Opinion
21-CV-1377 JLS (BGS)
08-04-2021
JOSEPH RECAREY, Petitioner, v. WE THE PEOPLE, Respondent.
ORDER (1) DENYING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND (2) DISMISSING PETITION WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITH LEAVE TO AMEND
Hon. Janis L. Sammartino United States District Judge
Petitioner Joseph Recarey (“Petitioner”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (“Pet., ” ECF No. 1), along with an application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) (“IFP Mot., ” ECF No. 2).
MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
The IFP Motion is denied because Petitioner has not provided the Court with sufficient information to determine Petitioner's financial status. A request to proceed IFP made by a state prisoner must include a signed certificate from the warden or other appropriate officer showing the amount of money or securities Petitioner has on account in the institution. See Rule 3(a)(2), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254; Local Rule 3.2. Petitioner has failed to provide the Court with the required Prison Certificate. See generally Docket. Accordingly, the Court DENIES the IFP Motion and DISMISSES the Petition WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
FAILURE TO NAME A PROPER RESPONDENT
Review of the Petition further reveals that Petitioner has failed to name a proper respondent. On federal habeas, a state prisoner must name the state officer having custody of him as the respondent. Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254). Federal courts lack personal jurisdiction when a habeas petition fails to name a proper respondent. See id.
The warden is the typical respondent. However, “the rules following section 2254 do not specify the warden.” Id. “[T]he ‘state officer having custody' may be ‘either the warden of the institution in which the petitioner is incarcerated . . . or the chief officer in charge of state penal institutions.'” Id. (quoting Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254 advisory committee's note). If “a petitioner is in custody due to the state action he is challenging, ‘[t]he named respondent shall be the state officer who has official custody of the petitioner (for example, the warden of the prison).'” Id. (quoting Rule 2, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254 advisory committee's note).
A long-standing rule in the Ninth Circuit holds “that a petitioner may not seek [a writ of] habeas corpus against the State under . . . [whose] authority . . . the petitioner is in custody. The actual person who is [the] custodian [of the petitioner] must be the respondent.” Ashley v. Washington, 394 F.2d 125, 126 (9th Cir. 1968). This requirement exists because a writ of habeas corpus acts upon the custodian of the state prisoner, the person who will produce “the body” if directed to do so by the Court. “Both the warden of a California prison and the Director of Corrections for California have the power to produce the prisoner.” Ortiz-Sandoval, 81 F.3d at 895.
Here, Petitioner has incorrectly named “We the People” as Respondent. See Pet. at 1. In order for this Court to entertain the Petition filed in this action, Petitioner instead must name the warden in charge of the state correctional facility in which Petitioner is presently confined or the Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Brittingham v. United States, 982 F.2d 378, 379 (9th Cir. 1992) (per curiam).
FAILURE TO STATE A COGNIZABLE CLAIM
Additionally, in accordance with Rule 4 of the rules governing section 2254 cases, Petitioner has failed to allege that his state court conviction or sentence violates the Constitution of the United States. Section 2254(a) of title 28 of the United States Code sets forth the following scope of review for federal habeas corpus claims:
The Supreme Court, a Justice thereof, a circuit judge, or a district court 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) (emphasis added); see Hernandez v. Ylst, 930 F.2d 714, 719 (9th Cir. 1991); Mannhalt v. Reed, 847 F.2d 576, 579 (9th Cir. 1988); Kealohapauole v. Shimoda, 800 F.2d 1463, 1464-65 (9th Cir. 1986). Thus, to present a cognizable federal habeas corpus claim under section 2254, a state prisoner must allege both that he is in custody (1) pursuant to a “judgment of a State court” and (2) in “violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a).
Here, Petitioner's claim, in its entirety, states: “(Prop 57) I was not at the scene of crime. No. weapone [sic]. Court documents at court (abstract of judgment).” Pet. at 6. In no way does Petitioner claim he is “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
Further, the Court notes that Petitioner cannot simply amend his Petition to state a federal habeas claim and then refile the amended petition in this case. He must exhaust state judicial remedies before bringing his claims via federal habeas. State prisoners who wish to challenge their state court conviction must first exhaust state judicial remedies. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c); Granberry v. Greer, 481 U.S. 129, 133-34 (1987). To exhaust state judicial remedies, a California state prisoner must present the California Supreme Court with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of every issue raised in his or her federal habeas petition. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c); Granberry, 481 U.S. at 133-34. Moreover, to exhaust properly state court judicial remedies a petitioner must allege, in state court, how one or more of his or her federal rights have been violated. The Supreme Court in Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364 (1995), reasoned: “If state courts are to be given the opportunity to correct alleged violations of prisoners' federal rights, they must surely be alerted to the fact that the prisoners are asserting claims under the United States Constitution.” Id. at 365-66. For example, “[i]f a habeas petitioner wishes to claim that an evidentiary ruling at a state court trial denied him the due process of law guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, he must say so, not only in federal court, but in state court.” Id.
Additionally, the Court cautions Petitioner that under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, a one-year period of limitation shall apply to a petition for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court. The limitation period shall run from the latest of:
(A) the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review;
(B) the date on which the impediment to filing an application created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the applicant was prevented from filing by such State action;
(C) the date on which the constitutional right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if the right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or
(D) the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(A)-(D). The Court also notes that the statute of limitations does not run while a properly filed state habeas corpus petition is pending. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2); Nino v. Galaza, 183 F.3d 1003, 1006 (9th Cir. 1999); but see Artuz v. Bennett, 531 U.S. 4, 8 (2000) (holding that “an application is ‘properly filed' when its delivery and acceptance [by the appropriate court officer for placement into the record] are in compliance with the applicable laws and rules governing filings”). However, absent some other basis for tolling, the statute of limitations does run while a federal habeas petition is pending. Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 181-82 (2001).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Petitioner's application to proceed in forma pauperis and DISMISSES the Petition WITHOUT PREJUDICE and with leave to amend. To have this case reopened, Petitioner must, no later than October 8, 2021: (1) either pay the filing fee or provide adequate proof of his inability to pay AND (2) file a First Amended Petition that cures the pleading deficiencies outlined above. For Petitioner's convenience, the Clerk of the Court shall attach to this Order a blank IFP application form and a blank First Amended Petition form.
The Court notes that the instant Petition appears to be duplicative of a petition for habeas corpus filed in this District by Petitioner on July 12, 2021. The Court may dismiss a duplicative petition as frivolous if it “merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). Here, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this District on July 12, 2021, in No. 21-CV-1260 LAB (BLM). In that petition, Petitioner raised a nearly identical claim as the one contained in the instant petition, stating: “(Prop 57) I was not at the scene of the crime, ” “no weapone [sic], ” and “robbery 4yr crime I have done 8yrs already.” See Pet., No. 21-CV-1260 LAB (BLM), ECF No. 1 at 3. The petition in 21-CV-1260 LAB (BLM) was dismissed without prejudice for failure to satisfy the filing fee requirement, failure to name a proper respondent, failure to state a cognizable claim, and failure to allege exhaustion. See Order, No. 21-CV-1260 LAB (BLM), ECF No. 2 at 1-3, 5. Petitioner was given leave to satisfy the filing fee requirement and file an amended petition in that case as well. See Id. at 5.
IT IS SO ORDERED.