Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00498/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00498-3/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

THOMAS CRUZ, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 

Respondent. 

No. 2:16-cv-0498 TLN AC P 

ORDER 

 Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On January 11, 2017, petitioner filed a motion to stay and abey his 

federal habeas petition pursuant to Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (1995), in order to exhaust 

state court remedies on claims One, Two, Three, and Five. ECF No. 16. Due to the 

overwhelming demands on the court’s docket, this motion cannot be adjudicated immediately. 

However, petitioner is not required to await resolution of the pending motion before returning to 

state court to properly exhaust his state court remedies. In the event that petitioner exhausts any 

claims in the California Supreme Court prior to this court’s resolution of the pending motion, 

petitioner is advised to file a notice of exhaustion in this court. 

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. Respondent is hereby directed to file an opposition or a notice of non-opposition to 

petitioner’s stay and abeyance motion within twenty-one days from the date of this order; 

Case 2:16-cv-00498-TLN-AC Document 17 Filed 01/17/17 Page 1 of 2
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2. Petitioner’s reply, if any, is due seven days thereafter; 

3. If petitioner exhausts any claims in the California Supreme Court prior to this court’s 

resolution of the pending motion, petitioner shall file a notice of exhaustion in this court. 

DATED: January 17, 2017 

Case 2:16-cv-00498-TLN-AC Document 17 Filed 01/17/17 Page 2 of 2