Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01784/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01784-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Ruben Valdez
Petitioner
Tim Virga
Respondent

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RUBEN VALDEZ,

Petitioner,

v.

TIM VIRGA, Warden,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:12-cv-01784 AWI MJS (HC)

ORDER REGARDING MOTION TO AMEND 

AND MOTIONS FOR DISCOVERY

(Docs. 19, 26-27, 29)

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

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

Petitioner filed his petition on November 1, 2012. (Pet., ECF No. 1.) The Court 

ordered Respondent to file a response to the petition. (Order, ECF No. 7.) On January 

24, 2013, Petitioner filed a first amended petition for writ of habeas corpus and on 

January 31, 2012, Petitioner filed a motion to amend the Petition. (ECF Nos. 19, 30.) 

Respondent filed an answer to the petition on March 5, 2013. (Answer, ECF No. 24.) 

Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in relevant part:

(a) Amendments Before Trial.

 (1) Amending as a Matter of Course. A party may amend its pleading 

once as a matter of course within:

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 (A) 21 days after serving it, or

 (B) if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is required, 

21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21 days after service of a 

motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f), whichever is earlier.

Petitioner filed his first amended petition and motion to amend the petition before 

a responsive pleading was due. Therefore, Petitioner is entitled to amendment as a 

matter of course. 

Accordingly, Petitioner's motion to file an amended petition is GRANTED.

However, despite the January, 24, 2012, filing, Court administrative error

prevented the amended petition from being electronically filed on the Court docket until 

April 9, 2013. By that date, Respondent's answer had been filed. 

 Respondent’s answer to the original petition shall be deemed an answer to the 

amended petition unless, after review, the Court finds that it does not address all issues 

in the amended petition. In that event, the Court will give Respondent leave to address

any new issues in the amended petition.

Petitioner has also filed three motions for discovery and for copies of state court 

records. (See ECF Nos. 26-27, 29.) 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 Petitioner has already filed the 

petition and traverse, the discovery he seeks would not assist him in his preparation. 

Further, Respondent is required to provide the Court with relevant state court records. 

Thus, since the requested discovery would not assist Petitioner or the Court at this time, 

Petitioner’s requests are DENIED without prejudice. Upon review of the petition, the 

Court shall determine if further discovery is necessary in determining the merits of 

Petitioner's claims. 

///

///

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1) Petitioner's motion to amend (Doc. 19) is GRANTED; and,

2) Petitioner's requests for discovery are denied without prejudice. (Docs. 26-27, 

29).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 30, 2013 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEAC _Signature- END:

92b0h

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