Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00923/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00923-0/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

THOMAS KINER,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNKNOWN,

Defendant.

Case No. 17cv0923 BEN (BGS)

ORDER DISMISSING CASE 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Petitioner, proceeding pro se, has submitted a document wherein he states that he is 

“in the process of filing a federal writ of habeas corpus,” pursuant to in 28 U.S.C. § 

2254. He states, however, that he has been delayed in preparing his petition after being 

taken into custody on unrelated charges. (See Pet. at 1.) 

FAILURE TO FILE PETITION

Petitioner has not filed a Petition for writ of habeas corpus in this action. 

Therefore, unless Petitioner is a capital prisoner, he has not initiated habeas proceedings 

in this Court. Calderon (Nicolaus) v. U.S. District Court, 98 F.3d 1102, 1107 n.

3 (9th Cir. 1996) (“Unlike non-capital prisoners who initiate habeas proceedings by filing 

a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, capital prisoners commence federal habeas 

/ / /

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proceedings by filing a request for appointment of counsel.”); McFarland v. Scott, 512 

U.S. 849 (1994). 

Petitioner does not contend that he is a capital prisoner, that is, a prisoner under 

sentence of death. As such, if Petitioner wishes to proceed with a habeas action in this 

Court he must (as is the case with all non-capital prisoners) file a petition for writ of 

habeas corpus, which will be given a separate civil case number. 

The Court cautions Petitioner that a one-year period of limitation applies to a 

petition for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a 

State court. The limitation period begins to run on the latest of:

(A) the date on which the judgment became final by the 

conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for 

seeking such review;

(B) the date on which the impediment to filing an application 

created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws 

of the United States is removed, if the applicant was prevented 

from filing by such State action;

(C) the date on which the constitutional right asserted was 

initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if the right has been 

newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively 

applicable to cases on collateral review; or

(D) the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or 

claims presented could have been discovered through the 

exercise of due diligence.

28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(A)-(D). If the federal petition is filed after the statute of 

limitations has run, the petition will be summarily dismissed.

The statute of limitations does not run while a properly filed state habeas corpus 

petition is pending. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2); see Nino v. Galaza, 183 F.3d 1003, 1006 

(9th Cir. 1999). But see Artuz v. Bennett, 531 U.S. 4, 8 (2000) (holding that “an 

application is ‘properly filed’ when its delivery and acceptance [by the appropriate court 

officer for placement into the record] are in compliance with the applicable laws and 

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rules governing filings.”). However, the filing of a federal habeas petition does not toll 

the statute of limitations. Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 181-82 (2001).

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

This action is DISMISSED without prejudice because Petitioner has not filed a 

Petition and has therefore failed to initiate federal habeas proceedings in this action. For 

Petitioner’s convenience, the Clerk of Court shall attach to this Order a blank In Forma

Pauperis Application and a blank form Petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

The Clerk shall close the file.

Dated: May 22, 2017

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