party in other civil

litigation, a habeas corpus petitioner is not entitled to broad

discovery as a matter of ordinary course. Bracy v. Gramley, 520

U.S. 899, 904 (1997); Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S. 286, 295 (1969).

Rule 6 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the

United States District Courts (Habeas Rules) provides in

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pertinent part that a judge may, for good cause, authorize a

party to conduct discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure and may limit the extent of discovery. Habeas Rule

6(a). A party requesting discovery must provide reasons for the

request, which must include any proposed interrogatories and

requests for admission, and must specify any requested documents. 

Habeas Rule 6(b). 

Although discovery is available pursuant to Rule 6, it is

only granted at the Court’s discretion, and upon a showing of

good cause. Bracy, 520 U.S. 899, 904; McDaniel v. United States

District Court, 127 F.3d 886, 888 (9th Cir. 1997); Jones v. Wood,

114 F.3d 1002, 1009 (9th Cir. 1997). Even if a court grants

discovery, “the scope and extent of such discovery is a matter

confided to the discretion of the District Court.” Bracy, 520

U.S. at 909. Courts should not permit a petitioner to “use

federal discovery for fishing expeditions to investigate mere

speculation.” Calderon v. United States Dist. Ct. for the

Northern Dist. of Cal. (Nicolaus), 98 F.3d 1102, 1106 (9th Cir.

1996). “‘Habeas corpus is not a general form of relief for those

who seek to explore their case in search of its existence.’” 

Calderon, 98 F.3d at 1106 (quoting Aubut v. State of Maine, 431

F.2d 688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)). Discovery is appropriate where

specific allegations in a verified petition before the Court

demonstrate that with respect to an exhausted claim, the

petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to

establish he is entitled to relief. Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S.

286, 299; Calderon, 98 F.3d at 1106-07 (9th Cir. 1996).

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A court has inherent power to control its docket and the

disposition of its cases with economy of time and effort for both

the court and the parties. Landis v. North American Co., 299

U.S. 248, 254-255 (1936); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260

(9th Cir. 1992). Review of the petition must proceed in an

orderly fashion and with care to conserve the resources of the

Court and the parties. 

Because of the nature of the discovery requests, the Court

cannot rule on Petitioner’s motion until the merits of

Petitioner’s case are considered. In view of the preliminary

stage of the proceedings in this action, the Court exercises its

discretion to DEFER consideration of the Petitioner’s motion for

production until the merits of the affected claims are

considered.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 12, 2013 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

ie14hj UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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