Guerrero v. Matterson ( 2022 )

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 3 4 RICHARD ORESTES GUERRERO, Case No. 20-cv-05923-WHO (PR) Petitioner, 5 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE v. 6 7 G. MATTERSON, Respondent. 8 9 10 INTRODUCTION 11 Petitioner Richard Orestes Guerrero seeks federal habeas relief from his state 12 convictions. The first amended petition for such relief is now before the Court for review 13 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2243 and Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 14 The first amended petition states cognizable claims. Accordingly, on or before July 15 1, 2022, respondent shall file an answer or a dispositive motion in response to the 16 operative habeas petition. 17 BACKGROUND 18 According to the original petition, in 2018 Guerrero pleaded nolo contendere in the 19 Santa Clara County Superior Court to charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a 20 firearm, and a gang sentencing enhancement. (Pet., Dkt. No. 1 at 2.) His attempts at 21 overturning his convictions in state court were unsuccessful. This federal habeas petition 22 followed. 23 The original petition was dismissed with leave to amend because the petition did 24 not contain the only challenges available to Guerrero since pleading guilty1: (i) voluntary 25 and intelligent character of the plea; and (ii) adequacy of the advice of counsel. Womack v. 26 27 1 In California, the legal effect of a plea of nolo contendere to a felony is considered the 1 Del Papa, 497 F.3d 998, 1002 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56- 2 57 (1985)).2 Guerrero has filed a first amended petition. 3 DISCUSSION 4 This Court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a person 5 in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in 6 custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. 7 § 2254(a). A district court considering an application for a writ of habeas corpus shall 8 “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ 9 should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person 10 detained is not entitled thereto.” 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Summary dismissal is appropriate 11 only where the allegations in the petition are vague or conclusory, palpably incredible, or 12 patently frivolous or false. See Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990). 13 As grounds for federal habeas relief, Guerrero claims (i) his plea was not knowing 14 and voluntary; and (ii) defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance. When liberally 15 construed, these claims are cognizable and shall proceed. 16 CONCLUSION 17 1. The Clerk shall serve electronically a copy of this order upon the respondent and 18 the respondent’s attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California, at the following 19 email address: SFAWTParalegals@doj.ca.gov. The petition and the exhibits thereto are 20 available via the Electronic Case Filing System for the Northern District of California. 21 The Clerk shall serve by mail a copy of this order on petitioner. 22 2. On or before July 1, 2022, respondent shall file with the Court and serve on 23 petitioner, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 24 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted based on 25 26 2 There are exceptions to this general bar. For example, a defendant who pleads guilty still may raise in habeas corpus proceedings the very power of the state to bring him into court 27 to answer the charge brought against him, see Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306, 320 (1983) 1 || petitioner’s cognizable claims. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on 2 || petitioner a copy of all portions of the state trial record that previously have been 3 || transcribed and that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the petition. 4 3. If petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse 5 || with the Court and serving it on respondent’s counsel within thirty (30) days of the date the 6 || answer is filed. 7 4. In lieu of an answer, respondent may file, on or before July 1, 2022, a motion to 8 || dismiss on procedural grounds, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of 9 || the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. If respondent files such a motion, petitioner 10 || shall file with the Court and serve on respondent an opposition or statement of non- 11 || opposition within thirty (30) days of the date the motion is filed, and respondent shall file 2 with the Court and serve on petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) days of the date any 5 13 || opposition is filed. S 14 5. Petitioner is reminded that all communications with the Court must be served on 3 15 || respondent by mailing a true copy of the document to respondent’s counsel. a 16 6. It is petitioner’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner must keep the 17 || Court and respondent informed of any change of address and must comply with the 18 || Court’s orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this 19 || action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 20 7. Upon a showing of good cause, requests for a reasonable extension of time will 21 || be granted provided they are filed on or before the deadline they seek to extend. 22 8. The filing fee has been paid. (Dkt. No. 15.) 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 || Dated: March 22, 2022 Vo MUOe 25 AM H. ORRI 26 United States District Judge 27 28