Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05311/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05311-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Miguel A. Alfaro
Petitioner
M. S. Evans
Respondent

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MIGUEL A. ALFARO,

Petitioner,

v.

M. S. EVANS, warden, 

Respondent. /

No. C 07-5311 SI (pr)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Miguel A. Alfaro, currently incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison, has filed this pro

se action seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. His petition challenges

his 2006 conviction and sentence in the San Mateo County Superior Court. His petition states

that he filed a direct appeal but did not raise in the appeal the same claims he wants to present

here. Petition, p. 2, § 8. His petition also states that he did not file state habeas petitions. Id.

at 5-6. 

Prisoners in state custody who want to challenge either the fact or length of their

confinement in federal court by a petition for a writ of habeas corpus are first required to exhaust

state judicial remedies, either on direct appeal or through collateral proceedings, by presenting

the highest state court available with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of each and every

issue they seek to raise in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A),(c); Duckworth v.

Serrano, 454 U.S. 1, 3 (1981). If available state remedies have not been exhausted as to all

claims, the district court must dismiss the petition. See id. at 4-5.

Case 3:07-cv-05311-SI Document 5 Filed 03/11/08 Page 1 of 2
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The information in the petition discloses that Alfaro's petition is a wholly unexhausted

petition. That is, none of his claims have been exhausted because he has not given the California

Supreme Court a fair opportunity to rule on any of them. The court cannot stay a wholly

unexhausted petition. 

This action is DISMISSED without prejudice to Alfaro filing a new action after he

exhausts state court remedies. Alfaro is cautioned not to file an amended petition in this action

and not to use the case number for this action because this action is being closed today. When

he files a new petition, he should put no case number on the first page, and should submit it with

the $5.00 filing fee or a completed in forma pauperis application. At that time, the court will

give the new petition a new case number. Alfaro is urged to act swiftly to exhaust his state court

remedies and immediately file a new federal habeas petition after he receives a decision from

the California Supreme Court to avoid running afoul of the one-year statute of limitations on the

filing of federal habeas petitions, 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). 

The in forma pauperis application is DENIED because petitioner has sufficient funds to

pay the filing fee. (Docket # 4.) Petitioner must pay the $5.00 filing fee no later than April 30,

2008.

The clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 11, 2008 

 SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-05311-SI Document 5 Filed 03/11/08 Page 2 of 2