Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_13-cv-03877/USCOURTS-cand-5_13-cv-03877-0/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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Case No.: 5:13-cv-03877-EJD

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE: PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

JOSEPH E. STEVENS,

Petitioner,

v.

JERRY BEARD, Secretary of the California 

Department of Corrections and 

Rehabilitation, et al.,

Respondents.

Case No. 5:13-cv-03877-EJD 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE: 

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS 

CORPUS

Re: Dkt. No. 1

On March 21, 2007, a jury found Petitioner Joseph E. Stevens (“Petitioner”) guilty of two 

counts first-degree murder in violation of California Penal Code § 187 and one count of assault 

with a deadly weapon in violation of California Penal Code § 245(a) after a trial in San Francisco

County Superior Court. The jury also found true a multiple murder special circumstance 

allegation pursuant to California Penal Code § 190.2, as well as an allegation that Petitioner 

discharged a firearm during the commission of the offense under California Penal Code § 

12022.53(d). On January 13, 2010, Petitioner was sentenced to two life terms without the 

possibility of parole, two consecutive 25-to-life terms for each of the firearm enhancements, and 

three years for the assault conviction. He is currently incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison.

Petitioner, represented by counsel, initiated the instant habeas action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2254 on August 22, 2013. The court has reviewed the § 2254 Petition and has determined that it 

warrants a response from Respondent. Accordingly, the court orders Respondent to show cause 

why the petition should not be granted, as follows:

Case 5:13-cv-03877-EJD Document 4 Filed 06/11/15 Page 1 of 2
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Case No.: 5:13-cv-03877-EJD

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE: PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

1. The Clerk shall serve by mail a copy of this Order to Show Cause and the Petition 

and all attachments (Docket Item No. 1) upon Respondent.

2. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner, within sixty (60) days

of the date this order is filed, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules 

Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted. 

Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on Petitioner a copy of all portions of the 

underlying state criminal court records that have been transcribed previously and that are relevant 

to a determination of the issues presented by the Petition. 

3. If Petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse with

the court and serving a copy on Respondent within thirty (30) days of his receipt of the answer.

4. Respondent may file a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds in lieu of an

answer, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 

2254 Cases. If Respondent files such a motion, Petitioner shall file with the court and serve on 

Respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within thirty (30) days of receipt of the 

motion. Respondent may file with the court and serve on Petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) 

days of receipt of any opposition.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 11, 2015

______________________________________

EDWARD J. DAVILA

United States District Judge

Case 5:13-cv-03877-EJD Document 4 Filed 06/11/15 Page 2 of 2