Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00223/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00223-7/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

JOSEPH MARTIN DANKS,

Petitioner,

vs.

MICHAEL MARTEL, as Acting Warden of San

Quentin State Prison,

Respondent.

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Case No. 1:11-cv-00223 LJO

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER DIRECTING PETITIONER TO

FILE A REPLY TO THE RESPONSE OF

RESPONDENT REGARDING DISMISSAL

OF CLAIMS 31 THROUGH 35

On October 14, 2011 the Court entered an order holding federal proceedings in abeyance as to

Claims 1 through 30 and 37, dismissing Claim 36 as premature, and directing Petitioner Joseph Martin

Danks (“Danks”) to show cause whyClaims 31 through 35 should not be dismissed as unexhausted and

barred by the statute of limitations. Danks timely filed his return to the order to show cause on October

21, 2011. Respondent Michael Martel, as Acting Warden of San Quentin State Prison, (the “Warden”)

filed a response to Danks’ return on October 25, 2011.

Danks maintains that Claims 31 through 35 previously were exhausted in direct appeal

proceedings before the California Supreme Court. The Warden agrees that Claims 31 through 35 are

factually exhausted. He disagrees Danks exhausted all the legal bases for his federal claims on direct

appeal. He argues:

Claim 31 adds an Equal Protection violation, ineffective assistance of counsel, deprivation of

the right to a trial by a fair and impartial jury, as well as general violations of his Fifth and Sixth

Amendment rights to the Eighth Amendment violation for injecting an arbitrary factor into the jury’s

penalty determination raised in Claim IV on direct appeal;

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Claim 32 adds a general violation of his Fifth Amendment rights as well as his right to be free

of cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the violation of his Sixth Amendment

right to a jury trial, his Eighth Amendment right to enhanced reliability in capital trials, and his

Fourteenth Amendment rights to Due Process and Equal Protection raised in Claim V on direct appeal;

Claim 33 adds a violation of his Due Process and Equal Protection rights under the Fourteenth

Amendment as well as general violations of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights to the Eighth

Amendment violation raised in Claim VI on direct appeal;

Claim 34 adds general violations of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights to the deprivation of

his Due Process and Equal Protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and the deprivation his

right to reliability of sentencing under the Eighth Amendment raised in Claim VII on direct appeal; and

Claim35 adds Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment violations to the deprivation of his right

to self-representation under the Sixth Amendment raised in Claim I on direct appeal.

Danks is directed to file a reply to the Warden’s response within two calendar weeks from the

filing of this order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 25, 2011 

 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

 Lawrence J. O’Neill

United States District Judge

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