Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00689/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00689-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Andrew Lopez
Petitioner
Jeanne Woodford
Respondent

Document Text:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANDREW LOPEZ, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. )

)

)

JEANNE WOODFORD, )

)

Respondent. )

)

)

___________________________________ )

1:06-cv-0689-OWW WMW HC

ORDER REQUIRING

RESPONDENT TO FILE

RESPONSIVE PLEADING

ORDER SETTING BRIEFING

SCHEDULE

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK

OF COURT TO SERVE

DOCUMENTS 

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

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate

Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 72-302.

The Court has conducted a preliminary review of the Petition. Accordingly, pursuant

to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases and Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of

Case 1:06-cv-00689-OWW -WMW Document 10 Filed 02/01/07 Page 1 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are “applicable to habeas corpus proceedings to the 1

extent that the practice in such proceedings are not set forth in the statutes of the United States

and has heretofore conformed to the practice of civil actions.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 81(a)(2). Rule 11

also provides “the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to the extent that they are not inconsistent

with these rules, may be applied, when appropriate, to the petitions filed under these rules.” Rule

11, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 

2

Civil Procedure, the Court HEREBY ORDERS: 1

(1) Respondent SHALL SUBMIT a RESPONSIVE pleading by filing one of the

following: 

A. AN ANSWER addressing the merits of the Petition and due within

NINETY (90) days of the date of service of this order. Rule 4, Rules

Governing Section 2254 Cases; Cluchette v. Rushen, 770 F.2d 1469,

1473-1474 (9 Cir. 1985) (court has discretion to fix time for filing an th

Answer.).

1) Respondent SHALL INCLUDE with the Answer any and all

transcripts or other documents necessary for the resolution of

the issues presented in the Petition. Rule 5 of the Rules

Governing Section 2254 Cases.

2) Any argument by Respondent that Petitioner has procedurally

defaulted a claim(s) SHALL BE MADE in an ANSWER that

also addresses the merits of the claims asserted. This is to

enable the Court to determine whether Petitioner meets an

exception to procedural default. See, Paradis v. Arave, 130

F.3d 385, 396 (9 Cir. 1997) (Procedurally defaulted claims th

may be reviewed on the merits to serve the ends of justice);

Jones v. Delo, 56 F.3d 878 (8 Cir. 1995) (the answer to the th

question that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror

fairly considering all the evidence, including the new evidence,

Case 1:06-cv-00689-OWW -WMW Document 10 Filed 02/01/07 Page 2 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides that upon the court’s 2

determination that summary dismissal is inappropriate, the “judge shall order the respondent to

file an answer or other pleading . . . or to take such other action as the judge deems

appropriate.” Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (emphasis added); see, also,

Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 and 5 of Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (stating that

a dismissal may obviate the need for filing an answer on the substantive merits of the petition and

that the Attorney General may file a Motion to Dismiss for failure to exhaust.); also, White v.

Lewis, 874 F.2d 599, 60203 (9 Cir.1989) (providing that Motions to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 4 th

are proper in a federal habeas proceeding.) 

3

would have found Petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt

necessarily requires a review of the merits). 

3) Petitioner’s TRAVERSE, if any, is due THIRTY (30) days

from the date Respondent’s Answer is filed with the Court.

B. A MOTION TO DISMISS due within SIXTY(60) days of the date of

service of this order based on the following grounds: 

2

i. EXHAUSTION - 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). A Motion to

Dismiss for Petitioner’s failure to exhaust state court remedies

SHALL INCLUDE copies of all the Petitioner’s state court

filings and dispositive rulings relevant to the examination of

the statute limitations issue as required by Ford v. Hubbard,

330 F.3d 1086 (9 Cir. 2003) and Kelly v. Small, 315 F.3d th

1063 (9 Cir. 2003); th

ii. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS - 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). A

Motion to Dismiss the Petition as filed beyond the one year

limitations period SHALL INCLUDE copies of all Petitioner’s

state court filings and dispositive rulings. 

iii. SECOND OR SUCCESSIVE Petitions - 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b). 

A Motion to Dismiss the Petition on the basis of § 2244(b)

SHALL include a copy of the previously filed federal Petition

and disposition thereof.

Case 1:06-cv-00689-OWW -WMW Document 10 Filed 02/01/07 Page 3 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

If, however, the Petition was filed on January 3, 2005, or thereafter, the Clerk of the 3

Court need not serve a copy of the Petition on the Attorney General or his representative. A

scanned copy of the Petition is available in the Court’s electronic case filing system

(“CM/ECF”). 

4

2. OPPOSITIONS to Motions to Dismiss SHALL be served and filed within

EIGHTEEN (18) days, plus three days for mailing. All other Oppositions

SHALL be served and filed within EIGHT (8) days, plus three days for

mailing. REPLIES to Oppositions to Motions to Dismiss SHALL be served

and filed within eight (8) days, plus three days for mailing. Replies to

Oppositions to all other Motions SHALL be served and filed within eight (8)

days, plus three days for mailing. If no opposition is filed, all motions are

deemed submitted at the expiration of the opposition period. 

3. Unless already submitted, both Respondent and Petitioner SHALL

COMPLETE and RETURN to the Court along with the Response or Motion

to Dismiss, a Consent form indicating whether the party consents or declines

to consent to the jurisdiction of a the United States Magistrate Judge pursuant

to Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1).

4. RESPONDENT SHALL submit a Notice of Appearance as attorney of record

within SIXTY (60) days of the date of service of this order for purposes of

service of court orders. See, Local Rule 83-182(a), 5-135(c). 

5. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to SERVE a copy of this order along

with a copy of the PETITION and any exhibits/attachments, on the Attorney

General or his representative.3

All motions shall be submitted on the record and briefs filed without oral argument

unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Local Rule 78-230(h). All provisions of Local Rule

11-110 are applicable to this order. 

Case 1:06-cv-00689-OWW -WMW Document 10 Filed 02/01/07 Page 4 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 31, 2007 /s/ William M. Wunderlich 

bl0dc4 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00689-OWW -WMW Document 10 Filed 02/01/07 Page 5 of 5