Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_01-cv-03138/USCOURTS-cand-3_01-cv-03138-9/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Scott Emerson Felix
Petitioner
Michael Hennessey
Respondent

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SCOTT EMERSON FELIX,

Petitioner,

 v.

SHERIFF MICHAEL HENNESSEY,

Warden

Respondent. /

No. C 01-03138 WHA

ORDER REQUESTING

ADDITIONAL BRIEFING ON

MOOTNESS ISSUE

In this habeas action, petitioner contends that the trial judge at his July 1998

commitment proceeding gave an erroneous jury instruction, thereby violating petitioner’s

federal due process rights. Respondent argues that even if a due process violation occurred at

that trial, this issue is moot because petitioner completed the two-year commitment required by

that action, was given another trial in October 2006, and was recommitted for an indeterminate

term. The parties do not contest that the correct jury instruction was given at petitioner’s

October 2006 trial. It is unclear from the record, however, what use, if any, was made at the

October 2006 trial of the fact that petitioner had already been found to be a sexually violent

predator at his July 1998 trial. In reaching its verdict, did the jury at the October 2006 trial

consider the result at the earlier proceeding?

No later than NOON ON MAY 13, 2010, the parties shall submit written briefs of no more

than ten pages regarding the extent to which evidence of petitioner’s first commitment was 

Case 3:01-cv-03138-WHA Document 70 Filed 04/28/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

admitted at his later trial. Reply briefs of no more than five pages shall be filed no later than

NOON ON MAY 20, 2010.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 28, 2010. WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:01-cv-03138-WHA Document 70 Filed 04/28/10 Page 2 of 2