Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00566/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00566-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD JOSE DUPREE,

Petitioner,

v.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF 

CALIFORNIA and CDCR,

Respondents.

Case No. 1:15-cv-00566-SKO HC

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION 

FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS 

WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

(Doc. 1) 

SCREENING ORDER

On April 13, 2015, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a petition for writ of 

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

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I. Preliminary Screening

Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases requires the Court to conduct a preliminary 

review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must dismiss a petition "[i]f it plainly 

appears from the petition . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief." Rule 4 of the Rules 

Governing 2254 Cases; see also Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990). A petition 

for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears that no tenable 

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Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), Petitioner consented, in writing, to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate 

Judge to conduct all further proceedings in this case, including the entry of final judgment.

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claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave to be granted. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440 F.2d 13, 14 (9th

Cir. 1971).

II. Naming an Appropriate Respondent

Petitioner names the People of the State of California and CDCR (California Department of 

Corrections and Rehabilitation) as Respondents. Petitioner is incarcerated at California State Prison, 

Corcoran ("CSP-Corcoran"). The warden of CSP-Corcoran is Dave Davey.

A petitioner seeking habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 must name the state officer 

having custody of him as the respondent to the petition. Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 

Cases; Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996); Stanley v. California Supreme 

Court, 21 F.3d 359, 360 (9th Cir. 1994). Typically, a petitioner incarcerated in state prison names the 

warden of that prison as respondent. The chief officer in charge of California state penal institutions 

would also be an appropriate respondent. Ortiz, 81 F.3d at 894; Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360. Petitioner's 

failure to name a proper respondent requires dismissal of his habeas petition for lack of jurisdiction. 

Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360; Olson v. California Adult Authority, 423 F.2d 1326, 1326 (9th Cir.), cert. 

denied, 398 U.S. 914 (1970). 

III. Mischaracterized Claim

Petitioner sets forth ground one as "Removal of D.A. for Misconduct," an action that is not 

cognizable as a ground for habeas relief. The supporting facts reveal, however, that Petitioner is not 

moving for removal of the deputy district attorney who prosecuted his case, but is alleging 

prosecutorial misconduct arising from the prosecutor's failure to disclose relevant favorable 

evidence. When amending his petition, as this order permits him to do, Petitioner should revise the 

designation of ground one to reflect his claim of prosecutorial misconduct or failure to disclose 

favorable evidence.

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IV. Conclusion and Order

Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS:

1. The petition for writ of habeas corpus shall be dismissed with leave to amend for lack

of jurisdiction.

2. The Clerk's Office shall send Petitioner a copy of this order and a form for Petition 

under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody.

3. Within thirty (30) days of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file an amended

petition naming a proper respondent and re-characterizing his claim in ground one. 

Plaintiff shall also sign the amended petition under penalty of perjury.

4. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended petition within thirty (30) days from the date of 

service of this order, this action will be dismissed without further notice for lack of 

jurisdiction.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 21, 2015 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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