Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01503/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01503-1/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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K :\C O M M O N \C H M B_B enc ivengo\Cas e s\H abe a s\Phillip --11cv1503\s ubstitu te defenda n t.w pd, 122011 -1- 11cv1503

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES EARL PHILLIP, Civil No. 11cv1503-BTM (CAB)

Petitioner,

ORDER SUA SPONTE 

SUBSTITUTING RESPONDENTS 

vs.

MATTHEW CATE, Secretary,

Respondent.

On July 5, 2011, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a Petition for a Writ

of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, naming “R. H. Trimble,” the Warden of

Pleasant Valley State Prison, where Petitioner was confined, as Respondent. Petitioner has now

submitted a Notice of change of address indicating that he has been transferred to Salinas Valley

States Prison. Because Petitioner’s custodian has changed, the Warden of the institution where

Petitioner was previously housed is no longer a proper Respondent.

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. 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 of Matthew Cate, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation, as Respondent in place of “R. H. Trimble.” See Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81

Case 3:11-cv-01503-BTM-KSC Document 20 Filed 12/20/11 Page 1 of 2
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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).

The Clerk of the Court shall modify the docket to reflect “Matthew Cate, Secretary” as

Respondent in place of “R. H. Trimble.”

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 20, 2011

CATHY ANN BENCIVENGO

United States Magistrate Judge

CC: ALL PARTIES

Case 3:11-cv-01503-BTM-KSC Document 20 Filed 12/20/11 Page 2 of 2