Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-04341/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-04341-0/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 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

PAUL DAVID JOHNSON, P80888, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

RON DAVIS, Warden, 

Respondent. 

Case No. 19-cv-04341-CRB (PR) 

 

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION 

FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS 

CORPUS FOR FAILURE TO 

EXHAUST 

(ECF No. 3) 

Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, seeks a writ of habeas 

corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging the Alameda County Superior Court’s April 30, 2019 

denial of his request to recall his indeterminate life sentence under recently-amended California 

Penal Code section 1170(d). Prisoners in state custody who wish to challenge collaterally in 

federal habeas corpus proceedings either the fact or length of their confinement are first required 

to exhaust state judicial remedies, either on direct appeal or through collateral proceedings, by 

presenting the highest state court available with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of each and 

every claim they seek to raise in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)-(c). Petitioner has not 

done so. He has not presented the Supreme Court of California with an opportunity to consider 

and rule on his claims. See O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999) (state’s highest 

court must be given opportunity to rule on claims even if review is discretionary). The petition for 

a writ of habeas corpus therefore is DISMISSED without prejudice to filing a new petition after 

state judicial remedies are exhausted. 

Based on his affidavit of poverty, petitioner’s application to proceed in forma pauperis 

under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (ECF No. 3) is GRANTED. The clerk shall close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: December 13, 2019 

______________________________________ 

CHARLES R. BREYER 

United States District Judge 

Case 3:19-cv-04341-CRB Document 4 Filed 12/13/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

PAUL DAVID JOHNSON, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

PEOPLE FOR THE STATE OF 

CALIFORNIA, 

Defendant. 

Case No. 3:19-cv-04341-CRB 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California. 

That on December 13, 2019, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by 

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office. 

Paul David Johnson ID: P-80888 

San Quentin State Prison 2-N9UP 

San Quentin, CA 94974 

Dated: December 13, 2019 

Susan Y. Soong 

Clerk, United States District Court 

By:________________________ 

Lashanda Scott, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable CHARLES R. BREYER 

Case 3:19-cv-04341-CRB Document 4 Filed 12/13/19 Page 2 of 2