Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-02832/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-02832-0/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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Petitioner states he is only challenging his vandalism conviction herein, not his D.U.I.

conviction. 

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PATRICK D. BURKE, 

Petitioner,

 v.

WARDEN D.K. SISTO, 

Respondent. ______________________________

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No. C 07-2832 MMC (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND; GRANTING

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN

FORMA PAUPERIS

(Docket No. 2)

On May 31, 2007, petitioner, a California prisoner proceeding pro se, filed the abovetitled petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. He has applied for

leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

BACKGROUND

In 2003, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, petitioner was convicted of vandalism

and driving under the influence of alcohol (“D.U.I.”), and sentenced to a term of six years

and four months in state prison. Petitioner challenged his vandalism conviction1

 by habeas

petitions filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court, the California Court of Appeal

and the Supreme Court of California. All three habeas petitions were denied. 

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

This Court may entertain a petition for a 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

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a);

Rose v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975). A district court 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 detained is not entitled thereto.” 

28 U.S.C. § 2243. Summary dismissal is appropriate only where the allegations in the

petition are vague or conclusory, palpably incredible, or patently frivolous or false. See

Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990) (quoting Blackledge v. Allison, 

431 U.S. 63, 75-76 (1977)). 

B. Petitioner’s Claims

Petitioner claims: (1) his attorney advised him to plead nolo contendere to the

vandalism charge despite the fact that there was no evidence to support the charge; (2) that

his vandalism conviction was based on false evidence; and (3) that he was given an illegal

sentence based on false information and ineffective assistance of counsel. 

Petitioner’s three claims fail to state a cognizable basis for federal habeas relief, in

that they do not allege a violation of federal law. A writ of habeas corpus is available under

28 U.S.C. § 2254 “only on the basis of some transgression of federal law binding on the state

courts.” Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1085 (9th Cir. 1985) (citing Engle v. Isaac, 456

U.S. 107, 119 (1982)), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1021 (1986). The writ is not available to

redress violations of state law or for alleged error in the interpretation or application of state

law. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991). Here, petitioner has not identified

what federal law allegedly was violated, as is necessary to provide respondent with adequate

notice of the claims being asserted. See Hendricks, 908 F.2d at 491-92 (holding petitioner

must state claims with sufficient specificity to allow respondent to prepare response). 

Petitioner will be given leave to amend his claims to allege what federal law, if any, he is

asserting was violated. Petitioner is advised that any federal basis for such claims must be

exhausted, by petitioner’s having sufficiently presented the federal basis for the claims, in

addition to any other arguments in support of the claims, to the Supreme Court of California,

before raising them in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c); Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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509, 515-16 (1982). 

CONCLUSION 

For the reasons stated above, the Court orders as follows:

1. The instant petition is DISMISSED with leave to amend. Within thirty (30)

days of the date this order is filed, petitioner must file an amended petition in which he

corrects the deficiencies noted above. The amended petition must include the caption and

civil case number used in this order, No. C 07-2832 MMC (PR), and must include the words

AMENDED PETITION on the first page. In the amended petition, petitioner must include

all the claims he wishes to present; he may not incorporate by reference any portion of his

initial petition.

2. If petitioner fails to timely amend the petition as ordered herein, the

petition will be dismissed.

3. It is petitioner’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner must keep the

Court and respondent informed of any change of address and must comply with the Court’s

orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action,

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and/or Civil Local Rule 3-11, for failure to

prosecute.

4. In light of petitioner’s lack of funds, the application to proceed in forma

pauperis is GRANTED.

This order terminates Docket No. 2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 13, 2007 _________________________ MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

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