Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00370/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00370-0/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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 “A petitioner for habeas corpus relief must name the state officer having custody of him 1

or her as the respondent to the petition. This person typically is the warden of the facility in

which the petitioner is incarcerated. Brittingham v. United States, 982 F.2d 378, 379 (9th

Cir.1992).” Stanley v. California Supreme Court, 21 F.3d 359, 360 (9th Cir. 1994) (citing Rule

2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254). Failure to name the petitioner’s custodian as a respondent deprives

federal courts of personal jurisdiction. Id.; Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244, 249 (9th Cir.1989). 

In the instant action, petitioner has named the People of the State of California as respondents. 

Petitioner is cautioned that he should name the proper respondent should he proceed to file a

petition. 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENYATTA LATCHISON,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-07-0370 FCD GGH P

vs.

UNKNOWN,

Respondent. ORDER 1

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner at High Desert State Prison, has filed a document styled

“request,” asserting that he has a current petition pending before the state supreme court and

seeking to have his time limit extended to file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this court. 

No other pleadings have been filed by the petitioner. In order to commence an action, petitioner

must file a petition for writ of habeas corpus as required by Rule 3 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, and petitioner must either pay the required filing fee or file an application requesting

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leave to proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). 

A petitioner satisfies the exhaustion requirement by providing the highest state

court with a full and fair opportunity to consider all claims before presenting them to the federal

court. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971); Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1086

(9th Cir.), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1021 (1986). Generally, the one-year statute of limitations

under AEDPA is tolled for the period in which a petitioner is appropriately pursuing and

exhausting his state court remedies. Nino v. Galaza, 183 F.3d 1003 (9 Cir. 1999).

th

Petitioner, in identifying claims challenging his sentence/conviction that are

pending before the state courts, does not inform the court whether or not he has any claims that

have been exhausted in state courts either on direct review or in a prior state habeas petition. 

Should he have any exhausted claims, he may file a federal petition and seek a stay as to his

unexhausted claims. Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 125 S. Ct. 1807 (2005) (prisoner may

file “protective” petition in federal court seeking stay and abeyance until state court remedies are

exhausted). If he files a mixed petition and seeks a stay, he must show good cause for not having

exhausted any claims before proceeding to this court. Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 125 S. Ct.

1528 (2005). 

The court cannot issue any orders granting or denying relief until an action has

been properly commenced. Petitioner will be provided the opportunity to file his petition, and to

submit an application requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis or to submit the appropriate

filing fee. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s February 23, 2007, request for a time extension for filing a federal

habeas petition is denied;

2. Petitioner is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a

petition that complies with the requirements of Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the petition must bear the docket

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number assigned this case. Petitioner shall also submit, within thirty days from the date of this

order, the application to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of Court,

or the filing fee in the amount of $5.00. Petitioner’s failure to comply with this order will result

in a recommendation that this matter be dismissed; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner the court’s form for filing

a petition for writ of habeas corpus, and the application to proceed in forma pauperis by a

prisoner.

DATED: 3/14/07

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

latc0370.nopetition 

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