Goff v. Salinas
Filing
30
ORDER and FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on 1/31/13 denying 28 Motion for Reconsideration. Also, RECOMMENDING that respondent's motion to dismiss filed 06/29/12 18 be granted for failure to exhaust state court remedies. The clerk of court be directed to close this action. MOTION to DISMISS 18 referred to Judge William B. Shubb. Objections due within 14 days. (Plummer, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
THOMAS L. GOFF,
11
Petitioner,
12
13
No. CIV S-11-3410 WBS GGH P
vs.
M. SALINAS, Warden,
14
ORDER AND
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Respondent.
15
16
/
I. Introduction
17
Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for writ of habeas
18
corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Presently pending before the court is respondent’s motion
19
to dismiss for failure to exhaust, untimeliness, and because certain state law challenges are not
20
cognizable in habeas, filed June 29, 2012,1 and petitioner’s motion for reconsideration of his
21
request for appointment of counsel, filed December 5, 2012.
22
\\\\\
23
\\\\\
24
\\\\\
25
1
26
In addition to his opposition, filed August 8, 2012, petitioner filed a “denial and
exception to the respondent’s motion to dismiss” on November 18, 2012, which the court
declines to consider because it is untimely.
1
2
3
4
5
II. Analysis
A. Motion for Reconsideration
Petitioner requests that this court reconsider its prior ruling of September 11,
2012, denying his request for appointment of counsel.
Although motions to reconsider are directed to the sound discretion of the court,
6
Frito-Lay of Puerto Rico, Inc. v. Canas, 92 F.R.D. 384, 390 (D.C. Puerto Rico 1981),
7
considerations of judicial economy weigh heavily in the process. Thus Local Rule 230(j)
8
requires that a party seeking reconsideration of a district court’s order must brief the “new or
9
different facts or circumstances [which] were not shown upon such prior motion, or what other
10
grounds exist for the motion.” The rule derives from the “law of the case” doctrine which
11
provides that the decisions on legal issues made in a case “should be followed unless there is
12
substantially different evidence . . . new controlling authority, or the prior decision was clearly
13
erroneous and would result in injustice.” Handi Investment Co. v. Mobil Oil Corp., 653 F.2d
14
391, 392 (9th Cir. 1981); see also Waggoner v. Dallaire, 767 F.2d 589, 593 (9th Cir. 1985), cert.
15
denied, 475 U.S. 1064 (1986).
16
Courts construing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e), providing for the
17
alteration or amendment of a judgment, have noted that a motion to reconsider is not a vehicle
18
permitting the unsuccessful party to “rehash” arguments previously presented, or to present
19
“contentions which might have been raised prior to the challenged judgment.” Costello v. United
20
States, 765 F.Supp. 1003, 1009 (C.D. Cal. 1991); see also F.D.I.C. v. Meyer, 781 F.2d 1260,
21
1268 (7th Cir. 1986); Keyes v. National R.R. Passenger Corp., 766 F. Supp. 277, 280 (E.D. Pa.
22
1991). These holdings “reflect[] district courts’ concerns for preserving dwindling resources and
23
promoting judicial efficiency.” Costello, 765 F.Supp. at 1009.
24
Petitioner claims that he needs counsel because a previous motion he filed was
25
denied by the court as inapposite and untimely; he has been harassed by CDCR; he has been
26
moved more than four times since he filed the instant petition; his legal paperwork has been
1
mixed up, stolen, tampered with and delayed; and his access to the law library has been blocked.
2
Although such assertions may be relevant to a new civil rights complaint, and certainly do not
3
assist petitioner in prosecuting his petition, they are presently not cause for appointment of
4
counsel. The undersigned finds no change in the circumstances of this case sufficient to warrant
5
reversing its prior order. See below. Therefore, petitioner’s motion is denied.
6
B. Motion to Dismiss
7
Respondent moves to dismiss on the basis that these claims are unexhausted, that
8
even if petitioner were permitted to exhaust, the statute of limitations already expired and it could
9
not be tolled or restarted, and that petitioner’s state law challenges are not cognizable in federal
10
11
habeas.
The exhaustion of state court remedies is a prerequisite to the granting of a
12
petition for writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). If exhaustion is to be waived, it
13
must be waived explicitly by respondent’s counsel. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(3). A waiver of
14
exhaustion, thus, may not be implied or inferred. A petitioner satisfies the exhaustion
15
requirement by providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to consider all
16
claims before presenting them to the federal court. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971);
17
Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1086 (9th Cir. 1985).
18
It is not enough that all the facts necessary to support the federal claim were
19
before the state courts, Picard, at 277, 92 S.Ct ., at 513, or that a somewhat similar state-law
20
claim was made. See Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 366, 115 S.Ct. 887 (1995). The habeas
21
petitioner must have “fairly presented” to the state courts the “substance” of his federal habeas
22
corpus claim. Picard, supra, 404 U.S. at 275, 277-278, 92 S.Ct. at 512, 513-514. See also, Rose
23
v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 102 S .Ct. 1198, 1204 (1982).
24
Petitioner has the burden of proving exhaustion of state court remedies and in
25
California a petitioner must present his claims to the California Supreme Court. Cartwright v.
26
Cupp, 650 F.2d 1103, 1104 (9th Cir. 1981); Kim v. Villalobos, 799 F.2d 1317, 1319 (9th Cir.
1
1986).
2
Petitioner raises four claims in the instant federal petition in connection with a
3
disciplinary infraction for “forgery/falsification of documents (not affecting term of
4
imprisonment),” for which he was assessed forfeiture of sixty day credits: 1) denial of staff
5
assistant to help collect evidence and obtain discovery for defense of charges; 2) denial of ability
6
to call witnesses, ask questions, and collect evidence for defense; 3) inability to prepare defense
7
due to being held in administrative segregation; and 4) petitioner was not given a final copy of
8
his 115 RVR hearing until 07-15-10 (see RVR Part C Supplemental) which sever[e]ly delayed
9
his due process timely appeal.
10
These claims were raised through the internal administrative appeals process to
11
the final level of review; however, petitioner concedes that he filed habeas petitions only through
12
the state appellate court, and did not file a habeas petition in the California Supreme Court.2
13
(Doc. 1 at 48, 91; Resp.’s Mot., Ex. 6; Opp. at 2.) Thus, the petition should be dismissed as
14
unexhausted.
15
16
For this reason, the court declines to address respondent’s other grounds for relief.
III. Conclusion
17
18
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that: petitioner’s motion for reconsideration, filed
December 5, 2012, (doc. no. 28), is denied.
19
IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
20
1. Respondent’s motion to dismiss, filed June 29, 2012, (doc. no. 18), be granted
21
for failure to exhaust state court remedies; and
22
2. The Clerk of Court be directed to close this action.
23
24
25
26
2
Petitioner did file a petition for writ of mandate with the California Supreme Court
prior to filing his habeas petition with the state appellate court, which sought an order reversing
the Rule Violation Report and restoring his credits. (Resp.’s Mot., Ex. 3.) However, this is not a
procedure likely to be utilized to review the merits of an action in habeas corpus. Thus, this
filing for a writ of mandate does not exhaust the claims. See Castille v. Peoples, 489 U.S. 346,
351, 109 S.Ct. 1056 (1989).
1
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
2
Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen
3
days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
4
objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
5
“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections
6
shall be served and filed within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are
7
advised that failure to file objections within the specified time waives the right to appeal the
8
District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
9
DATED: January 31, 2013
10
/s/ Gregory G. Hollows
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
GGH:076/Goff3410.exh.wpd
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?