Tolds v. Swarthout
Filing
6
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. Signed by Judge William Alsup on 10/26/11. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(dt, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/28/2011)
1
2
3
4
5
6
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
8
9
No. C 11-4633 WHA (PR)
JAMES TOLDS,
10
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
v.
For the Northern District of California
United States District Court
Petitioner,
11
12
GARY SWARTHOUT, Warden,
13
Respondent.
(Docket No. 2)
/
14
15
INTRODUCTION
16
Petitioner, a California prisoner, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus
17
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2254. He paid the filing fee.
18
STATEMENT
19
In 2004, petitioner was convicted in Alameda County Superior Court of murder,
20
numerous counts of attempted murder, and a sentence enhancement for the use of a gun. On
21
appeal, the California Court of Appeal reversed the attempted murder convictions and remanded
22
to the trial court where petitioner was re-sentenced. Petitioner then pursued habeas petitions in
23
all three levels of the California courts, which petitions were denied. Thereafter, petitioner filed
24
the instant federal habeas petition.
25
ANALYSIS
26
A.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
27
A federal court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus "in behalf of a person
28
in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in
1
violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. 2254(a); Rose
2
v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975). Habeas corpus petitions must meet heightened pleading
3
requirements. McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994). An application for a federal writ
4
of habeas corpus filed by a prisoner who is in state custody pursuant to a judgment of a state
5
court must “specify all the grounds for relief which are available to the petitioner ... and shall
6
set forth in summary form the facts supporting each of the grounds thus specified.” Rule 2(c) of
7
the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. 2254. “‘[N]otice’ pleading is not
8
sufficient, for the petition is expected to state facts that point to a ‘real possibility of
9
constitutional error.’” Rule 4 Advisory Committee Notes (quoting Aubut v. Maine, 431 F.2d
688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)).
11
For the Northern District of California
United States District Court
10
B.
12
LEGAL CLAIMS
As grounds for federal habeas relief, petitioner claims that he was not present when he
13
was re-sentenced, preventing him from testifying, presenting evidence, filing a motion for a
14
new trial, requesting a new pre-sentence report, and challenging his restitution fine. Petitioner
15
also claims that he did not have counsel at his re-sentencing hearing, and to the extent he did
16
have counsel, counsel was ineffective. Petitioner’s claims, when liberally construed, are
17
cognizable.
18
CONCLUSION
19
1. The clerk shall mail a copy of this order and the petition with all attachments to the
20
respondent and the respondent's attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California. The
21
clerk shall also serve a copy of this order on the petitioner.
22
2. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within ninety days of the
23
issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing
24
Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted based on
25
the claims found cognizable herein. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on
26
petitioner a copy of all portions of the state trial record that have been transcribed previously
27
and that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the petition.
28
If petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse with the
2
1
court and serving it on respondent within thirty days of the date the answer is filed.
2
3. Respondent may file, within ninety days, a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds
3
in lieu of an answer, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules
4
Governing Section 2254 Cases. If respondent files such a motion, petitioner shall file with the
5
court and serve on respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within thirty days
6
of the date the motion is filed, and respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner a
7
reply within fifteen days of the date any opposition is filed.
8
9
4. Petitioner is reminded that all communications with the court must be served on
respondent by mailing a true copy of the document to respondent’s counsel. Petitioner must
keep the court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a
11
For the Northern District of California
United States District Court
10
timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute
12
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). See Martinez v. Johnson, 104 F.3d 769, 772
13
(5th Cir. 1997) (Rule 41(b) applicable in habeas cases).
14
15
16
5. Leave to proceed in forma pauperis (docket number 2) is DENIED as petitioner paid
the fee.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
17
Dated: October
28
, 2011.
18
WILLIAM ALSUP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
G:\PRO-SE\WHA\HC.11\ROMERO4800.OSC.wpd
27
28
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?