Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00236/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00236-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jason Saunders
Petitioner
James Yates
Respondent

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U.S . District Court

 E. D . California cd 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON SAUNDERS, )

)

Petitioner, )

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v. )

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)

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JAMES YATES, )

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Respondent. )

____________________________________)

CV F 05 0236 REC LJO HC 

ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S

MOTION FOR DISCOVERY AND

ALTERNATIVE MOTION REQUESTING

AN ORDER DIRECTING KINGS COUNTY

CLERK TO FURNISH DOCUMENTS

[Doc. #11]

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT

TO SEND PETITIONER FORM PETITION

ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME

[Doc. #10]

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

On February 17, 2005, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court. On

April 21, 2005, the Court conducted a preliminary review of the petition, found it to be illegible,

dismissed it, and ordered Petitioner to file a legible petition. 

On May 3, 2005, Petitioner responded to the Court’s order by filing a motion seeking

discovery, or in the alternative, a motion requesting an order from the Court directing the Kings

County Clerk to produce a copy of his state court pleadings. Petitioner states that he does not have a

legible copy of his state court petition. He states that the Kings County Clerk would be in possession

of a legible copy. He requests that this Court either open discovery to inquire into the matter with the

Case 1:05-cv-00236-REC-LJO Document 12 Filed 06/15/05 Page 1 of 2
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U.S . District Court

 E. D . California cd 2

state court or issue an order directing the state court to produce legible copies of his petition. 

Petitioner has not shown good cause for leave to open discovery or for an order directing the

Kings County Clerk to produce records. It is not the Court’s duty to locate and procure Petitioner’s

habeas petition. If Petitioner desires copies of state records from the state courts, he must make that

request directly to the state courts himself. In a federal habeas action, it is unquestionably

Petitioner’s responsibility to present a habeas petition which “specif[ies] all the grounds for relief

available; state[s] the facts supporting each ground; [is] printed, typewritten, or legibly handwritten;

and [is] signed under penalty of perjury by the petitioner . . . .” Rule 2(c), Rules Governing Section

2254 Cases. In addition, “[t]he petition must substantially follow either the form appended to these

rules or a form prescribed by a local district-court rule.” Rule 2(d), Rules Governing Section 2254

Cases. In this district, a form petition is made available to petitioners without charge by the Clerk of

Court; said form will be provided to Petitioner in this case. Surely, Petitioner is familiar with the

claims he wishes to raise. He need only specify each claim in the form petition and provide a brief,

concise statement of facts in support thereof. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Petitioner's motion for discovery is DENIED; 

2. Petitioner’s alternative motion for an order directing the Kings County Clerk to

produce records is DENIED;

3. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner a blank form habeas petition;

and

4. Petitioner is GRANTED an extension of time of thirty (30) days from the date of

service of this order to file an amended petition.

Failure to comply with this order may result in a recommendation that the petition be

dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 14, 2005 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00236-REC-LJO Document 12 Filed 06/15/05 Page 2 of 2