Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00731/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00731-0/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 California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RONNIE E. HOWELL,

Plaintiff,

v.

WARDEN,

Defendant.

Case No. 20-cv-03250-JSC 

ORDER OF TRANSFER

Petitioner, a California prisoner proceeding pro se, filed this petition for a writ of habeas 

corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254.1 The petition challenges the validity of conviction from Fresno

County Superior Court.

A petition for a writ of habeas corpus made by a person in custody under the judgment 

and sentence of a state court of a state which contains two or more federal judicial districts may be 

filed in either the district of confinement or the district of conviction. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). 

Each of such districts shall have concurrent jurisdiction to entertain the petition; however, the 

district court for the district where the petition is filed may transfer the petition to the other district 

in the furtherance of justice. See id. Federal courts in California traditionally have chosen to hear 

petitions challenging a conviction or sentence in the district of conviction. See Dannenberg v. 

Ingle, 831 F. Supp. 767, 768 (N.D. Cal. 1993); Laue v. Nelson, 279 F. Supp. 265, 266 (N.D. Cal. 

1968). 

As Petitioner challenges his conviction, the proper venue for his petition is the district in 

which he was convicted. Fresno County is located within the venue of the Eastern District of 

California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84. 

1 Petitioner has consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 636(c). (Dkt. No. 3.) 

Case 1:20-cv-00731-DAD-JLT Document 4 Filed 05/26/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Accordingly, in the interest of justice, this case is TRANSFERRED to the United States 

District Court for the Eastern District of California. In light of this transfer, ruling on Petitioner’s 

application to proceed in forma pauperis is deferred to the Eastern District. The Clerk shall 

transfer this matter forthwith.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 26, 2020

JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 1:20-cv-00731-DAD-JLT Document 4 Filed 05/26/20 Page 2 of 2