DIGIROLAMO v. STATE OF NEW JERSEY et al

Filing 2

MEMORANDUM, ORDER: ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall administratively terminate this case, without filing the petition or assessing a filing fee; ORDERED that if Petitioner wishes to reopen this case, he shall so notify the Court, in writing addressed to the Clerk of the Court within 30 days of the date of entry of this Memorandum and Order. Signed by Judge Joel A. Pisano on 7/21/2014. (kas)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

ROSARIO DIGIROLAMO,
Petitioner,
v.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Respondents.

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Civil Action No. 14-3431 (JAP)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It appearing that Pro se Petitioner Rosario Digirolamo, a prisoner confined at New Jersey
State Prison, seeks to bring a habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Local Civil Rule
81.2 provides:
Unless prepared by counsel, petitions to this Court for a writ of
habeas corpus . . . shall be in writing (legibly handwritten in ink or
typewritten), signed by the petitioner or movant, on forms supplied
by the Clerk.
L.Civ.R. 81.2(a). Petitioner did not use the habeas form supplied by the Clerk for section 2254
petitions, i.e., AO 241 (modified):DNJ-Habeas-008(Rev.01-2014); and
It further appearing that 28 U.S.C. § 2242 requires the petition for a writ of habeas corpus
to allege “the name of the person who has custody over [the petitioner].” See also 28 U.S.C. §
2243 (“The writ, or order to show cause shall be directed to the person having custody over the
person detained.”). “[T]hese provisions contemplate a proceeding against some person who has
the immediate custody of the party detained, with the power to produce the body of such party
before the court or judge, that he may be liberated if no sufficient reason is shown to the
contrary.” Wales v. Whitney, 114 U.S. 564, 574 (1885). See also Rumsfield v. Padilla, 542 U.S.

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426, 434-436 (2004) (“In accord with the statutory language and Wales’ immediate custodian
rule, […] the proper respondent is the warden of the facility where the prisoner is being held, not
the Attorney General or some other remote supervisory official.”) (citations omitted); and
It further appearing that Petitioner has failed to name as a respondent an indispensable
party, the warden of the facility at which Petitioner is confined; therefore
IT IS on this 21st day of July, 2014;
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall administratively terminate this case, without
filing the petition or assessing a filing fee; Petitioner is informed that administrative termination
is not a “dismissal” for purposes of the statute of limitations, and that if the case is reopened, it is
not subject to the statute of limitations time bar if it was originally filed timely, see Papotto v.
Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 731 F.3d 265, 275 (2013) (distinguishing administrative
terminations from dismissals); Jenkins v. Superintendent of Laurel Highlands, 705 F.3d 80, 84
n.2 (2013) (describing prisoner mailbox rule generally); Dasilva v. Sheriff's Dep’t., 413 F. App’x
498, 502 (3rd Cir. 2011) (per curiam) (“[The] statute of limitations is met when a [petition] is
submitted to the clerk before the statute runs ….”); and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall forward Petitioner a blank habeas petition
form—AO 241 (modified):DNJ-Habeas-008(Rev.01-2014); and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk’s service of the blank habeas petition form shall not be
construed as this Court’s finding that the original petition is or is not timely, or that Petitioner's
claims are or are not duly exhausted; and it is further
ORDERED that if Petitioner wishes to reopen this case, he shall so notify the Court, in
writing addressed to the Clerk of the Court, Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse and Federal
Bldg., 402 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08608, within 30 days of the date of entry of

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this Memorandum and Order; Petitioner’s writing shall include a complete, signed habeas
petition on the appropriate form and either: (1) a complete in forma pauperis application,
including a certification of Petitioner’s institutional account, as required by Local Civil Rule
81.2(b) or the $5 filing fee; and it is further
ORDERED that upon receipt of a writing from Petitioner stating that he wishes to reopen
this case, and a complete, signed petition, the Clerk of the Court will be directed to reopen this
case; and it is finally
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Memorandum and Order
upon Petitioner by regular U.S. mail.

/s/ Joel A. Pisano
JOEL A. PISANO
United States District Judge

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