(HC) Bland v. Warden ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JOSHUA DAVIS BLAND, Case No. 1:22-cv-01171-CDB (HC) 12 Petitioner, 13 v. O LER AD VE ER TD OIS FM ILIS ES AIN FG IR P SE TT I AT MIO EN N W DEIT DH 14 PETITION WARDEN, 15 [THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE] Defendant. 16 17 18 Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on September 14, 2022. (ECF No. 19 1.) A preliminary screening of the petition reveals that it fails to present any cognizable grounds 20 for relief or any facts in support. Therefore, the Court will DISMISS the petition with leave to 21 file an amended petition. 22 I. DISCUSSION 23 A. Preliminary Review of Petition 24 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Court 25 (hereinafter “Habeas Rule”) requires the Court to make a preliminary review of each petition for 26 writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition “[i]f it plainly appears from 27 the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district 28 court. . .” Habeas Rule 4; O’Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990), cert denied, 1 498 U.S. 1096 (1991). Habeas Rule 4 “explicitly allows a district court to dismiss summarily the 2 petition on the merits when no claim for relief is stated.” Gutierrez v. Griggs, 695 F.2d 1195, 3 1198 (9th Cir.1983). 4 B. Failure to State a Cognizable Federal Claim 5 The scope of habeas corpus is prescribed by statute. Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) states: 6 The Supreme Court, a Justice thereof, a circuit judge, or a district court shall 7 entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to a judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in 8 violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States. 9 (emphasis added). See also Habeas Rule 1. The Supreme Court has held that “the essence of 10 habeas corpus is an attack by a person in custody upon the legality of that custody . . .” Preiser v. 11 Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 484 (1973). 12 To succeed in a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, Petitioner must demonstrate that 13 the adjudication of his claim in state court: 14 (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 15 of the United 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 16 p roceeding. 17 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1), (2). In addition to the above, Habeas Rule 2(c) 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 Habeas Rule 2(c) by failing to specify any ground for 23 relief or the facts supporting his claim. Petitioner placed an “X” over the page in the application 24 requesting grounds for relief, supporting facts, and supporting authority. (ECF No. 1). Habeas 25 Rule 2(c) requires that each ground for relief be clearly stated, along with providing specific 26 factual allegations that support the grounds for relief. Mayle v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644, 649 (2005) 27 (noting that Habeas Rule 2(c) “requires a more detailed statement” than the rules governing 28 ordinary civil proceedings). Additionally, Petitioner fails to state how the adjudication of his 1 | claim 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 cognizable federal 3 | habeas claim and the petition must be dismissed. 4 Petitioner will be granted an opportunity to file a First Amended Petition curing these 5 || deficiencies. Petitioner is advised that he should entitle his pleading, “First Amended Petition,” 6 | and he should reference the instant case number. 7) IL ORDER 8 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS: 9 1) The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for 10 failure to state a claim; and 11 2) Petitioner is GRANTED thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a First 12 Amended Petition. 13 Failure to comply with this Order may result in an Order for Dismissal or a 14 || recommendation for a finding of Dismissal pursuant to Local Rule 110. 15 | IT IS SO ORDERED. ‘8 Dated: _ November 4, 2022 | Wr bo 17 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28