Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00336/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00336-5/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gamaliel Najera
Petitioner
A. Scrivner
Respondent

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1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GAMALIEL NAJERA, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. )

)

)

A. SCRIVNER, )

)

Respondent. )

 )

1:06-cv-00336-AWI-TAG HC

ORDER TO AMEND PETITION

(Doc. 1)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO

SEND PETITIONER BLANK FORM

PETITION

ORDER REQUIRING AMENDED PETITION

TO BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a petition for

writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 

The instant petition was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of

California on February 14, 2006 (Doc. 1-1) and transferred to the United States District Court

for the Eastern District of California on March 27, 2006 (Doc. 1-5). The petition alleges that

Petitioner was convicted in the Fresno County Superior Court on October 3, 2003, on charges

related to possession and transportation of controlled substances, and that he was sentenced to a

term of twenty-five years to life. (Doc. 1, p. 2). 

DISCUSSION

Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases requires the Court to make a preliminary

review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must dismiss a petition "[i]f it

plainly appears from the face of the petition . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief." Rule

4 of the Rules Governing 2254 Cases; Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490 (9th Cir. 1990).

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28 Petitioners are not precluded from submitting attachments or exhibits to the petition, however, the Court 1

will not determine a petitioner's claims for him based solely on his attachments. 

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Otherwise, the Court will order respondent to respond to the petition. Rule 5 of the Rules

governing § 2254 Cases.

A federal court may only grant a petition for writ of habeas corpus if a petitioner can

show that “he is in custody in violation of the Constitution . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (a). A

petition for writ of habeas corpus must therefore specify the grounds for relief. Rule 2(c) of the

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. The petition must also allege the facts surrounding the

petitioner’s incarceration. 28 U.S.C. § 2242. The petitioner must make specific factual

allegations that would entitle him to habeas corpus relief if they are true. O’Bremski v. Maass,

915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990); United States v. Poopola, 881 F.2d 811, 812 (9th Cir. 1989). 

In addition, a petition presented in pro se must be upon the form approved by the court. 

Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases; Local Rule 81-190. This rule ensures that all

information needed is before the court. Each ground for relief must be clearly stated and

allege what federal constitutional violation has occurred, along with providing facts that

support the grounds for relief. If a petition contains no grounds entitling the petitioner to

habeas corpus relief, the court must dismiss the petition. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing

Section 2254 Cases. 

Filing an incomplete form petition is inadequate, and requires the Court to expend

considerable time and resources attempting to determine which claims petitioner seeks to raise

before this Court. It is unreasonable to expect the Court to take on such a task when the

responsibility to inform the Court lies solely with Petitioner. The proper use of the form petition 1

results in administrative convenience of benefit to both Petitioner and the Court. 

Here, Petitioner has filed a form petition that is incomplete. Petitioner has left blank the

entire portion of the form petition in which he is supposed to list all of the grounds for habeas

relief. Instead, Petitioner has indicated “N/A,” apparently meaning “not applicable.” As the

petition presently stands, it contains no claims. Without stating federal claims, the Court has no

jurisdiction to consider the petition. Thus, Petitioner must file an amended petition in which he

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has properly filled out the entire form petition, including the portion of the form in which he

explains his claims for relief. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Petitioner SHALL AMEND THE PETITION to state the grounds raised at each

court, as well as the grounds he is raising in this petition, as well as the date each

court ruled on all claims by filling out the form petition in its entirety within

thirty (30) days of the date of service of this order. The amended petition should

be clearly and boldly titled “AMENDED PETITION,” contain the appropriate

case number, and be an original signed under penalty of perjury. Petitioner

should also note that every pleading to which an amendment is permitted must be

retyped or rewritten and filed so that it is complete in itself without reference

to the prior or superseded pleading. Local Rule 15-220. 

2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner a blank form petition for

state prisoners filing pursuant to § 2254. 

Petitioner is forewarned that his failure to comply with this order may result in a

Recommendation that the Petition be dismissed pursuant to Local Rule 11-110.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 7, 2007 /s/ Theresa A. Goldner 

j6eb3d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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