Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00234/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00234-1/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)

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MOODY WOODROW TANKSLEY,

Petitioner,

v.

TULARE COUNTY SHERIFF

DEPARTMENT,

Respondent.

 /

CV F 06-0234 AWI SMS HC

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REGARDING SECOND AMENDED

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

[Doc. 7]

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

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

Petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus on March 1, 2006. Petitioner

filed a first amended petition on March 23, 2006, and a second amended petition on April 6,

2006. 

DISCUSSION

Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases requires the Court to make a preliminary

review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must dismiss a petition "[i]f it

plainly appears from the face of the petition . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief." Rule

4 of the Rules Governing 2254 Cases; see also Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490

(9th Cir.1990). A federal court may only grant a petition for writ of habeas corpus if the

petitioner can show that "he is in custody in violation of the Constitution . . . ." 28 U.S.C. §

2254(a). A habeas corpus petition is the correct method for a prisoner to challenge the “legality

Case 1:06-cv-00234-AWI -SMS Document 8 Filed 05/01/06 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

 The Court takes judicial notice of the fact that Petitioner has filed another action in this Court, which was

assigned to the undersigned, in which Petitioner indicates that he is awaiting trial in the Kern County Superior Court

and that the trial court erred in resolving a conflict with his trial counsel. He further contends that he has been

denied medical treatment at the pretrial detention facility. See Moody Woodrow Tanksley v. Bakersfield Lerdo

Pretrial Sheriff Department, CV-F-06-0376 OWW SMS HC. A Court may take judicial notice of court records. See

MGIC Indem. Co. v. Weisman, 803 F.2d 500, 505 (9th Cir. 1986); United States v. Wilson, 631 F.2d 118, 119 (9th

cir. 1980). 

2

or duration” of his confinement. Badea v. Cox, 931 F.2d 573, 574 (9th Cir. 1991), quoting,

Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 485 (1973); Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 1 of the

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. In contrast, a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983 is the proper method for a prisoner to challenge the conditions of that confinement. 

McCarthy v. Bronson, 500 U.S. 136, 141-42 (1991); Preiser, 411 U.S. at 499; Badea, 931 F.2d at

574; Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 1 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 

In the instant petition, although Petitioner did not fill out the part of the petition listing his

grounds for relief, Petitioner does indicate that he is currently awaiting trial on criminal charges

in the Kern County Superior Court.1 Petitioner states that he is being subjected to false charges,

false imprisonment, false arrest, and police brutality. (Second Amd. Pet. at 3.) 

Because Petitioner is not yet convicted, under principles of comity and federalism, a

federal court should not interfere with ongoing state criminal proceedings by granting injunctive

or declaratory relief except under special circumstances. Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43-54

(1971). Younger abstention is required when: (1) state proceedings, judicial in nature, are

pending; (2) the state proceedings involve important state interests; and (3) the state proceedings

afford adequate opportunity to raise the constitutional issue. Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v.

Garden State Bar Ass’n, 457 U.S. 423, 432 (1982); Dubinka v. Judges of the Superior Court, 23

F.3d 218, 223 (9th Cir. 1994). The rationale of Younger applies throughout the appellate

proceedings, requiring that state appellate review of a state court judgment be exhausted before

federal court intervention is permitted. Dubinka, 23 F.3d at 223 (even if criminal trials were

completed at time of abstention decision, state court proceedings still considered pending). Thus,

dismissal at this juncture, does not prevent Petitioner from returning to federal court in the future.

RECOMMENDATION

Case 1:06-cv-00234-AWI -SMS Document 8 Filed 05/01/06 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

1. The instant petition be dismissed, without prejudice; and

2. The Clerk of Court be directed to enter judgment; thus, terminating this action.

These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the assigned United States

District Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. section 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 72-

304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of

California. Within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy, any party may file written

objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned

“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Replies to the objections

shall be served and filed within ten (10) court days (plus three days if served by mail) after

service of the objections. The Court will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(c). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the

specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951

F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 28, 2006 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00234-AWI -SMS Document 8 Filed 05/01/06 Page 3 of 3