Opinion
Case No. 1:16-cv-01708-SAB-HC
11-30-2016
D. DUSTIN, Petitioner, v. PFEIFFER, Respondents.
ORDER
Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
I.
DISCUSSION
Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases requires preliminary review of a habeas petition and allows a district court to dismiss a petition before the respondent is ordered to file a response, if it "plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court."
A. Habeas Jurisdiction
By statute, federal courts "shall entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). A claim falls within the "core of habeas corpus" when a prisoner challenges "the fact or duration of his confinement" and "seeks either immediate release from that confinement or the shortening of its duration." Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 489 (1973). The Ninth Circuit recently adopted a rule that a "state prisoner's claim [that] does not lie at 'the core of habeas corpus' . . . must be brought, 'if at all,' under § 1983." Nettles v. Grounds, 830 F.3d 922, 934 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc) (quoting Preiser, 411 U.S. at 487; Skinner v. Switzer, 562 U.S. 521, 535 n.13 (2011)). Therefore, if "success on [Petitioner]'s claims would not necessarily lead to his immediate or earlier release from confinement, [Petitioner]'s claim does not fall within 'the core of habeas corpus,' and he must instead bring his claim under § 1983." Nettles, 830 F.3d at 935 (quoting Skinner, 562 U.S at 535 n.13).
In the instant petition, Petitioner challenges a prison disciplinary proceeding (Log No. ASU1-15-08-001). Petitioner states that he was not penalized with any credit loss or a term in the Security Housing Unit. (ECF No. 1 at 1). Thus, success on Petitioner's challenge to the disciplinary proceeding would not necessarily lead to immediate or earlier release from custody or a reduction of the level of custody. Accordingly, Petitioner will be required to show cause why the Court has habeas jurisdiction over this matter in light of Nettles.
Page numbers refer to the ECF page numbers stamped at the top of the page.
Speedier release from custody also includes reduction of the level of custody. See Nettles v. Grounds, 788 F.3d 992, 995 (9th Cir. 2015) (citing Skinner, 562 U.S. at 535 n.13), on reh'g en banc, 830 F.3d 922 (9th Cir. 2016).
B. Exhaustion
A petitioner in state custody who is proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas corpus must exhaust state judicial remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). The exhaustion doctrine is based on comity to the state court and gives the state court the initial opportunity to correct the state's alleged constitutional deprivations. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991); Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 518 (1982). A petitioner can satisfy the exhaustion requirement by providing the highest state court with a full and fair opportunity to consider each claim before presenting it to the federal court. O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999); Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971).
If Petitioner has not sought relief in the California Supreme Court for the claims that he raises in the instant petition, the Court cannot proceed to the merits of those claims. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). Here, Petitioner states that he has not presented his claims to the California Supreme Court. (ECF No. 1 at 3). Accordingly, Petitioner will be required to show cause why the petition should not be dismissed for failure to exhaust state court remedies.
C. Conversion to § 1983 Civil Rights Action
If Petitioner is unable to show cause why the Court has habeas jurisdiction of this matter, Petitioner may convert his petition to a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Nettles, 830 F.3d at 936 ("If the complaint is amenable to conversion on its face, meaning that it names the correct defendants and seeks the correct relief, the court may recharacterize the petition so long as it warns the pro se litigant of the consequences of the conversion and provides an opportunity for the litigant to withdraw or amend his or her complaint.") (quoting Glaus v. Anderson, 408 F.3d 382, 388 (7th Cir. 2005)). The Court notes, however, that habeas corpus and prisoner civil rights actions differ in a variety of respects, such as the proper defendants, filing fees, exhaustion requirements, and restrictions on future filings (e.g., the Prison Litigation Reform Act's three-strikes rule). Nettles, 830 F.3d at 936 (citing Robinson v. Sherrod, 631 F.3d 839, 841 (7th Cir. 2011); Glaus, 408 F.3d at 388).
If Petitioner chooses to convert the instant matter to a civil rights action, Petitioner will be required to amend his pleading to name the proper defendants and to seek the appropriate relief. The filing fee for § 1983 civil rights cases is $350, and Petitioner is required to pay the full amount by way of deductions from income to Petitioner's trust account, even if granted in forma pauperis status. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). If Petitioner chooses to convert his petition to a § 1983 action, the Court will provide Petitioner with additional instructions on how to proceed.
The Court granted Petitioner's motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the instant case. (ECF Nos. 4, 8). --------
Petitioner also may, at his option, voluntarily dismiss his habeas petition without prejudice to refiling his claims as a § 1983 civil rights action. However, Petitioner is forewarned that dismissal and refiling may subject Petitioner to a possible statute of limitations bar as well as other complications as set forth above. /// ///
II.
ORDER
Accordingly, within THIRTY (30) days from the date of service of this order, Petitioner SHALL either:
1. Show cause why the habeas petition should not be dismissed for lack of habeas jurisdiction pursuant to Nettles and nonexhaustion;IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: November 30 , 2016
2. Notify the Court that he chooses to convert his habeas petition into a § 1983 action; OR
3. Voluntarily dismiss the instant action without prejudice to refiling his claims in a § 1983 action.
/s/_________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE