Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20130605_0006546.ECA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-10-26 23:26:27
Document Index: 216624814

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 636', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1997', '§ 1997', '§ 1915', '§ 1997', '§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 2253', '§ 2253', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1915']

| Gamez v. Holland
Gamez v. Holland
SERGIO ALEJANDRO GAMEZ, Petitioner,v.K. HOLLAND, Warden, Respondent.
ORDER DISMISSING THE PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A COGNIZABLE CLAIM (DOC 1) ORDER DECLINING TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO MAIL A CIVIL RIGHTS FORM TO PETITIONER AND TO CLOSE THE CASE
SHEILA K. OBERTO, Magistragte Judge.
Petitioner is a state prisoner who is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), Petitioner has consented to the jurisdiction of the United States Magistrate Judge to conduct all further proceedings in the case, including the entry of final judgment, by manifesting consent in a signed writing filed by Petitioner on April 29, 2013 (doc. 5). Pending before the Court is the petition, which was filed on April 19, 2013.
Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United 0States District Courts (Habeas Rules) requires the Court to make a preliminary review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition "[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court...." Habeas Rule 4; O'Bremski v. Maass , 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Hendricks v. Vasquez , 908 F.2d 490 (9th Cir. 1990). Habeas Rule 2(c) requires that a petition 1) specify all grounds of relief available to the Petitioner; 2) state the facts supporting each ground; and 3) state the relief requested. Notice pleading is not sufficient; the petition must state facts that point to a real possibility of constitutional error. Habeas Rule 4, Adv. Comm. Notes, 1976 Adoption; O'Bremski v. Maass , 915 F.2d at 420 (quoting Blackledge v. Allison , 431 U.S. 63, 75 n. 7 (1977)).
The Court may dismiss a petition for writ of habeas corpus either on its own motion under Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent's motion to dismiss, or after an answer to the petition has been filed. Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 8, 1976 Adoption; see, Herbst v. Cook , 260 F.3d 1039, 1042-43 (9th Cir. 2001). A petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears that no tenable claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave granted. Jarvis v. Nelson , 440 F.2d 13, 14 (9th Cir. 1971).
A district court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a state court only on the ground that the custody is in violation of the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254(a), 2241(c)(3); Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 362, 375 n.7 (2000); Wilson v. Corcoran , 562 U.S. ___, ___, 131 S.Ct. 13, 16 (2010) (per curiam).
A habeas corpus petition is the correct method for a prisoner to challenge the legality or duration of his confinement. Badea v. Cox , 931 F.2d 573, 574 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting Preiser v. Rodriguez , 411 U.S. 475, 485 (1973)); Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 1, 1976 Adoption. In contrast, a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is the proper method for a prisoner to challenge the conditions of that confinement. McCarthy v. Bronson , 500 U.S. 136, 141-42 (1991); Preiser , 411 U.S. at 499; Badea , 931 F.2d at 574; Advisory Committee Notes to Habeas Rule 1, 1976 Adoption.
Petitioner, an inmate of the California Correctional Institution at Techachepi, California (CCI), alleges that he suffered violations of his constitutional rights in connection with gang validation procedures in prison that were commenced on or about October 8, 2012. The gang validation proceedings resulted in a finding that Petitioner was validated as an associate of the Mexican Mafia (EME) prison gang. (Pet. 28.) Petitioner alleges that he remains in a security housing unit (SHU) based on gang association. (Id. at 5-7). Petitioner alleges that his presence in the SHU is a result of retaliation and a violation of due process of law, and that he suffered a violation of his First Amendment rights. (Pet. 5-7.)
Thus, in this case, Petitioner addresses his placement in the SHU resulting from a 2012 gang validation proceeding that he alleges was retaliatory and violated his rights to due process and his rights under the First Amendment. Petitioner's allegations concern only the conditions of his confinement. Petitioner does not allege facts that point to a real possibility of constitutional error that affected the legality or duration of his confinement. Thus, Petitioner is not entitled to habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, his petition will be dismissed.
III. Construction of the Petition as a Civil Rights Complaint
Although the Court lacks habeas corpus jurisdiction over the claims concerning conditions of confinement, the Court could construe Petitioner's claims as a civil rights complaint brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See, Wilwording v. Swenson , 404 U.S. 249, 251 (1971). However, the Court declines to construe the petition as a civil rights complaint because of various differences in the procedures undertaken in habeas proceedings and civil rights actions.
Further, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) provides, "No action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983 of this title, or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted." It is established that § 1997e(a) requires exhaustion "irrespective of the forms of relief sought and offered through administrative avenues." Booth v. Churner , 532 U.S. 731, 741 n.6 (2001). Here, it is unclear whether Petitioner has exhausted administrative remedies.
Another omission from the petition that affects the Court's decision not to consider it as a civil rights complaint is the Petitioner's failure to identify the capacity in which the named respondent would be sued for purposes of a civil rights claim, which is critical to the issue of sovereign immunity. In addition, if the petition were converted to a civil rights complaint, the Court would be obligated to screen it pursuant to the screening provisions of the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1). It is not clear that all of Petitioner's disparate allegations state civil rights claims. If the pleading ultimately were dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, such a dismissal could count as a "strike" against Petitioner for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and any future civil rights action he might bring.
Based on the foregoing analysis, the court concludes that the petition should be dismissed without prejudice so Petitioner can determine whether or not he wishes to raise his present claims through a properly submitted civil rights complaint. Should Petitioner wish to pursue his claims, he must do so by way of a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Thus, the Clerk will be directed to send an appropriate form complaint to Petitioner.
Unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability, an appeal may not be taken to the court of appeals from the final order in a habeas proceeding in which the detention complained of arises out of process issued by a state court. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(A); Miller-El v. Cockrell , 537 U.S. 322, 336 (2003). A certificate of appealability may issue only if the applicant makes a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. § 2253(c)(2). Under this standard, a petitioner must show that reasonable jurists could debate whether the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further. Miller-El v. Cockrell , 537 U.S. at 336 (quoting Slack v. McDaniel , 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)).
A certificate should issue if the Petitioner shows that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right or that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court was correct in any procedural ruling. Slack v. McDaniel , 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000). In determining this issue, a court conducts an overview of the claims in the habeas petition, generally assesses their merits, and determines whether the resolution was debatable among jurists of reason or wrong. Id . The applicant must show more than an absence of frivolity or the existence of mere good faith; however, the applicant need not show that the appeal will succeed. Miller-El v. Cockrell , 537 U.S. at 338.
Here, because Petitioner's claims relate only to conditions of confinement, jurists of reason would not find it debatable whether the Court was correct in its ruling. Accordingly, Petitioner has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, and the Court will decline to issue a certificate of appealability.
1) The petition for writ of habeas corpus is DISMISSED without prejudice to Petitioner's right to file a civil rights action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1983; and
2) The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to close the case because this order terminates the action in its entirety; and
4) The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail to Petitioner a form for filing a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by a person in custody.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT BY A PRISONER UNDER CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTE 42 U.S.C. § 1983
I. Scope of Section 1983
An action under Section 1983 is available to challenge violations of the federal constitution or federal statutes which affect the conditions of your confinement or your treatment by government employees while in custody. Although you may ask for and obtain money damages or an injunction under Section 1983, the court cannot issue an order which could affect the length of your sentence in any way. Those types of claims may be raised only through a petition for writ of habeas corpus. If you want to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, you must do so on the correct forms, which are provided by the Clerk of the Court on request.
If there is an inmate appeal or administrative remedy process available at your institution, you may not file an action under Section 1983, or any other federal law, until you have first completed (exhausted) the process available at your institution. You are required to complete (exhaust) the inmate appeal or administrative remedy process before filing suit, regardless of the relief offered by the process. Booth v. Churner , 532 U.S. 731, 741 (2001); McKinney v. Carey , 311 F.3d 1198, 1199 (9th Cir. 2002). Even if you are seeking only money damages and the inmate appeal or administrative remedy process does not provide money, you must exhaust the process before filing suit. Booth , 532 U.S. at 734.
A copy of a complaint form is attached to this instruction sheet. In addition, included in the packet is an information sheet for prisoners seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis (without prepayment of filing fees) and a copy of an application to proceed in forma pauperis. To file an action, you must send all the following items to the court:
1. An original and one copy of the complaint. You must keep an additional copy of the complaint for your own records. All copies of the complaint must be identical to the original. If you wish to have a conformed copy of your complaint returned to you, you must send, in addition to the original, two extra copies and provide the court with a self-addressed postage paid envelope
2. Either a completed in forma pauperis application or the $350.00 filing fee.
NOTICE: Leave to proceed in forma pauperis allows a case to proceed without pre-payment of the filing fee. However, a prisoner who brings a civil action in forma pauperis shall nevertheless be required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. The court shall collect the filing fee through deductions from the prisoner's trust account. Dismissal of the case does not excuse payment of the full filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
III. Complaint Form
Your complaint must be legibly handwritten or typewritten. You must sign the complaint and declare under penalty of perjury that the facts stated in the complaint are correct. If you need additional space to answer a question, you should attach an additional blank page. You are required to state facts in support of each claim. The complaint should refer to the provision of the federal constitution or federal law on which you are relying, but should not contain legal arguments or citations.
Your complaint should be filed in the Fresno Division of this court only if one or more of the named defendants is located in the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California, or if your claim arose in the Fresno Division of this district. The Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California is comprised of the following counties: Fresno, Calaveras, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne.
Your complaint should be filed in the Sacramento Division of this court only if one or more of the named defendants is located in the Sacramento Division of the Eastern District of California, or if your claim arose in the Sacramento Division of this district. The Sacramento Division of the Eastern District of California is comprised of the following counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, and Yuba..
V. Mailing the Forms
When all of the forms described in part II are completed, if you are filing your case in the Fresno Division, mail the original and copies to:
If you are filing your case in the Sacramento Division, mail the original and copies to:
VI. After the Complaint is Filed
Once the complaint is filed, the court will review it and decide whether to order service of the complaint on the defendants. You will be sent a copy of any order the court issues. Because of the large volume of cases filed by inmates pending in this court, the court WILL NOT ANSWER INQUIRIES concerning the status of your complaint.
You must keep the Clerk of the Court informed of any change of address. If you fail to do so, the Clerk cannot be responsible for your failure to receive Court orders. This could result in the dismissal of your suit.
The Clerk of the Court cannot provide copies of documents to litigants, except at a charge of fifty cents ($0.50) per page. This charge also applies to litigants proceeding in forma pauperis. Therefore you must keep copies of all documents submitted to the court for your own records.
VII. Submission of Original Paper Exhibits
The Eastern District of California converted to an electronic filing, service, and storage system, effective January 3, 2005. Pro se litigants are exempt from the electronic filing requirement and must submit all documents to the court in paper. Local Rule 5-133(b)(2). Paper documents submitted by pro se litigants for filing will be scanned into the electronic court file by the Clerk's Office. After being scanned into the electronic court file, the paper documents will be retained in the Clerk's Office for a limited period of time and then discarded. Local Rule 39-138(d). For this reason, pro se litigants are cautioned not to send original exhibits to the court. If pro se litigants choose to submit exhibits to the court, the litigants shall retain their original exhibits and send photocopies to the court.