Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04963/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04963-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JERRY L SULLIVAN,

Petitioner,

 vs.

ROBERT L AYERS, JR, Warden,

Respondent. 

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No C 07-4963 VRW (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in San

Quentin, California, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus under

28 USC § 2254 challenging the California Board of Parole Hearings' ("BPH")

July 21, 2006 decision to deny him parole. 

BACKGROUND

Petitioner was convicted by a jury in the Contra Costa County superior

court of kidnapping for robbery and attempted murder and, on April 20, 1983,

was sentenced to an indeterminate term of seven years to life in state prison. 

Petitioner has been found not suitable for parole each time he has appeared

before the BPH. On September 12, 2007, the Supreme Court of California

denied review of his challenge to the BPH's July 21, 2006 decision. 

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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 USC § 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. Legal Claims

Petitioner seeks federal habeas corpus relief from the BPH's July 21, 2006

decision to deny him parole, and a subsequent hearing for one year, on the

ground that it does not comport with due process. Among other things, petitioner

claims that the decision is not supported by some evidence in the record. 

Liberally construed, petitioner’s claim appears colorable under § 2254 and merits

an answer from respondent. See Sass v Cal Bd of Prison Terms, 461 F3d 1123,

1127-29 (9th Cir 2006) (finding that refusal to set parole date for prisoner with

15-to-life sentence implicated prisoner’s liberty interest in release on parole

which cannot be denied without adequate procedural due process protections). 

CONCLUSION 

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown,

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

petition and all attachments thereto on respondent and respondent's attorney, the

Attorney General of the State of California. The clerk also shall serve a copy of

this order on petitioner. 

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

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 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 30 days of receipt of the motion, and

respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner a reply within 15 days

of receipt of any opposition.

4. 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. 

SO ORDERED.

 VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge

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