Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01037/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01037-0/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NOT FOR CITATION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 W. LEWIS,

Petitioner,

 vs.

RANDY GROUNDS, Warden,

Respondent. 

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No. C 10-01037 JF (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Petitioner, a state prisoner at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad,

California, proceeding pro se, seeks a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2254, challenging the decision of the Board of Parole Hearings (“Board”)

finding him unsuitable for parole. Petitioner has paid the filing fee. The Court orders

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

STATEMENT

According to the petition, on November 21, 1988, Petitioner was sentenced to a

term of fifteen-years-to-life in state prison upon his guilty plea to second degree murder

in the County of Los Angeles Superior Court. Petitioner challenges the Board’s decision

denying him parole after his sixth parole suitability hearing on September 29, 2008. 

Case 3:10-cv-01037-EMC Document 5 Filed 05/25/10 Page 1 of 4
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Order to Show Cause

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Petitioner filed habeas petitions in the state superior court, state appellate court, and the

state supreme court, all of which were denied as of January 21, 2010. Petitioner filed the

instant federal petition on March 11, 2010.

 

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

This 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

As grounds for federal habeas relief, Petitioner alleges that the Board’s denial of

parole suitability violated California’s “some evidence” standard under In re Lawrence,

44 Cal. 4th 1181 (2008), and that his constitutional right to due process under the 5th and

14th Amendments. (Pet. 6.) Liberally construed, Petitioner’s claims are cognizable

under § 2254. The Court orders Respondent to show cause why the petition should not be

granted. 

CONCLUSION 

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

and all attachments thereto upon the Respondent and the 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 

(60) days of the date this order is filed, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of

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Order to Show Cause

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the 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 (30) 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 (30) days of receipt of the motion, and Respondent shall file with the court

and serve on Petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) 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

5/18/10

Case 3:10-cv-01037-EMC Document 5 Filed 05/25/10 Page 3 of 4
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAMUEL WILLIAM LEWIS,

Petitioner,

 v.

RANDY GROUNDS, Warden,

Respondent. /

Case Number: CV10-01037 JF 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on , I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the

attached, by placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s)

hereinafter listed, by depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into

an inter-office delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Samuel William Lewis E05524

Correctional Training Facility

P.O. Box 689

ED107L

Soledad, CA 93960-0689

Dated: 

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

5/25/10

5/25/10

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