Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00690/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00690-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
T. Allen
Respondent
Lachance L. Thomas
Petitioner

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

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LACHANCE L. THOMAS,

Petitioner,

v.

T. ALLEN,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00690-EPG-HC

ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS AND 

DIRECTING PETITIONER TO FILE 

STATUS UPDATES

Petitioner Lachance L. Thomas is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for 

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

On August 8, 2023, the Court granted Petitioner’s motion to stay the proceedings 

pursuant to Kelly v. Small, 315 F.3d 1063 (9th Cir. 2002). (ECF No. 18.) Petitioner has filed a

second amended petition (“SAP”) containing only exhausted claims,1(ECF No. 19), which 

satisfies the first requirement for a Kelly stay. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The proceedings are STAYED pending exhaustion of state remedies;

1 The SAP consists of a § 2254 form with references to “See Attached (Exhibit A).” (ECF No. 19 at 4–5.) The 

exhibit, in turn, consists of copies of various briefs and court documents from Petitioner’s direct appeal. The Court 

will construe the SAP as containing only the exhausted claims set forth in the Court’s August 8, 2023 order. See

United States v. Qazi, 975 F.3d 989, 992–93 (9th Cir. 2020) (“It is an entrenched principle that pro se filings 

however inartfully pleaded are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. We are 

specifically directed to construe pro se pleadings liberally. This duty applies equally to pro se motions and with 

special force to filings from pro se inmates.” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).

Case 1:23-cv-00690-EPG Document 20 Filed 11/08/23 Page 1 of 2
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

2

2. Petitioner is DIRECTED to file a status report within thirty (30) days of the date of 

service of this order and every ninety (90) days thereafter; and

3. Within thirty (30) days following the final order of the state courts, Petitioner shall notify

the Court that the unexhausted claims have been exhausted and request that the stay be 

lifted and the case proceed.

Petitioner is forewarned that failure to comply with this order will result in the Court 

vacating the stay.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 8, 2023 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-00690-EPG Document 20 Filed 11/08/23 Page 2 of 2