Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02882/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02882-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOSE ALFREDO FIGUEROA, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

MELISSA LEA, Warden, 

. Respondent. 

Civil No. 12-2882 BEN (BLM) 

ORDER: 

(1) GRANTING APPLICATION 

TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS, and 

(2) DISMISSING CASE 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND 

WITH LEAVE TO AMEND 

[ECF No.7] 

On December 3, 2012, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, submitted a 

Petition for Writ ofHabeas Corpus pursuantto 28 U.S.C. § 2254. [ECF No.1.] By Order 

dated December 17, 2012, the Court dismissed the case without prejudice and with leave 

to amend for Petitioner's failure to pay the filing fee or provide adequate proof of his 

inability to pay the fee. [ECF No.3.] Petitioner was advised that he could proceed with 

the case if he paid the filing fee or provided the requisite proof of his inability to pay the 

fee no later than February 12,2013. On January 22, 2013, Petitioner filed a Motion for 

Leave to Proceed In FormaPauperis. [ECF No.4.] The Court denied Petitioner's Motion 

because it appeared he had sufficient funds in his prison trust account to pay the fee, and 

instructed Petitioner to pay the fee no later than April 2, 2013, to proceed with the case. 

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[ECF No.5.] On March 18,2013, Petitioner submitted a second Motion to Proceed In 

Forma Pauperis. [ECF No.7.] 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 

Petitioner has $1.88 on account at the California correctiomiLinstitution in which 

he is presently confined. Petitioner cannot afford the $5.00 filing fee .. Thus, the Court 

GRANTS Petitioner's application to proceed in forma pauperis, and allows Petitioner 

to prosecute the above-referenced action as a poor person without being required to 

prepay fees or costs and without being required to post security. The Clerk ofthe Court 

shall file the Petition for Writ ofHabeas Corpus without prepayment ofthe filing fee. 

FAILURE TO NAME PROPER RESPONDENT 

Review of the Petition reveals that Petitioner has failed to name a proper 

respondent. On federal habeas, a state prisoner must name the state officer having 

custody ofhim as the respondent. Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 

1996) (citing Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foIl. § 2254). Federal courts lack personal jurisdiction 

when a habeas petition fails to name a proper respondent. See id. 

The warden is the typical respondent. However, "the rules following section 2254 

do not specify the warden." Id. "[T]he 'state officer having custody' may be 'either the 

warden ofthe institution in which the petitioner is incarcerated ... or the chief officer 

in charge of state penal institutions.'" Id. (quoting Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foIl. § 2254 

advisory committee's note):' If"a petitioner is in custody due to the state action he is 

challenging,' [t]he named respondent shall be the state officer who has official custody 

of the petitioner (for example, the warden of the prison). '" Id. (quoting Rule 2, 28 

U.S.C. foIl. § 2254 advisory committee's note). 

A long-standing rule in the Ninth Circuit holds "that a petitioner may not seek [a 

writ of] habeas corpus against the State under ... [whose] authority ... the petitioner is 

in custody. The actual person who is [the] custodian [of the petitioner] must be the 

respondent." Ashley v. Washington, 394 F.2d 125, 126 (9th Cir. 1968). This 

requirement exists because a writ ofhabeas corpus acts upon the custodian ofthe state 

prisoner, the person who will produce "the body" if directed to do so by the Court. 

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"Both the warden of a California prison and the Director of Correcti,:ms for California 

have the power to produce the prisoner." Ortiz-Sandoval, 81 F.3d at 895 .. 

Here, Petitioner has incorrectly named "Melissa Lea," as .~espofldent. In order for 

this Court to entertain the Petition filed in this action, Petitioner ·niust name the warden 

in charge ofthe state correctional facility in which Petitioner is presently confined or the 

Director ofthe California Department ofCorrections. Brittingham v. United States, 982 

F.2d 378,379 (9th Cir. 1992) (per curiam). 

CONCLUSION AND ORDER 

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Petitioner's request to proceed in forma 

pauperis and DISMISSES the Petition without prejudice and with leave to amend due 

to Petitioner's failure to name a proper respondent. To have this case reopened, 

Petitioner must file a First Amended Petition no later than June 7.2013 in conformance 

with this Order. The Clerk ofthe Court is directed to sendPetitioner a First Amended 

Petition form along with a copy ofthis Order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: APrill!2013 

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