Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03475/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03475-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jerry Brown
Respondent
John Gipson
Petitioner

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN GIPSON,

Petitioner,

v.

JERRY BROWN,

Respondent.

Case No. 15-cv-03475-VC (PR)

ORDER OF TRANSFER

John Gipson has filed a form habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Gipson is being held 

in Coalinga State Hospital in Coalinga, California, under California’s Sexual Violent Predator Act 

(“SVPA”). See Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 6600, et seq. He is currently awaiting trial to 

determine whether he is a sexually violent predator subject to civil commitment under the SVPA. 

In his petition, he argues that the California Department of State Hospitals is violating his double 

jeopardy rights by using certain standards, procedures, and assessment tools to determine if he is a 

sexually violent predator. He also argues that abstention is not appropriate. 

Section 2241 is the proper basis for the petition because Gipson is a pretrial detainee 

challenging the constitutionality of his confinement. See Hoyle v. Ada County, 501 F.3d 1053, 

1058 (9th Cir. 2007). Although this court may have jurisdiction to hear a petition brought under 

Section 2241, see Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court, 410 U.S. 484, 494-95 (1973), Braden 

also makes clear that "venue considerations may, and frequently will, argue in favor of 

adjudication of the habeas claim in the jurisdiction where the habeas petitioner is confined." 

Chatman-Bey v. Thornburgh, 864 F.2d 804, 814 (D.C. Cir. 1988). The preferable forum for a 

Section 2241 habeas petition is the district of confinement. See McCoy v. United States Bd. of 

Parole, 537 F.2d 962, 966 (8th Cir. 1976); see also Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244, 249-50 (9th 

Case 3:15-cv-03475-VC Document 8 Filed 10/01/15 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Cir. 1989) (suggesting that, even where district court has personal jurisdiction over custodian, 

preferred forum for 2241 petition is district of confinement). 

Gipson’s commitment proceedings are in Alameda County, which is in this district, and he 

is confined in Fresno County, which is in the Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 84. 

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) and Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b), and in the interests of justice, this 

petition is TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of 

California. Ruling on the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be deferred to the Eastern 

District.

The clerk shall transfer this matter forthwith.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 1, 2015

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN GIPSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

JERRY BROWN,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-03475-VC 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on October 1, 2015, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by 

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

John Gipson ID: 1446-2

Coalinga State Hospital

P.O. Box 5003

Coalinga, CA 93210-5003 

Dated: October 1, 2015

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Kristen Melen, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable VINCE CHHABRIA

Case 3:15-cv-03475-VC Document 8 Filed 10/01/15 Page 3 of 3