Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-01006/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-01006-0/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\JAH\10cv1006_transfer.wpd, 51410 -1- 10cv1006

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DANA E. BAKER, Civil No. 10-1006 JAH (RBB)

Petitioner,

ORDER TRANSFERRING ACTION

TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT

COURT FOR THE CENTRAL

DISTRICT, EASTERN DIVISION

vs.

J. TIM OCHOA, Warden, et al.,

Respondents.

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a habeas corpus action filed pursuant

to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2254 (West Supp. 2007). Petitioner is challenging his 2008 parole suitability

hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH). Petitioner has not filed a motion to proceed

in forma pauperis and has not paid the $5.00 filing fee, but he has filed a motion to appoint

counsel. Upon reviewing the petition, the Court finds that this case should be transferred in the

interest of justice. Thus, this Court does not rule on Petitioner’s in forma pauperis status or his

motion to appoint counsel.

A petition for writ of habeas corpus may be filed in the United States District Court of

either the judicial district in which the petitioner is presently confined or the judicial district in

which he was convicted and sentenced. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d); Braden v. 30th Judicial

Circuit Court, 410 U.S. 484, 497 (1973). Petitioner is presently confined at Chuckawalla Valley

State Prison, located in Riverside County, which is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the

Case 3:10-cv-01006-JAH-RBB Document 3 Filed 05/14/10 Page 1 of 2
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K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\JAH\10cv1006_transfer.wpd, 51410 -2- 10cv1006

United States District Court for the Central District of California, Eastern Division. See

28 U.S.C. § 84(c)(1). Petitioner’s BPH hearing also occurred at Chuckawalla Valley State

Prison in Riverside County.

When a habeas petitioner is challenging a BPH hearing, the district court of the district

in which the hearing took place is a more convenient forum because of the accessibility of

evidence, records and witnesses. Thus, it is generally the practice of the district courts in

California to transfer habeas actions questioning BPH hearings to the district in which the

hearing took place. Any and all records, witnesses and evidence necessary for the resolution of

Petitioner’s contentions are more readily available in Riverside County. See Braden, 410 U.S.

at 497, 499 n.15 (stating that a court can, of course, transfer habeas cases to the district of

conviction which is ordinarily a more convenient forum). Therefore, in the furtherance of

justice,

IT IS ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court transfer this matter to the United States

District Court for the Central District of California, Eastern Division. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court serve a copy of this Order

upon Petitioner and upon the California Attorney General.

DATED: May 12, 2010 _________________________________________

John A. Houston

United States District Judge

Case 3:10-cv-01006-JAH-RBB Document 3 Filed 05/14/10 Page 2 of 2