Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-02091/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-02091-0/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

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

NOT FOR CITATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARCELO SISON SARMIENTO,

Petitioner, No. C 05-2091 PJH

v.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

THOMAS L. CAREY, Warden, 

California State Prison, Solano,

Respondent.

_______________________________/

Petitioner Marcelo Sison Sarmiento (“Sarmiento”), a state prisoner, has filed a petition

for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

BACKGROUND

Sarmiento was convicted of second degree murder and personal use of a dangerous

and deadly weapon by a jury in the San Francisco County Superior Court in the State of

California. He was sentenced to fifteen years to life, plus one year for the knife-use

enhancement. Sarmiento unsuccessfully appealed his conviction to the California Court of

Appeal and the Supreme Court of California. He filed the instant federal habeas petition on

May 20, 2005. 

DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

This court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus "in behalf of a person in

custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in

violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). It

shall "award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ

should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person

Case 4:05-cv-02091-PJH Document 3 Filed 05/27/05 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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28 Habeas.osc

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detained is not entitled thereto." 28 U.S.C. § 2243.

B. Petitioner’s Legal Claims

Petitioner seeks federal habeas corpus relief, raising one claim: that his due process

rights were violated when the prosecutor attacked the integrity of defense counsel and

accused him of misleading the jury during closing argument. Liberally construed, the claim

appears colorable under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and merits an answer from respondents.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown

1. The clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition and all

attachments thereto upon respondents. The clerk shall also serve a copy of this order on

petitioner.

2. Respondents shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within 60 days of

the date of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing

Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be issued. 

Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on petitioner a copy of all portions of the

administrative record that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the

petition.

3. If the petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a

traverse with the court and serving it on respondent within 30 days of his receipt of the answer.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 27, 2005 

______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:05-cv-02091-PJH Document 3 Filed 05/27/05 Page 2 of 2