Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-03620/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-03620-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
J. Lizarraga
Respondent
David Rodriguez
Plaintiff

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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DAVID RODRIGUEZ, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

J. LIZARRAGA, 

Respondent. 

Case No. 14-cv-03620-PJH 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO LIFT 

STAY AND FOR RESPONDENT TO 

SHOW CAUSE 

Re: Dkt. No. 11 

Petitioner, a California prisoner, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. This case was stayed for petitioner to exhaust further 

claims. He has filed a motion to lift the stay (Docket No. 11) and an amended petition 

(Docket No. 18). 

BACKGROUND 

A jury convicted petitioner of first degree murder. People v. Rodriguez, 2013 WL 

5377062 (Cal. App. 6 Dist., 2013). He was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. His 

appeals to the California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court were denied as 

was a recent state habeas petition to the California Supreme Court. 

DISCUSSION 

I. 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 

Case 4:14-cv-03620-PJH Document 19 Filed 12/08/15 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

application for a federal writ of 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)). 

II. LEGAL CLAIMS 

As grounds for federal habeas relief, petitioner asserts that: (1) the conviction must 

be reversed because the trial court's jury instruction regarding voluntary intoxication 

failed to describe the relationship between petitioner’s methamphetamine use and the 

specific intent required for first degree murder by means of torture; (2) ineffective 

assistance of trial counsel with respect to raising petitioner’s competency and for failing to 

adequately aid in plea bargaining; (3) ineffective assistance of appellate counsel with 

respect to failing to challenge petitioner’s competency on appeal and for failing to raise a 

claim about plea bargaining; and (4) insufficient evidence to support the conviction. 

These claims are sufficient to require a response. 

CONCLUSION 

1. The motion to lift the stay (Docket No. 11) is GRANTED. 

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

petition (Docket No. 18) 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. 

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

(56) 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 granted. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on petitioner a 

Case 4:14-cv-03620-PJH Document 19 Filed 12/08/15 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court 

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