Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00413/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00413-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Christian Pfeiffer
Respondent
Jarmaal Smith
Petitioner

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JARMAAL SMITH,

Petitioner,

v.

CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER,

Respondent.

Case No. 16-cv-00413-WHO (PR) 

ORDER OF TRANSFER;

INSTRUCTIONS TO CLERK

In this federal habeas action, petitioner Jarmaal Smith, now housed at Kern Valley 

State Prison, challenges a disciplinary decision by his former jailors at Pelican Bay State 

Prison which cost him 60 days of good time credits. If a habeas petition is directed to the 

manner in which a sentence is being executed, e.g., if it involves parole or time credits 

claims, the district of confinement is the preferable forum. See Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b)(2); 

Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244, 249 (9th Cir. 1989). Accordingly, this action is 

TRANSFERRED to the Eastern District of California, as that is the district of 

confinement. 

The Clerk shall amend the docket to reflect that Christian Pfeiffer, the warden of the 

prison in which Smith is housed, is the proper respondent in this action. Currently no 

respondent in named. Pfeiffer is the proper respondent in this action, as he is the custodian 

having day-to-day control over Smith, the only person who can produce “the body” of the 

Case 3:16-cv-00413-WHO Document 5 Filed 02/11/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

petitioner. Brittingham v. United States, 982 F.2d 378, 379 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting 

Guerra v. Meese, 786 F.2d 414, 416 (D.C. Cir. 1986)). 

The Clerk shall transfer this action forthwith.

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 11, 2016

_________________________ 

WILLIAM H. ORRICK 

United States District Judge

Case 3:16-cv-00413-WHO Document 5 Filed 02/11/16 Page 2 of 2