(HC) (DP) Alvarez v. Calderon ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MANUEL MACHADO ALVAREZ, No. 2:97-cv-1895 KJM KJN P 12 Petitioner, DEATH PENALTY CASE 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO GRANT MOTION TO VACATE FINDINGS 14 WARDEN, San Quentin State Prison, AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO DISMISS PETITION AS MOOT 15 Respondent. FOURTEEN (14) DAY OBJECTION PERIOD 16 17 18 Petitioner was sentenced to death following a number of convictions in 1989 arising 19 from a series of events occurring in Sacramento County in May 1987. On April 3, 2019, the 20 undersigned issued Findings and Recommendations addressing the merits of the claims asserted 21 in Petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus. (ECF No. 364.) Following a number of 22 unopposed requests for extension of time, Petitioner’s objections were to be filed no later than 23 September 22, 2020. (ECF No. 374.) On August 3, 2020, Petitioner’s counsel filed a Motion to 24 Vacate Findings and Recommendations and Dismiss Petition as Moot. (ECF No. 375.) On 25 August 25, 2020, a Supplemental Exhibit in Support of Motion to Vacate Findings and 26 Recommendations and Dismiss Petition as Moot was filed with the court. (ECF No. 376.) No 27 response has been filed by Respondent. 28 1 As noted in the motion filed August 3, 2020, and as confirmed by the Supplemental 2 Exhibit thereto, Petitioner Manuel Machado Alvarez died July 3, 2020, of complications of 3 COVID-19. 4 As this court previously held: 5 Federal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases and controversies. U.S. CONST. art. III, § 2. An actual controversy must exist between the 6 parties throughout all stages of the proceeding. Alvarez v. Smith, ___U.S.___, 130 S. Ct. 576, 580 (2009). An action becomes moot 7 when the issues “are no longer ‘live,’” i.e., when the “parties lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome.” Powell v. McCormack, 8 395 U.S. 486, 496 (1969). I[n] these habeas proceedings the relief sought, i.e., petitioner’s immediate release from custody, is unique to 9 the petitioner himself and cannot be transferred. “In other words, the claims [are] extinguished upon [a] petitioner’s death and no party can 10 be substituted for him.” Pennewell v. Carey, No. 2:06-cv-0598 JKS EFB, 2008 WL 1860166, at * 1 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2008) (citing Fed. 11 R. Civ. P. 25(a)). “Because petitioner’s death renders this case moot, the petition for writ of habeas corpus should be dismissed as moot.” 12 Garceau v. Woodford, 399 F.3d 1101 (9th Cir. 2005). See also Dove v. United States, 423 U.S. 325 (1976) (dismissing a certiorari petition 13 because petitioner had died); Griffey v. Lindsey, 349 F.3d 1157 (9th Cir. 2003) (dismissing a petition for writ of habeas corpus as moot 14 because petitioner had died). 15 Germino v. Marshall, No. CIV S-08-3010, 2010 WL 5393907, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 16 21, 2010). 17 Here, because an actual controversy no longer exists as a result of Petitioner’s death, the 18 petition for writ of habeas corpus is moot; Petitioner’s claims have been extinguished. 19 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 20 1. Petitioner’s motion (ECF No. 375) be granted; 21 2. The Findings and Recommendations dated April 3, 2019 (ECF No. 364) be vacated; 22 and, 23 3. The action be dismissed as having been rendered moot by Petitioner’s death. 24 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 25 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) 26 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 27 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 28 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The parties are advised that MASE 2.9 FOUN VLOG YING INTTING IN EMU OE PIO ee Yt VM VI 1 | failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 2 | Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 3 4 | Dated: September 10, 2020 Frese Arn 6 KENDALL J. NE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 /alval 895.fr 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28