(HC) Evans v. Rodriguez

Filing 6

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATION to Dismiss Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus; ORDER DIRECTING Clerk of Court to Randomly Assign District Judge, signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 11/14/2023. Objections to F&R due within THIRTY DAYS. (Marrujo, C)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JAMAL EVANS,
Petitioner,

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v.

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S. RODRIGUEZ,

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Case No. 1:23-cv-01025-SAB-HC
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO
DISMISS PETITION FOR WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT
TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT
JUDGE

Respondent.

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Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

17 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
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I.

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BACKGROUND

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On July 10, 2023, Petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus wherein

21 Petitioner appears to challenge a prison disciplinary proceeding. (ECF No. 1.) On August 4,
22 2023, the Court ordered Petitioner to show cause why the petition should not be dismissed for
23 failure to exhaust state judicial remedies. (ECF No. 4.) To date, no response to the Court’s order
24 to show cause has been filed, and the time for doing so has passed.
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II.

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DISCUSSION

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Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases requires preliminary review of a

28 habeas petition and allows a district court to dismiss a petition before the respondent is ordered
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1 to file a response, if it “plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the
2 petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.” Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254
3 Cases in the United States District Courts, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254.
It appears that Petitioner failed to exhaust his claims raised in the instant petition. (ECF

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5 No. 1 at 6–7.)1 A petitioner in state custody who is proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas
6 corpus must exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). The exhaustion doctrine is
7 based on comity to the state court and gives the state court the initial opportunity to correct the
8 state’s alleged constitutional deprivations. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991);
9 Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 518 (1982). A petitioner can satisfy the exhaustion requirement by
10 providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to consider each claim before
11 presenting it to the federal court. O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999); Duncan v.
12 Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971).
Petitioner has failed to respond to the order to show cause. As it appears Petitioner has

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14 not sought relief in the California Supreme Court, the Court cannot proceed to the merits of his
15 claims. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). Accordingly, the Court finds that Petitioner’s claims are
16 unexhausted and should be dismissed without prejudice.
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III.

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RECOMMENDATION & ORDER
Based on the foregoing, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the petition for writ of

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20 habeas corpus be DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to exhaust state judicial remedies.
Further, the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to randomly assign this action to a District

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22 Judge.

This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the United States District Court

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24 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304
25 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California.
26 Within THIRTY (30) days after service of the Findings and Recommendation, Petitioner may
27 file written objections with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be
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Page numbers refer to the ECF page numbers stamped at the top of the page.

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1 captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” The assigned
2 District Judge will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
3 § 636(b)(1)(C). Petitioner is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may
4 result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014)
5 (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

8 Dated:

November 14, 2023
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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