Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00438/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00438-0/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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17cv438-MMA (MDD)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROLANDO GUTIERREZ,

Petitioner, 

v.

W.L. MONTGOMERY, Warden,

Respondent. 

Case No.: 17cv438-MMA (MDD)

ORDER REOPENING CASE AND 

SETTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE

On March 1, 2017, Petitioner, proceeding pro se, submitted a Petition 

for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. In its March 9, 2017

Order, the Court dismissed this case without prejudice because Petitioner 

failed to satisfy the filing fee requirement. Petitioner was instructed that to 

have this case reopened he had to either pay the filing fee or provide 

adequate proof of his inability to pay, no later than May 15, 2017.

On March 13, 2017, Petitioner paid the $5.00 filing fee pursuant to this 

Court’s Order. Based on this Court’s review of the Petition, the Court 

ORDERS that this case be reopened. Further, in accordance with Rule 4 of 

the rules governing petitions for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 2254, and upon a preliminary review of the Petition, IT IS 

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17cv438-MMA (MDD)

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ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of this Court shall promptly (a) serve a copy of the 

Petition and a copy of this Order on the Attorney General for the State of 

California, or her authorized agent; and (b) serve a copy of this Order on 

Petitioner.

2. If Respondent contends the Petition can be decided without the 

Court’s reaching the merits of Petitioner’s claims (e.g., because Respondent 

contends Petitioner has failed to exhaust any state remedies as to any ground 

for relief alleged in the Petition, or that the Petition is barred by the statute 

of limitations, or that the Petition is subject to dismissal under Rule 9 of the 

Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, or that all of the claims are procedurally 

defaulted, or that Petitioner is not in custody), Respondent shall file a motion 

to dismiss pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases no later 

than May 22, 2017. The motion to dismiss shall not address the merits of 

Petitioner’s claims, but rather shall address all grounds upon which 

Respondent contends dismissal without reaching the merits of Petitioner’s 

claims is warranted.1 At the time the motion to dismiss is filed, Respondent 

shall lodge with the Court all records bearing on Respondent’s contention in 

this regard. A hearing date is not required for the motion to dismiss.

3. If Respondent files a motion to dismiss, Petitioner shall file his 

opposition, if any, to the motion no later than June 22, 2017. At the time the 

opposition is filed, Petitioner shall lodge with the Court any records not 

lodged by Respondent which Petitioner believes may be relevant to the 

 

1 If Respondent contends Petitioner has failed to exhaust any state remedies 

as to any ground for relief alleged in the Petition, the motion to dismiss shall 

also specify the state remedies still available to Petitioner.

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17cv438-MMA (MDD)

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Court’s determination of the motion.

4. Unless the Court orders otherwise, Respondent shall not file a 

reply to Petitioner’s opposition to a motion to dismiss. If the motion is 

denied, the Court will afford Respondent adequate time to respond to 

Petitioner’s claims on the merits.

5. If Respondent does not contend that the Petition can be decided 

without the Court reaching the merits of Petitioner’s claims, Respondent 

shall file and serve an answer to the Petition, as well as points and 

authorities in support of such answer, no later than May 22, 2017. At the 

time the answer is filed, Respondent shall lodge with the Court all records 

bearing on the merits of Petitioner’s claims. The lodgments shall be 

accompanied by a notice of lodgment which shall be captioned “Notice of 

Lodgment in 28 U.S.C. § 2254 Habeas Corpus Case — To Be Sent to 

Clerk’s Office.” Respondent shall not combine separate pleadings, orders or 

other items into a combined lodgment entry. Each item shall be numbered 

separately and sequentially.

6. Petitioner may file a traverse to matters raised in the answer no 

later than June 22, 2017. Any traverse by Petitioner (a) shall state whether 

Petitioner admits or denies each allegation of fact contained in the answer; 

(b) shall be limited to facts or arguments responsive to matters raised in the 

answer; and (c) shall not raise new grounds for relief that were not asserted 

in the Petition. Grounds for relief withheld until the traverse will not be 

considered. No traverse shall exceed ten (10) pages in length absent advance 

leave of Court for good cause shown.

7. A request by a party for an extension of time within which to file 

any of the pleadings required by this Order should be made in advance of the 

due date of the pleading, and the Court will grant such a request only upon a 

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17cv438-MMA (MDD)

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showing of good cause. Any such request shall be accompanied by a 

declaration under penalty of perjury explaining why an extension of time is 

necessary.

8. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, this case shall be deemed 

submitted on the day following the date Petitioner’s opposition to a motion to 

dismiss and/or his traverse is due.

9. Every document delivered to the Court must include a certificate 

of service attesting that a copy of such document was served on opposing 

counsel (or on the opposing party, if such party is not represented by counsel). 

Any document delivered to the Court without a certificate of service will be 

returned to the submitting party and disregarded by the Court.

10. Petitioner shall immediately notify the Court and counsel for 

Respondent of any change of Petitioner’s address. If Petitioner fails to keep 

the Court informed of where Petitioner may be contacted, this action will be 

subject to dismissal for failure to prosecute.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 20, 2017

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