Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_92-cv-05830/USCOURTS-caed-1_92-cv-05830-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEITH EDWARD ADCOX, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. )

)

ROBERT L. AYERS, Jr.*, Warden )

of San Quentin State Prison, )

)

Respondent. )

)

Case No. CIV. F-92-5830-OWW-P

DEATH PENALTY CASE

Order Setting Date to Amend

Federal Petition Following

Exhaustion

 

Petitioner Keith Edward Adcox (“Adcox”) filed his federal

petition for writ of habeas corpus April 3, 1995. The petition

was amended on September 7, 1995. Seven claims in Adcox’s

petition were denied on the merits June 7, 1998, as were portions

of four other claims. Fifteen claims were determined to be

completely unexhausted, and six claims were found to be partially

unexhausted. Adcox withdrew his unexhausted claims, pursuant to

the procedure in effect at the time, and the remaining exhausted

 ________________

* Robert L. Ayers, Jr. is substituted for his predecessor as

Warden of San Quentin State Prison, pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 25(d).

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 The Attorney Guide is posted on the Court’s website, under 1

Attorney Info, Fresno, Forms.

OReAmendPetnAdc 2

claims in his federal petition were held in abeyance June 22,

1998. Adcox filed his state exhaustion petition, California

Supreme Court Case No. S074000, on October 8, 1998. An informal

response was filed to the petition September 8, 1999, and Adcox’s

reply was filed March 15, 2000. The California Supreme Court

denied Adcox’s state exhaustion petition on the merits, and as

untimely, January 3, 2007.

 While Adcox’s exhaustion petition was pending before the

state court, his appointed lead counsel moved to withdraw from

the case, and the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of

California was substituted in as lead counsel. Eric J. Fogderude

remains second counsel for Adcox.

The Guide to Case Management and Budgeting in Capital Habeas

Cases, Eastern District of California, Fresno Division1

(hereafter the “Attorney Guide”) provides an overview of the

process for capital habeas corpus cases in this Court. Counsel

for Adcox are directed to familiarize themselves with the

Attorney Guide. Particular attention should be given to

information about case management procedures and matters

governing payment rates for appointed counsel. See Attorney

Guide, ¶¶ 3, 8. Since the procedures for establishing

reimbursement rates for CJA counsel have changed in recent years,

any change from the prior rates established for counsel in this

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 Sealed applications are submitted in person or by mail and 2

scanned into the Court’s electronic filing system by Court

Clerk’s Office staff. The original documents are then returned

to counsel.

OReAmendPetnAdc 3

case will require an application supported by a completed Rate

Justification Worksheet (Appendix A to the Attorney Guide). This

application may be submitted to the Court confidentially.

Budget forms will be electronically transmitted to counsel. 

See Attorney Guide, ¶ 11. A preliminary budget for the second

half of Phase II of the litigation must be presented and approved

before any reimbursement for professional services will be

authorized. See Attorney Guide, ¶¶ 53 and 57. The proposed

budget need only include hours and expenses for CJA counsel, but

should indicate in the supporting declaration the division of

labor and allocation of resources with the Federal Defender. As

specified in the Attorney Guide, the proposed budget and

application, including supporting declarations, should be

submitted to the Court under seal.2

In light of the extensive amount of time this case was in

abeyance pending the exhaustion of state remedies, and

considering that lead counsel is relatively new to the case, the

time for amendment of the federal petition following exhaustion

is expanded from the norm. Adcox shall file an amended petition,

asserting all factual allegations and the legal basis or theory

underlying the claims, but not points and authorities, by May 3,

2007. Respondent Robert L. Ayers, Jr. (“the State”) shall file

an answer pursuant to Rule 5(b) of the Rules Governing § 2254

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OReAmendPetnAdc 4

Cases within 90 days of the date the amended petition is filed.

Adcox will set a Phase III Case Management Conference, to be

held within 30 days of the filing of the State’s answer, to

address the issues of merits briefing and motions for further

factual development, such as record expansion, discovery or

evidentiary hearing.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 12, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

b64h1h UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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