Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00283/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00283-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Thomas M. Klassy
Petitioner
Felicia Ponce
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 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

THOMAS M. KLASSY, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

FELICIA PONCE, 

Respondent. 

No. 2:16-cv-283-EFB P 

ORDER 

Petitioner is a federal prisoner without counsel seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 

28 U.S.C. § 2241. Petitioner alleges that his requests for “initial classification and program 

review” have been “met with lies.” ECF No. 1 at 3. He also alleges that his religious rights have 

been “met with retaliation.” Id. Petitioner does not make any particular request for relief. 

Under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the court is required to conduct 

a preliminary review of all petitions for writ of habeas corpus. See Rules 1(b) & 4, Rules 

Governing Section 2254 Cases.1

 The court must summarily dismiss a petition if it “plainly 

appears . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief . . . .” As discussed below, the petition must 

be dismissed with leave to amend because it fails to demonstrate that petitioner is entitled to 

habeas relief. 

 1

 Although petitioner has paid the filing fee, Rule 4 nonetheless requires that the petition 

be screened. 

Case 2:16-cv-00283-EFB Document 10 Filed 06/06/16 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

 A writ of habeas corpus cannot issue under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 unless a prisoner is in 

custody in violation of federal law. 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). Petitioner does not assert he is in 

custody in violation of federal law, or challenge the length or execution of his sentence. 

Although drafted in vague and conclusory terms, petitioner’s claims appear to relate solely to the 

conditions of his confinement.2 Therefore, there is no apparent basis for relief pursuant to § 2241. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s application for writ of habeas 

corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is dismissed with leave to amend. If petitioner wishes to proceed 

with this habeas action, he shall file an amended petition within 30 days from the date of this 

order. Any amended petition shall clarify the legal and factual basis of his claims and 

demonstrate that relief is proper pursuant to § 2241. 

DATED: June 6, 2016. 

 2

 If petitioner wishes to initiate an action regarding his conditions of confinement, he 

should commence a civil action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 

U.S. 388 (1999). 

Case 2:16-cv-00283-EFB Document 10 Filed 06/06/16 Page 2 of 2