Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05301/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05301-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jose Lopez
Petitioner
William Muniz
Respondent

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE LOPEZ,

Petitioner,

v.

WILLIAM MUNIZ,

Respondent.

Case No. 15-cv-05301-KAW (PR)

ORDER OF TRANSFER

Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison has filed a pro se

petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging the validity of his

conviction, which was obtained in Los Angeles County Superior Court. 

A federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus made by a person in custody under the

judgment and sentence of a state court is properly filed in either the district of confinement or the 

district of conviction. 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). The district court where the petition is filed, however, 

may transfer the petition to the other district in the furtherance of justice. See id. Federal courts in 

California traditionally have chosen to hear petitions challenging a conviction or sentence in the 

district of conviction. See Dannenberg v. Ingle, 831 F. Supp. 767, 767 (N.D. Cal. 1993); Laue v. 

Nelson, 279 F. Supp. 265, 266 (N.D. Cal. 1968). 

Petitioner was convicted in Los Angeles County Superior Court, which lies within the 

venue of the Central District of California. 28 U.S.C. § 84(b). Accordingly, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1406(a) and Habeas L.R. 2254-3(b), and in the interest of justice, the Clerk of the Court is 

ordered to TRANSFER this action forthwith to the district of conviction, i.e., the United States 

District Court for the Central District of California.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 27, 2016

______________________________________

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:15-cv-05301-KAW Document 5 Filed 01/27/16 Page 1 of 1