(HC)Fawcett v. C. Koenig ( 2019 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MARK RANDALL FAWCETT, ) Case No.: 1:19-cv-01250-JLT (HC) ) 12 Petitioner, ) ORDER DISMISSING FIRST AMENDED ) PETITION AND DIRECTING PETITIONER TO 13 v. ) FILE A SECOND AMENDED PETITION ) 14 MERCED COUNTY, ) [THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE] 15 Respondent. ) ) 16 ) 17 Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on September 9, 2019. (Doc. 1.) 18 Following a preliminary screening of the petition, the Court determined that the petition failed to 19 present any cognizable grounds for relief or any facts in support and failed to name the proper 20 respondent. Therefore, on September 24, 2019, the Court issued an order directing Petitioner to submit 21 a first amended petition. (Doc. 4.) Petitioner filed a first amended petition on October 11, 2019, which 22 is presently before the Court. (Doc. 6.) The Court has screened the first amended petition and finds it 23 fails to state a cognizable federal claim for relief. Therefore, the Court will dismiss the amended 24 petition and direct Petitioner to file a second amended petition. 25 I. DISCUSSION 26 A. Preliminary Review of Petition 27 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases requires the Court to make a preliminary 28 review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition “[i]f it 1 plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in 2 the district court . . . .” Rule 4; O’Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990). The Advisory 3 Committee Notes to Rule 8 indicate that the Court may dismiss a petition for writ of habeas corpus, 4 either on its own motion under Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent’s motion to dismiss, or after an 5 answer to the petition has been filed. 6 B. Failure to State a Cognizable Federal Claim 7 The basic scope of habeas corpus is prescribed by statute. Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) states: 8 The Supreme Court, a Justice thereof, a circuit judge, or a district court shall entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to a 9 judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States. 10 11 (emphasis added). See also Rule 1 to the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States 12 District Court. The Supreme Court has held that “the essence of habeas corpus is an attack by a 13 person in custody upon the legality of that custody . . .” Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 484 14 (1973). 15 To succeed in a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, Petitioner must demonstrate that the 16 adjudication of his claim in state court 17 (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United 18 States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 19 20 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1),(2). In addition to the above, Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 21 Cases requires that the petition: 22 (1) Specify all the grounds for relief available to the petitioner; (2) State the facts supporting each ground; 23 (3) State the relief requested; (4) Be printed, typewritten, or legibly handwritten; and 24 (5) Be signed under penalty of perjury by the petitioner or by a person authorized to sign it for the petitioner under 28 U.S.C. § 2242. 25 26 Petitioner has not complied with Rule 2(c) by failing to specify any ground for relief or the 27 facts supporting his claims. The Petitioner’s statements are vague and unclear such that the Court 28 cannot discern a claim for relief. Additionally, Petitioner fails to state how the adjudication of his 1 claims in state court resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, 2 clearly established Supreme Court authority. Therefore, Petitioner fails to state a cognizable federal 3 habeas claim and the petition must be dismissed. 4 A petition for writ of habeas corpus must specify the grounds for relief as well as the facts 5 supporting each ground. Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases; 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The 6 petitioner must make specific factual allegations that would entitle him to habeas corpus relief if they 7 are true. O'Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990); United States v. Popoola, 881 F.2d 8 811, 812 (9th Cir. 1989). Each ground for relief must be clearly stated and allege what federal 9 constitutional violation has occurred, along with providing facts that support the grounds for relief. A 10 narrative or summary of the case will not suffice. This requires the Court to expend considerable time 11 and resources attempting to determine which claims petitioner seeks to raise before this Court. It is 12 unreasonable to expect the Court to take on such a task when the responsibility to inform the Court lies 13 solely with the petitioner. The Court will not permit these proceedings to continue based on surmise 14 and speculation about what Petitioner is or may be contending. After setting forth his grounds for 15 relief, Petitioner also needs to state how the adjudication of his claims in state court resulted in a 16 decision that was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court 17 authority. 18 Additionally, because Petitioner has not clearly set forth his grounds for relief, the Court 19 cannot determine whether the claims have been exhausted in the state courts. In addition to listing his 20 grounds for relief, Petitioner must tell the Court which claims were raised at which court. This 21 information must include the dates of filing and disposition so as to determine whether Petitioner has 22 exhausted his state remedies and is in compliance with the limitations period prescribed by 28 U.S.C. 23 §2244(d)(1). Without this information, the Court cannot proceed to the merits of the petition. 24 Accordingly, Petitioner will be granted a final opportunity to file a second amended petition 25 curing these deficiencies. Petitioner is advised that he should entitle his pleading, “Second Amended 26 Petition,” and he should reference the instant case number. The Court will also direct the Clerk of 27 Court to provide Petitioner with a blank form petition, and Petitioner is advised to follow the form 28 petition. 1 II. ORDER 2 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS: 3 1) The first amended petition is DISMISSED; 4 2) Petitioner is GRANTED thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a second 5 amended petition that complies with this order; and 6 3) The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner a blank form petition for 7 petitioners filing pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 8 Petitioner is forewarned that his failure to comply with this order will result in a 9 recommendation that the petition be dismissed pursuant to Local Rule 110. 10 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. 12 Dated: November 7, 2019 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 13 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28