Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-01272/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-01272-1/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HEIDI LYNN PENDERGAST,

Petitioner,

v.

CDCR,

Respondent.

Case No. 19-cv-01272-JD 

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Petitioner, a state prisoner, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner was convicted in Napa County, which is in this district, so venue is 

proper here. See 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). Petitioner was ordered to show cause why the petition 

should not be dismissed as unexhausted. She has filed a response.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner states that she was sentenced to six years after pleading nolo contendere to 

residential burglary and vehicle theft. Petition at 1-2. She states that she filed no appeals. 

Petition at 3.

DISCUSSION

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). Habeas corpus petitions must meet heightened pleading 

requirements. McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994). An application for a federal writ of 

Case 3:19-cv-01272-JD Document 12 Filed 06/04/19 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

habeas corpus filed by a prisoner who is in state custody pursuant to a judgment of a state court 

must “specify all the grounds for relief available to the petitioner ... [and] state the facts supporting 

each ground.” Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. “‘[N]otice’ 

pleading is not sufficient, for the petition is expected to state facts that point to a ‘real possibility 

of constitutional error.’” Rule 4 Advisory Committee Notes (quoting Aubut v. Maine, 431 F.2d 

688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)).

LEGAL CLAIMS

Petitioner alleges that she received ineffective assistance of counsel and that there was 

prosecutorial misconduct. Petitioner concedes in her response that she has not exhausted her state 

remedies for either claim and she does not seek a stay. Before she may challenge either the fact or 

length of her confinement in a habeas petition in this Court, petitioner must present to the 

California Supreme Court any claims she wishes to raise in this Court. See Rose v. Lundy, 455 

U.S. 509, 522 (1982) (holding every claim raised in federal habeas petition must be exhausted). 

The general rule is that a federal district court must dismiss a federal habeas petition containing 

any claim as to which state remedies have not been exhausted. Id. 

Petitioner has presented an entirely unexhausted petition which is dismissed without 

prejudice. Petitioner must present her claims to the California Supreme Court. Once the 

California Supreme Court has ruled on her claims she may file a petition in this Court.

CONCLUSION

1. The petition is DISMISSED without prejudice as unexhausted. A Certificate of 

Appealability is DENIED.

2. The Clerk shall close this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 4, 2019

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HEIDI LYNN PENDERGAST,

Plaintiff,

v.

CDCR,

Defendant.

Case No. 19-cv-01272-JD 

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 June 4, 2019, 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.

Heidi Lynn Pendergast ID: WG0089

Puerta La Cruz Conservation Camp #14

32363 Highway 79

Warner Springs, CA 92086 

Dated: June 4, 2019

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

LISA R. CLARK, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable JAMES DONATO

Case 3:19-cv-01272-JD Document 12 Filed 06/04/19 Page 3 of 3