(HC) Solorio v. CHP Officers ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ALFRED P. SOLORIO, ) Case No.: 1:20-cv-00828-JLT (HC) ) 12 Petitioner, ) ORDER DISMISSING PETITION WITH LEAVE ) TO FILE A FIRST AMENDED PETITION 13 v. ) ) [THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE] 14 DAVID S. ROBINSON, et al., ) 15 Respondents. ) ) 16 ) 17 Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on June 15, 2020. (Doc. 1.) A preliminary 18 screening of the petition reveals that the petition fails to present any cognizable grounds for relief or 19 any facts in support. Therefore, the Court will DISMISS the petition with leave to file an amended 20 petition. 21 I. DISCUSSION 22 A. Preliminary Review of Petition 23 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases requires the Court to make a preliminary 24 review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition “[i]f it 25 plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in 26 the district court . . . .” Rule 4; O’Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990). The Advisory 27 Committee Notes to Rule 8 indicate that the Court may dismiss a petition for writ of habeas corpus, 28 either on its own motion under Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent’s motion to dismiss, or after an 1 answer to the petition has been filed. 2 B. Failure to State a Cognizable Federal Claim 3 The basic scope of habeas corpus is prescribed by statute. Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) states: 4 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 5 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. 6 7 (emphasis added). See also Rule 1 to the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States 8 District Court. The Supreme Court has held that “the essence of habeas corpus is an attack by a 9 person in custody upon the legality of that custody . . .” Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 484 10 (1973). 11 To succeed in a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, Petitioner must demonstrate that the 12 adjudication of his claim in state court 13 (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 14 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. 15 16 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1),(2). In addition to the above, Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 17 Cases requires that the petition: 18 (1) Specify all the grounds for relief available to the petitioner; (2) State the facts supporting each ground; 19 (3) State the relief requested; (4) Be printed, typewritten, or legibly handwritten; and 20 (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. 21 22 Petitioner has failed to comply with Rule 2(c) by failing to specify any ground for relief or the 23 facts supporting his claims. Additionally, Petitioner fails to state how the adjudication of his claims in 24 state court resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly 25 established Supreme Court authority. Therefore, Petitioner fails to state a cognizable federal habeas 26 claim and the petition must be dismissed. 27 A petition for writ of habeas corpus must specify the grounds for relief as well as the facts 28 supporting each ground. Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases; 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The 1 petitioner must make specific factual allegations that would entitle him to habeas corpus relief if they 2 are true. O'Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990); United States v. Popoola, 881 F.2d 3 811, 812 (9th Cir. 1989). Each ground for relief must be clearly stated and allege what federal 4 constitutional violation has occurred, along with providing facts that support the grounds for relief. A 5 narrative or summary of the case will not suffice. This requires the Court to expend considerable time 6 and resources attempting to determine which claims petitioner seeks to raise before this Court. It is 7 unreasonable to expect the Court to take on such a task when the responsibility to inform the Court lies 8 solely with the petitioner. The Court will not permit these proceedings to continue based on surmise 9 and speculation about what Petitioner is or may be contending. After setting forth his grounds for 10 relief, Petitioner also needs to state how the adjudication of his claims in state court resulted in a 11 decision that was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court 12 authority. 13 Additionally, because Petitioner has not clearly set forth his grounds for relief, the Court 14 cannot determine whether the claims have been exhausted in the state courts. In addition to listing his 15 grounds for relief, Petitioner must tell the Court which claims were raised at which court. This 16 information must include the dates of filing and disposition so as to determine whether Petitioner has 17 exhausted his state remedies and is in compliance with the limitations period prescribed by 28 U.S.C. 18 §2244(d)(1). Without this information, the Court cannot proceed to the merits of the petition. 19 Before dismissal is recommended, the Court will provide Petitioner an opportunity to file an 20 amended petition to cure these deficiencies. Petitioner is advised that he should entitle his pleading, 21 “First Amended Petition,” and he should reference the instant case number. The Court will also direct 22 the Clerk of Court to provide Petitioner with a blank form petition, and Petitioner is advised to follow 23 the form petition. 24 II. ORDER 25 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS: 26 1) The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for 27 failure to state a claim; and 28 2) Petitioner is GRANTED thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a First 1 Amended Petition; and 2 3) The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner a blank form petition for 3 petitioners filing pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 4 Petitioner is forewarned that his failure to comply with this Order may result in an 5 Order of Dismissal or a Recommendation that the petition be dismissed pursuant to Local Rule 6 110. 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 Dated: July 2, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 10 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28