Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01975/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01975-1/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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WO KM

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Lamares Lee Williams,

Petitioner, 

vs.

Charles L. Ryan, et al., 

Respondents. 

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No. CV 11-1975-PHX-GMS (MEA)

ORDER

Petitioner Lamares Lee Williams, who is confined in the Arizona State Prison

Complex-Tucson, filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2254. In an October 27, 2011 Order, the Court directed Petitioner to pay the filing fee or

file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. On November 2, 2011, Petitioner filed

an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. The Court will dismiss the Petition as

premature.

I. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

Petitioner’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis indicates that his inmate trust

account balance is less than $25.00. Accordingly, the Application to Proceed In Forma

Pauperis will be granted. See LRCiv 3.5(b).

II. Petition

Petitioner was convicted in Maricopa County Superior Court, case #CR 2009-160889-

Case 2:11-cv-01975-GMS--MEA Document 6 Filed 12/13/11 Page 1 of 3
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002, of misconduct involving a weapon and was sentenced to a 7-year term of imprisonment.

Petitioner names Charles L. Ryan as Respondent and the Arizona Attorney General as an

additional Respondent. 

Petitioner states that he presently has a petition for post-conviction relief pending

before the Maricopa County Superior Court.

III. Exhaustion

Before the court may grant habeas relief to a state prisoner, the prisoner must exhaust

remedies available in the state courts. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1); O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526

U.S. 838, 842 (1999). To exhaust a claim, a petitioner must describe both the operative facts

and the federal legal theory so that the state courts have a “fair opportunity” to apply

controlling legal principles to the facts bearing upon his constitutional claim. Kelly v. Small,

315 F.3d 1063, 1066 (9th Cir. 2003). In cases not carrying a life sentence or death penalty,

claims are exhausted once the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled on them. See Swoopes

v. Sublett, 196 F.3d 1008, 1010 (9th Cir. 1999).

In light of the pending proceedings in state court, which could affect Petitioner’s

sentence and which could also ultimately affect these proceedings, it would be inappropriate

for this Court to rule on Petitioner's claims at this time. See Sherwood v. Tomkins, 716 F.2d

632, 634 (9th Cir. 1983) (even where claim to be challenged has been finally settled in state

courts, petitioner must await outcome of his appeal in state court before remedies are

exhausted); Schnepp v. Oregon, 333 F.2d 288 (9th Cir. 1964) (per curiam) (pending postconviction proceedings precluded grant of writ of habeas corpus). Because this habeas action

is premature, the Court will dismiss the case without prejudice. 

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Case 2:11-cv-01975-GMS--MEA Document 6 Filed 12/13/11 Page 2 of 3
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IT IS ORDERED:

(1) Petitioner’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 4) is granted.

(2) The Petition (Doc. 1) and this action are dismissed without prejudice as

premature. The Clerk of Court must enter judgment and close this case.

DATED this 12th day of December, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-01975-GMS--MEA Document 6 Filed 12/13/11 Page 3 of 3