Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01838/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01838-5/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Randy Grounds
Respondent
James George Stamos, Jr.
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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES GEORGE STAMOS, JR.,

Petitioner,

v.

RANDY GROUNDS,

Respondent.

1:15-cv-01838 DAD MJS HC 

ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE

MOTION REQUESTING DISCOVERY;

ORDER REGARDING STATUS OF CASE

(Docs. 23, 46)

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

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On January 21, 2016, Petitioner moved the Court 

for an order authorizing discovery. (ECF No. 23.) Specifically, he requests to subpoena 

records relating to his appeal of the disciplinary hearing finding at issue in the case. 

This Court, in reviewing Petitioner's claims and determining if the state court 

decision was reasonable, may only rely upon the record before the state court. See

Cullen v. Pinholster, 131 S. Ct. 1388, 1398 (2011) ("We now hold that review under § 

2254(d)(1) is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the 

claim on the merits."). As such, further discovery is not warranted at this time.

Furthermore, it appears that the records in question were provided by Respondent as 

exhibits to the answer filed on April 13, 2016. If, upon substantive review of the petition, 

Case 1:15-cv-01838-DAD-MJS Document 48 Filed 09/12/16 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

the Court determines that discovery is necessary, it will provide Petitioner the opportunity 

to obtain the discovery.

Further, on August 31, 2016, Petitioner filed a motion requesting the status of the 

case. The case remains open and pending. The Court will address the petition in due 

course.

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that Petitioner's motion requesting discovery be 

DENIED without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 12, 2016 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01838-DAD-MJS Document 48 Filed 09/12/16 Page 2 of 2