Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01429/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01429-22/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

JOHN MICHAEL BEAMES,

Petitioner,

v.

KEVIN CHAPPELL, Warden of San Quentin 

State Prison,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:10-cv-01429-AWI-SAB

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER FOLLOWING INTERIM CASE 

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 

A telephonic case management conference was held on May 14, 2015 to further discuss 

scheduling for claim 11 and the record claims. Counsel Harry Simon, Matthew Scoble and 

Timothy Brosnan appeared for Petitioner and counsel Robert Gezi appeared for Respondent.

Petitioner’s federal petition was filed on July 27, 2011. On August 2, 2011, the Court 

found that claim 11 (ineffective assistance regarding forensic evidence of cause of death) stated a 

colorable claim. On April 9, 2015, the Court (i) set a February 1, 2016 evidentiary hearing on 

claim 11, (ii) determined that the parties should brief the remaining record claims 3, 4, 5, 7, 19, 

20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35A-C, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43A-N, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48

for consideration at the close of the evidentiary hearing, and (iii) directed the parties to file a 

Case 1:10-cv-01429-DAD Document 126 Filed 05/15/15 Page 1 of 3
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joint statement setting out detailed scheduling for, and any objections to, the foregoing. 

On May 4, 2015, the parties filed their joint statement. Petitioner also filed related 

documents under seal. The parties’ joint statement proposes a schedule for briefing the record 

claims. However, they object to briefing record claims while they are preparing for the claim 11 

evidentiary hearing. Petitioner argues the currently set evidentiary hearing should take priority. 

Respondent disagrees, arguing that the claim 11 evidentiary hearing should be postponed until all 

the record claims have been briefed. 

The Court has reviewed the record including the parties’ above filings and considered 

their arguments at the May 14, 2015 hearing. For reasons stated on the record at the May 14 

hearing, the Court finds good cause to go forward with claim 11 as currently scheduled and to 

defer any necessary proceedings on the record claims until the Court issues its decision on claim 

11. Additionally, after the district judge issues an order following the evidentiary hearing of 

Claim 11 and if this case is still proceeding in this court, the Court expects to set further briefing. 

The parties are advised of the anticipated briefing schedule to ensure timely resolution of any 

remaining claims (allowing counsel a month or two to adjust to then present commitments prior 

to issuing the briefing schedule):

a. Respondent’s answer (without points and authorities) or responsive motion due 

sixty (60) days following the filed date of the Court’s claim 11 dispositive order; 

b. Petitioner’s traverse due thirty (30) days following the filed date of the answer or 

responsive motion; 

c. Petitioner’s merits brief addressing 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) in support of each claim 

due six (6) months following the filed date of the traverse; 

d. Respondent’s merits brief addressing 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) in opposition to each 

claim due six (6) months following the filed date of Petitioner’s merits brief; and

e. Petitioner’s reply brief on the merits due ninety (90) days following the filed date 

of Respondent’s merits brief.

Any issues associated with the withdrawal of any counsel in this case shall be brought to 

the immediate attention of the Court as the Court will not be adjusting its proposed schedule if 

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counsel leaves the case. Any counsel who is withdrawn from the case shall be replaced by 

counsel who shall be prepared to meet these schedules. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The current scheduling for the claim 11 evidentiary hearing and pre-hearing 

events (see ECF No. 116) shall continue in full force and effect, and 

2. If this action case is still proceeding once the district judge issues an order 

addressing claim 11, the parties shall be prepared to address the briefing schedule 

for the remaining claims as set forth herein.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 14, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:10-cv-01429-DAD Document 126 Filed 05/15/15 Page 3 of 3