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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

PENSACOLA DIVISION

JOHNNIE WILLIAMS,

Petitioner,

vs. Case No. 3:10cv215/LAC/EMT

WALTER McNEIL,

Respondent. 

_____________________________/

O R D E R

Petitioner commenced this action by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28

U.S.C. § 2254 and a supporting memorandum (Docs. 1, 2). Petitioner has also filed a motion for

leave to proceed in forma pauperis, which shall be granted. The petition is in proper form, and

Petitioner has provided the correct number of service copies.

Respondent will be required to file an answer so the court may determine whether an

evidentiary hearing is required or, if not required, may dispose of the petition as justice requires. 

See Rule 8(a), Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts (Habeas Rules). 

The answer shall be filed pursuant to Habeas Rule 5 and shall be styled as an answer rather than as

a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment, unless it appears to Respondent that a motion to

dismiss based on a procedural defect such as failure to exhaust or the statute of limitations is

appropriate. McBride v. Sharpe, 25 F.3d 962, 970 (11th Cir. 1994). 

As provided by Rule 5, the answer shall respond to the allegations of the petition, state

whether Petitioner has exhausted his state remedies, and attach such portions of the transcripts as

Respondent deems relevant. See Rule 5(b–d), Habeas Rules.1

 If Respondent’s answer requires the

1

 All exhibits shall be filed electronically. If the exhibits exceed 200 pages in length, Respondent shall also

provide a courtesy copy in paper format. The exhibits are part of the answer. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c); see also Rule 5,

Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. Therefore, Respondent is required to serve

a copy of the exhibits upon Petitioner. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a). 
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submission of materials outside the state court record, he shall file a motion to expand the record,

pursuant to Rule 7. See Rule 7, Habeas Rules.

If Respondent raises the defense of failure to exhaust as to any claim, he may file an

appropriate motion and shall set forth as to each such claim the appropriate manner of raising the

claim under Florida law, whether Petitioner has sought such relief, and, if not, what further relief

is available for purposes of § 2254(c). See Rule 5, Habeas Rules; 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b) and (c). If

further relief is not available in the state courts, the appropriate defense is procedural default, not

failure to exhaust, which should be asserted in Respondent’s answer, not in a motion to dismiss. If

an exhaustion argument is raised by motion, Respondent may await a ruling on that defense before

filing an answer on the merits. 

Alternatively, Respondent may proceed directly to the merits. See § 2254 (b)(2) (the

application may be denied on the merits notwithstanding the failure to exhaust state remedies);

§ 2254(b)(3), as amended April 24, 1996 (the exhaustion requirement is not deemed to be waived

unless expressly waived by counsel for the state).

The answer shall be filed within ninety (90) days from the date this order is docketed. 

Thereafter, Petitioner will be given the opportunity to file a reply. Upon receipt of the answer and

Petitioner’s reply, the court will review the file to determine whether an evidentiary hearing is

required. An evidentiary hearing will not be required unless consideration of disputed evidence

outside the state court record appears necessary to the court. If it is determined that an evidentiary

hearing is not required, the court will make such disposition of the petition as justice requires

pursuant to Habeas Rule 8(a).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

1. Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 6) is GRANTED.

2. The Clerk is directed to furnish copies of the petition and memorandum of law (Docs.

1, 2), with a copy of this order to Respondent and the Attorney General of the State of Florida.

3. Respondent shall have NINETY (90) DAYS from the date this order is entered on

the docket in which to file an answer as directed by this order.

Case No.: 3:10cv215/LAC/EMT
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DONE AND ORDERED this 30th day of June 2010.

/s/ Elizabeth M. Timothy 

ELIZABETH M. TIMOTHY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case No.: 3:10cv215/LAC/EMT