Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-02245/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-02245-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EARNEST CASSELL WOODS II,

Petitioner, No. CIV-S-04-2245 LKK KJM P 

vs.

TOM L. CAREY, 

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for writ of habeas

corpus under28 U.S.C. § 2254, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis.

Examination of the affidavit reveals petitioner is unable to afford the costs of this action. 

Accordingly, leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

Petitioner appears to challenge a guilty finding at an administrative disciplinary

proceeding. Petitioner has submitted his habeas petition on the standard form provided by this

court. However, petitioner has not provided enough detail or filled out the form accurately if in

fact it is the disciplinary proceeding that forms the basis of his filing. For example, the court

cannot tell whether petitioner has exhausted state court remedies with respect to his claim, which

petitioner must do before pursuing any habeas claim in this court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1);

Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971). The information that should be provided in the

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form-habeas application should relate only to the administrative proceeding at issue, not

petitioner’s criminal conviction. Further, petitioner has not provided enough facts to state a

claim for the violation of a Constitutional right. For example, petitioner claims there was

insufficient evidence to support the disciplinary proceeding finding, but fails to indicate what

evidence was presented at the proceeding. To the extent petitioner asserts violations of state law,

he is informed that under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a), a writ of habeas corpus can only issue for

violations of federal law.

Good cause appearing, petitioner will be granted thirty days within which to file

an amended petition for writ of habeas corpus. If petitioner fails to file an amended petition

within thirty days, this case will be closed.

Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted; 

2. Petitioner's application for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed with leave to

amend within thirty days from the date of this order;

3. Any amended petition must bear the case number assigned to this action and

the title “Amended Petition”; and

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner the court's form for

application for writ of habeas corpus. 

DATED: May 13, 2005.

______________________________________

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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wood2245.114

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