Lynn v. Grecco
Filing
20
ORDER and FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on 07/02/15 ORDERING the 4/27/15 order to show cause 13 is discharged. The clerk of the court is directed to serve a copy of these findings and recommendations to gether with a copy of petitioner's responses on the Attorney General of the State of California. Also, RECOMMENDING that petitioner's writ of habeas corpus 1 be dismissed without prejudice; and the clerk of court be directed to close this action. Referred to Judge William B. Shubb. Objections due within 14 days. (cc: Michael Farrell, Attorney General). (Plummer, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
CALVIN S. LYNN,
12
Petitioner,
13
14
No. 2:15-cv-00669-WBS-GGH
v.
ORDER AND
SHERRI GRECCO,
15
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Respondent.
16
Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus
17
18
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Presently pending before the court is petitioner’s multiple
19
responses to the court’s order to show cause. ECF Nos. 14–18.1
The court issued an order to show cause why petitioner’s writ of habeas corpus should not
20
21
be dismissed on April 27, 2015. ECF No. 13. In its order, the court explained that the petition
22
did not include facts showing petitioner exhausted his state court remedies, and that without those
23
facts his petition must be dismissed. Id. Petitioner filed his first response to the court’s order to
24
show cause on May 19, 2015. ECF No. 14. Petitioner then filed four other responses in the span
25
of thirty (30) days.2 ECF Nos. 15–18.
26
1
27
28
The court will refer to all of petitioner’s responses interchangeably because (1) they differ from
one another very little, and (2) none of them sufficiently address the court’s order to show cause.
2
On June 19, 2015, petitioner also filed a letter that seems to ask whether Lynn v. Sacramento
Superior Court, Case No. 5:15-cv-01328-LHK (N.D. Cal. Mar. 23, 2015) was successfully
1
1
As the court explained in its order to show cause, the exhaustion of state court remedies is
2
a prerequisite to the granting of a petition for writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). If
3
exhaustion is to be waived, it must be waived explicitly by respondent’s counsel. 28 U.S.C. §
4
2254(b)(3). A waiver of exhaustion, thus, may not be implied or inferred. A petitioner satisfies
5
the exhaustion requirement by providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to
6
consider all claims before presenting them to the federal court. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270,
7
276 (1971); Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1086 (9th Cir. 1985).
8
It is not enough that all the facts necessary to support the federal claim were before the
9
state courts, Picard, 404 U.S. at 277, or that a somewhat similar state-law claim was made. See
10
Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 366 (1995). The habeas petitioner must have “fairly presented”
11
to the state courts the “substance” of his federal habeas corpus claim. Picard, 404 U.S. at 275,
12
277-278; see also Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 520 (1982). Petitioner has the burden of proving
13
exhaustion of state court remedies and in California a petitioner must present his claims to the
14
California Supreme Court. Cartwright v. Cupp, 650 F.2d 1103, 1104 (9th Cir. 1981); Kim v.
15
Villalobos, 799 F.2d 1317, 1319 (9th Cir. 1986).
16
The petition claims that the district attorney and public defender colluded with one
17
another to conceal and fabricate evidence. ECF No. 1 at 1. However, the petition does not state
18
that petitioner raised these claims in state court. What’s more, petitioner’s responses do not
19
actually address the issue and most of the documents attached thereto relate to his trial court case.
20
For example, petitioner attaches requests filed in Sacramento Superior Court that the DNA
21
evidence in his case be re-examined, as well as court orders denying his requests for failure to
22
comply with the service requirements of California Penal Code § 1405(d). ECF No. 15–18 at 6–
23
10, 30–31, 34–35, 50. The only appellate documents petitioner includes with his responses are
24
(1) a “Request for Augmentation of Record on Appeal,” which does not include any mention of
25
misconduct by the prosecutor or defense counsel, and (2) a motion seeking substitute counsel
26
27
28
transferred to this court. ECF No. 19. Lynn v. Sacramento Superior Court is, actually, this case.
See ECF No. 1 (noting that this case was transferred from the Northern District of California on
March 25, 2015).
2
1
(also known as a Marsden Motion).3 Id. at 19–27. In addition, an investigation of the filings in
2
petitioner’s appellate cases reveals that he did not, in fact, raise any claims concerning
3
misconduct by the prosecutor or defense counsel. See ECF No. 13 at 2. In light of the fact that
4
petitioner has not stated facts showing he has exhausted his state court remedies the court will
5
recommend that his petition be dismissed without prejudice.
6
In accordance with the foregoing, THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS that:
7
1. The April 27, 2015, order to show cause, ECF No. 13, is discharged; and
8
2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of these findings and
9
recommendations together with a copy of petitioner’s responses on the Attorney
10
General of the State of California.
11
THE COURT FURTHER RECOMMENDS that:
12
1. Petitioner’s writ of habeas corpus, ECF No. 1, be DISMISSED without prejudice; and
13
2. The Clerk of Court be directed to close this action.
14
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
15
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days
16
after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
17
objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
18
“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections
19
shall be served and filed within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are advised
20
that failure to file objections within the specified time waives the right to appeal the District
21
Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
22
Dated: July 2, 2015
23
/s/ Gregory G. Hollows
24
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
25
GGH;017/lynn669.dism
26
3
27
28
Petitioner’s Marsden Motion does claim defense counsel manufactured evidence and colluded
with the district attorney. ECF No. 15–18 at 26–28. However, petitioner made these claims
solely in the context of his Marsden Motion; there is no indication that petitioner ever asserted
them in order to attack his conviction.
3
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?