Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-04408/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-04408-2/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

For the Northern District of California

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Order Reopening Action and Lifting Stay; to Show Cause

G:\PRO-SE\SJ.JW\HC.04\Red04408_reopen-osc.wpd

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GEORGE RED JR.,

Petitioner,

 vs.

D. L. RUNNELS, Warden

Respondent.

 

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No. C 04-04408 JW (PR)

ORDER REOPENING ACTION

AND LIFTING STAY; TO SHOW

CAUSE

(Docket No. 24)

Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in

Susanville, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2254. The action was stayed while petitioner returned to state court to exhaust an

unexhausted claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Petitioner has now returned

to this Court with a motion to reopen the action (Docket No. 24) after exhausting all

claims in the state courts, and has filed a second amended petition in accordance

with the Court’s Order filed July 27, 2007. 

BACKGROUND

Petitioner was convicted by a jury in the Superior Court of the State of

California in and for the County of Santa Clara of multiple counts of bank robbery

Case 5:04-cv-04408-JW Document 26 Filed 04/30/08 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Order Reopening Action and Lifting Stay; to Show Cause

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and attempting to evade a police officer while driving recklessly. The court found

true allegations that petitioner had suffered 11 prior “strike” convictions and

sentenced petitioner to 95 years to life in state prison. 

The California Court of Appeal struck two five-year enhancements and

otherwise affirmed the judgment of the trial court. On November 12, 2003, the

Supreme Court of California denied review. Petitioner filed a federal habeas

petition on October 19, 2004. The action was stayed on July 27, 2007. Petitioner

moved to reopen the action on January 14, 2008.

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

This court may entertain a petition for a 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). 

It 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.” Id. § 2243. 

B. Claims

Petitioner seeks federal habeas corpus relief on the grounds of deficient jury

instructions and ineffective assistance of counsel. Liberally construed, the claims

appear cognizable under § 2254 and merit an answer from respondent. 

CONCLUSION

1. Petitioner’s motion to reopen the action (Docket No. 24) is 

GRANTED. The stay is lifted. The clerk shall reopen the file. 

2. The clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the 

second amended petition, with all attachments and exhibits thereto, on respondent

Case 5:04-cv-04408-JW Document 26 Filed 04/30/08 Page 2 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Order Reopening Action and Lifting Stay; to Show Cause

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and respondent’s attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California. The clerk

also shall serve a copy of this order on petitioner. 

3. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within

sixty (60) days of the issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to

Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of

habeas corpus should not be issued. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve

on petitioner a copy of all portions of the state trial 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. 

4. 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 nonopposition 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.

5. 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 also keep the court and all parties informed of any change 

of address. 

DATED: 

JAMES WARE

United States District Judge 

April 29,2008

Case 5:04-cv-04408-JW Document 26 Filed 04/30/08 Page 3 of 4
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GEORGE RED JR.,

Petitioner,

 v.

D. L. RUNNELS, Warden, 

Respondent. /

Case Number: CV04-04408 JW 

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.

George Red T-55342

California State Prison, Centinela (CEN)

P.O. Box 731

Imperial, Ca 92251-0731

Dated: 

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Elizabeth Garcia, Deputy Clerk

4/30/2008 4/30/2008 /s/

Case 5:04-cv-04408-JW Document 26 Filed 04/30/08 Page 4 of 4