Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01739/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01739-0/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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-1- 08cv1739

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ESTER BURNETT, Civil No. 08-1739 DMS (JMA)

Petitioner,

ORDER SUA SPONTE

v. SUBSTITUTING RESPONDENT

MICHAEL A. SMELOSKY, Warden, 

Respondent.

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed an application for writ of habeas

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. At the time the Petition was filed, Petitioner was

apparently housed in California State Prison, Centinela and thus named Michael A. Smelosky,

Warden, as Respondent. Petitioner has now filed a change of address indicating he is now

housed at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, California.

A writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 2242; Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. Because Petitioner’s place of custody has changed,

so has his custodian. Accordingly, in order to conform with the requirements of Rule 2(a) of the

Rules Governing § 2254 Cases and to avoid changing the Respondent again if Petitioner is

transferred to another prison or paroled, the Court hereby sua sponte ORDERS the substitution

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Case 3:08-cv-01739-DMS-JMA Document 20 Filed 07/02/10 Page 1 of 2
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of Matthew Cate, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections, as Respondent in place

of “Michael A. Smelosky” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996)

(stating that the respondent in § 2254 proceedings may be the chief officer in charge of state

penal institutions).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 2, 2010

Jan M. Adler

U.S. Magistrate Judge

Case 3:08-cv-01739-DMS-JMA Document 20 Filed 07/02/10 Page 2 of 2