Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-01598/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-01598-0/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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K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WMc\09cv1598_sub_rsp.wpd, 1249 -1- 09cv1598

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL ZARAGOZA, aka G. GARCIA, Civil No. 09-1598 DMS (WMc)

Petitioner,

ORDER SUA SPONTE SUBSTITUTING

v. RESPONDENT

MATTHEW CATE, Secretary, et al.,

Respondents.

On July 22, 2009, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, submitted a Petition for

Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. At the time of filing, Petitioner was

apparently housed at Mule Creek State Prison and thus named Michael Martel, Warden, as

Respondent. Based on the notice of change of address Petitioner submitted to the Court on

November 23, 2009, it appears Petitioner is no longer housed at Mule Creek State Prison; rather,

it appears he is presently incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California.

A writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 2242; Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Because Petitioner’s place of custody has changed,

so has his custodian. Accordingly, in order to conform with the requirements of Rule 2(a) of the

Rules Governing § 2254 Cases and to avoid changing the Respondent again if Petitioner is

transferred to another prison or paroled, the Court hereby sua sponte ORDERS the substitution

of Matthew Cate, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as

Respondent in place of “Michael Martel .” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th

Case 3:09-cv-01598-DMS-WMC Document 10 Filed 12/04/09 Page 1 of 2
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Cir. 1996) (stating that the respondent in § 2254 proceedings may be the chief officer in charge

of state penal institutions).

The Clerk of the Court shall modify the docket to reflect “Matthew Cate, Secretary” as

respondent in place of “Michael Martel.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 4, 2009

Hon. William McCurine, Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Case 3:09-cv-01598-DMS-WMC Document 10 Filed 12/04/09 Page 2 of 2