Santos v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Filing 12

Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV: ORDER entered granting 10 Motion for Order (Halley, Taylor)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
____________________________________
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ANGEL SANTOS,
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Petitioner,
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v.
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STEPHEN KENNEDY,
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Respondent.
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____________________________________)

Civil Action No.
20-11095-FDS

ORDER
SAYLOR, C.J.
On June 8, 2020, the court received a pro se pleading written by Angel Santos, an inmate
in custody at the Old Colony Correctional Center. (Dkt. No. 1). In a handwritten pleading,
Santos challenged his conviction in the Lowell Superior Court, which he identified as case
number MICR-1281-CR00607. (Id. at 2). He contended that his constitutional rights were
violated at several stages of the proceedings. (Id.). He further stated that his state-court appeals
were denied. (Id. at 3).
On July 28, 2020, the Court found that Santos had not filed a petition for federal habeas
corpus relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and his pleading did not include sufficient information
to be construed as a petition. (Dkt. No. 3, at 2). The Court explained that, among other things, it
was unclear from the pleading what grounds he sought to raise as a basis for relief. (Id.).
The Court ordered Santos to complete, sign, and return a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254,
including completing all sections of the habeas petition form and identifying the civil action

number assigned to this case. (Id.). The Court warned that failure to comply with that directive
within 35 days “may result in dismissal of this action without prejudice.” (Id.).
On August 5, 2020, Santos filed a new petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 on the
appropriate form. (Dkt. No. 4). In that petition, he asserted four grounds for relief. (Id. at 6-12).
The nature of one of the grounds—Ground Three—is unclear from his petition, and he conceded
that he did not exhaust his state remedies on Ground Three. (Id. at 9). Further, he did not state
the relief he requests. (Id. at 16).
On September 17, 2020, respondent moved for an order directing Santos to comply with
Rule 2(c). (Dkt. No. 10). Specifically, respondent requests that he be required to clarify Ground
Three or, in the alternative, dismiss Ground Three as unexhausted and proceed with any
exhausted claims. (Id. at 5). Respondent requests 30 days from the filing of the conforming
petition to file an answer or responsive pleading. (Id.).
Respondent’s motion is GRANTED. It is hereby ORDERED:
1.

If petitioner wishes to proceed with this action, he must complete, sign, and
return, by November 6, 2020 (that is, within 21 days of the date of this Order), an
amended Petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person
in State Custody. He must specify the relief he requests. He also must either
clarify or voluntarily dismiss Ground Three. Failure to comply with this directive
may result in the dismissal of this action without prejudice.

2.

If petitioner files a petition that conforms with Rule 2(c), respondent shall file an
answer or responsive pleading within 30 days from the filing of the conforming
petition.

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3.

The clerk shall mail a copy of this Order to petitioner with a blank Petition under
28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody.

So Ordered.

/s/ F. Dennis Saylor IV
F. Dennis Saylor IV
Chief Judge, United States District Court

Dated: October 16, 2020

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