Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-01727/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-01727-0/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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Order to Show Cause 

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NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAMUEL WILLIAM LEWIS

Petitioner,

 vs.

A.P. KANE,

Respondent. 

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No. C 06-1727 JF (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 

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

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging the Board of Prison Terms’ (“Board”)

failure to grant him parole after his October 28, 2004 parole suitability hearing. The

instant petition was transferred to this Court from the Central District of California on

March 7, 2006. Petitioner paid the filing fee in the Central District Court. The Court

orders Respondent to show cause why the petition should not be granted. 

STATEMENT

In 1988, Petitioner was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to a term

of fifteen years-to-life in state prison. On October 28, 2004, Petitioner had his third

parole suitability hearing before the Board. Petitioner was denied parole. The petition

**Original filed 9/30/06**

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Order to Show Cause 

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alleges that Petitioner raised his claims with the state appellate court and the state

supreme court. The instant petition was filed on February 7, 2006 in the Central District

of California and then transferred to this Court on March 7, 2006. 

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

A district court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a

person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is

in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28

U.S.C. § 2254(a); Rose v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975). 

A district court shall “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to

show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that

the applicant or person detained is not entitled thereto.” 28 U.S.C. § 2243. 

B. Petitioner’s Claims

Petitioner alleges the following claims for federal habeas relief: (1) the Board of

Prison Terms and the Los Angeles Superior Court violated the binding terms of

Petitioner’s plea agreement contract and his state and federal right to Due Process of the

law; and (2) the Board’s decision was arbitrary and capricious, there was no evidence to

support the decision, the findings are not in the regulatory code which governs the Board

and were not admissions of fact in the plea contract in violation of Petitioner’s rights

under the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. See Pet. at 5. Liberally construed,

Petitioner’s claims are sufficient to require a response. The Court orders Respondent to

show cause why the petition for a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted. 

CONCLUSION 

1. The Clerk shall serve a copy of this order and the petition and all 

attachments thereto upon Respondent and Respondent’s attorney, the Attorney General of

the State of California. The Clerk shall also serve a copy of this order on the Petitioner. 

2. Respondent shall file with the Court and serve on Petitioner, within sixty

days of the issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the

Case 5:06-cv-01727-JF Document 4 Filed 10/02/06 Page 2 of 4
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Order to Show Cause 

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Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should

not be granted. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on Petitioner a copy of

all portions of the state parole record that have been transcribed previously and that are

relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the petition. 

If Petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse

with the court and serving it on Respondent within thirty days of his receipt of the

answer.

3. Respondent may file a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds in lieu of

an answer, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules

Governing Section 2254 Cases. If Respondent files such a motion, Petitioner shall file

with the court and serve on Respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition

within thirty days of receipt of the motion, and Respondent shall file with the Court and

serve on Petitioner a reply within fifteen days of receipt of any opposition.

4. It is Petitioner’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner is 

reminded that all communications with the Court must be served on Respondent by

mailing a true copy of the document to Respondent’s counsel. Petitioner must keep the

Court and all parties informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper

captioned “Notice of Change of Address.” He must comply with the Court’s orders in a

timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to

prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: JEREMY FOGEL

 United States District Judge 

9/30/06

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Order to Show Cause 

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A copy of this order was mailed to the following:

Samuel William Lewis

E-05524

Correctional Training Facility - Soledad

P.O. Box 689

Soledad, CA 93960-0689

California State Attorney General’s Office

455 Golden Gate Avenue

Suite 11000

San Francisco, CA 94102-7004

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