Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_91-cv-00616/USCOURTS-caed-1_91-cv-00616-1/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

DOUGLAS RAY STANKEWITZ, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. )

)

ROBERT L. AYERS, JR.,* Acting )

Warden of San Quentin State Prison, )

)

Respondent. )

)

Case No. CIV. F-91-616-AWI-P

DEATH PENALTY CASE

Order Granting in Part

Respondent’s Motion for

Discovery of Trial Files 

(Doc. # 505)

On January 26, 2005, Respondent Robert L. Ayers, Jr. (“the State”) filed a

motion for discovery of the trial files from the first trial of Petitioner Douglas Ray

Stankewitz (“Stankewitz”). Stankewitz filed an opposition to the motion March 8,

2005, and the State filed a reply March 21, 2005. Pursuant to court order,

Stankewitz lodged the files which were the subject of the discovery motion for in

camera review.

The Court has completed review of the lodged documents, and makes the

following findings:

The majority of the documents are not confidential as they are either public

________________

* Robert L. Ayers, Jr. is substituted for his predecessor as Acting Warden of San

Quentin State Prison, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d).

Case 1:91-cv-00616-AWI Document 540 Filed 10/23/06 Page 1 of 2
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OReDiscTrialFilesStank 2

records (law enforcement reports, court records) or documents relevant to this

litigation (juvenile records, medical/mental health records/reports), and are

discoverable. The documents which are denied discovery are trial counsel Sal

Sciandra’s notes from the trial (labeled Production #3), preliminary reports from a

mental health expert retained by federal habeas counsel in 1989 (within

Production #4), and Mr. Sciandra’s case history and memo (within Production #7)

which contains confidential communication from Stankewitz.

The State’s motion for discovery is GRANTED, with the exceptions listed

above. Counsel for the State may make arrangements for inspection and copying

of the discoverable documents with the Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 20, 2006 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

b64h1h UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:91-cv-00616-AWI Document 540 Filed 10/23/06 Page 2 of 2