Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_97-cv-00152/USCOURTS-caed-2_97-cv-00152-89/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LANCE IAN OSBAND,

Petitioner, No. 2:-97-CV- 0152 WBS GGH (TEMP)

vs. DEATH PENALTY CASE

WARDEN, San

 Quentin State Prison, 

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Due to the elevation of Magistrate Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to the position of

United States District Judge, the above-captioned case was reassigned temporarily to Magistrate

Judge Gregory G. Hollows. (Dkt. No. 578.) The parties jointly request vacation of the referral of

this case to a magistrate judge and reassignment from Judge William B. Shubb to Judge Mueller. 

(Dkt. No. 577.) 

The court finds the interests of judicial economy and fairness will best be served

by granting the parties’ request. Judge Mueller heard eight days of evidentiary hearing testimony

in 2007. Due to issues surrounding sealing portions of the evidentiary hearing transcript, Judge

Mueller has not made findings of fact on the issues presented at that hearing. Further, there are

no matters currently pending before the district judge and the parties agree to submit any motions

for reconsideration of Judge Mueller’s December 20, 2010 order to her. 

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The court makes this ruling cognizant of the Court of Appeals’ caution in Dawson

v. Marshall, 561 F.3d 930 (9th Cir. 2009). In Dawson, a magistrate judge issued findings and

recommendations, was elevated to the position of district judge, was reassigned the case as a

district judge, and ruled on objections to those findings and recommendations. The Court of

Appeals held the judge “violated no law and denied [the parties] no right.” 561 F.3d at 933. 

However, the court went on to note that although the judge’s “role in this case was proper, there

is a problem of appearances. Therefore, in our supervisory capacity over the district courts of

this circuit, we suggest that district courts avoid assigning new district judges to cases they

handled as magistrates.” Id. at 934. 

This court fully appreciates the potential problems in reassigning cases to a

district judge who presided over the case while a magistrate judge. Nonetheless, reassignment is

appropriate here because the circumstances in this case are unique. The present case is in a 1

different posture than Dawson. Judge Mueller will not be placed in the position of reviewing her

own recommendations on dispositive matters. To the extent she will review her decision

regarding sealing portions of the evidentiary hearing transcript, both parties agree that she may

do so. In addition, there is a potential for prejudice to the parties and a potential waste of judicial

resources should the evidentiary hearing testimony go unused. The court finds it in the best

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 This reassignment should not be considered precedent for other similar requests. The 1

court stresses that the unique nature of this complex proceeding makes reassignment appropriate

in this circumstance only.

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interest of the court and the parties to reassign this case from the Honorable Judge William B.

Shubb to the Honorable Kimberly J. Mueller and vacate the referral of the case to a magistrate

judge pursuant to Local Rule 302(c). 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: January 14, 2011 

0m8i78 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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