Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-cv-05223/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-cv-05223-3/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 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SHAWN DAMON BARTH, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

JOE A. LAZARRAGA, Warden, 

 Respondent. 

Case No. 19-05223 BLF (PR) 

ORDER OF TRANSER

Petitioner, a state prisoner, has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 

U.S.C. § 2254, challenging a disciplinary action that resulted in the loss of credits while he 

was housed at the Mule Creek Prison in Ione. (Docket No. 1-3 at 8-21.) Venue for a 

habeas action is proper in either the district of confinement or the district of conviction, 28 

U.S.C. § 2241(d). Federal courts in California traditionally have chosen to hear petitions 

challenging a conviction or sentence in the district of conviction or sentencing. See

Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b)(1); Dannenberg v. Ingle, 831 F. Supp. 767, 768 (N.D. Cal. 1993); 

Laue v. Nelson, 279 F. Supp. 265, 266 (N.D. Cal. 1968). But if the petition challenges the 

manner in which a sentence is being executed, e.g., if it involves parole or time credits 

claims, the district of confinement is the preferable forum. See Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b)(2); 

Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244, 249 (9th Cir. 1989). 

Case 5:19-cv-05223-BLF Document 10 Filed 12/16/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

Here, Petitioner is challenging a disciplinary action that resulted in the loss of 

credits, (Docket No. 1-3 at 19), which makes the district of confinement the preferable 

forum. Id. Petitioner is currently confined at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. 

(Docket No. 8 at 1.) Vacaville is located in Solano County, which lies within the Eastern 

District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84(b). Therefore, the preferred venue for this 

action is in that district and not in this one. See id.; Habeas L.R. 2254-3(a)(1). 

Accordingly, this case is TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the 

Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a); Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b)(1). 

The Clerk shall terminate all pending motions and transfer the entire file to the 

Eastern District of California. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: _____________________ ________________________ 

BETH LABSON FREEMAN 

United States District Judge 

Order of Transfer 

PRO-SE\BLF\HC.19\05223Barth_transfer(ED) 

Case 5:19-cv-05223-BLF Document 10 Filed 12/16/19 Page 2 of 2