Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00302/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00302-0/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\BATTAGLI\DJ CASES\2 Orders to be filed\sub_rsp&grtIFP.wpd, 2812 -1- 12cv0302

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID COLE, Civil No. 12-0302 AJB (POR)

Petitioner,

ORDER: 

(1) SUA SPONTE SUBSTITUTING

RESPONDENT; and

(2) GRANTING APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

v.

MATTHEW CATE, Secretary, 

Respondent.

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has submitted a Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis. 

SUBSTITUTION OF RESPONDENT

Petitioner named Timothy Busby, Warden as Respondent. It has come to the Court’s

attention that Mr. Busby was no longer the Warden at Ironwood State Prison as of November

2011. David Long was recently appointed Acting Warden of that correctional facility.

A writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 2242; Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Because the warden at Petitioner’s place of custody

has changed, so has his custodian. Accordingly, in order to conform with the requirements of

Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases and to avoid changing the Respondent again if

Petitioner is transferred to another prison or paroled, the Court hereby sua sponte ORDERS the

substitution of Matthew Cate, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and

Case 3:12-cv-00302-AJB-DHB Document 3 Filed 02/08/12 Page 1 of 2
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K:\COMMON\BATTAGLI\DJ CASES\2 Orders to be filed\sub_rsp&grtIFP.wpd, 2812 -2- 12cv0302

Rehabilitation, as Respondent in place of “Timothy Busby.” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81

F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996) (stating that the respondent in § 2254 proceedings may be the chief

officer in charge of state penal institutions); see also FED. R. CIV. P. 25(d)(1) (“When a public

official is a party to an action in his official capacity and during its pendency dies, resigns, or

otherwise ceases to hold office, the action does not abate and the officer’s successor is

automatically substituted as a party.”) The Clerk of the Court shall modify the docket to reflect

“Matthew Cate, Secretary” in place of the former respondent.

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Petitioner has $0.00 on account at the California correctional institution in which he is

presently confined. Petitioner cannot afford the $5.00 filing fee. Thus, the Court GRANTS

Petitioner’s application to proceed in forma pauperis, and allows Petitioner to prosecute the

above-referenced action as a poor person without being required to prepay fees or costs and

without being required to post security. The Clerk of the Court shall file the Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus without prepayment of the filing fee.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 6, 2012

Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia

U.S. District Judge

Case 3:12-cv-00302-AJB-DHB Document 3 Filed 02/08/12 Page 2 of 2