Opinion
22-cv-07765 EJD (PR)
04-21-2023
MANUEL DEJESUS ROSAS, Petitioner, v. JAMES ROBERTSON, Warden, Respondent.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
EDWARD J. DAVILA United States District Judge
Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, challenging his state conviction and sentence. Dkt. No. 1. Petitioner has paid the filing fee. Dkt. No. 3.
This matter was reassigned to this Court on January 24, 2023. Dkt. No. 5.
BACKGROUND
Petitioner was found guilty by a jury in Santa Cruz County Superior Court of second degree murder, attempted murder, and active participation in a criminal street gang. Dkt. No. 1 at 2. On October 25, 2018, Petitioner was sentenced to eighty-four years to life in state prison. Id. at 1.
Petitioner appealed the petition, with the state high court denying review in 2021. Dkt. No. 1 at 3. Petitioner also filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which denied the petition on December 6, 2021. Id.
Petitioner filed the instant federal habeas action on December 8, 2022. Dkt. No. 1.
DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
This court may entertain a petition 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).
It shall “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person detained is not entitled thereto.” Id. § 2243.
B. Legal Claims
Petitioner raises the following grounds for habeas relief: (1) due process violation based on the vagueness of California Penal Code §§ 186.22 and 12022.53, Dkt. No. 1 at 7; and (2) failure by the prosecution to disclose all information pertaining to informants serving as witnesses, particularly with respect to their “prior informant activities,” id. at 8. Liberally construed, these claims are cognizable under § 2254 and merit an answer from Respondent.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown, 1. The Clerk shall serve electronically a copy of this order upon the Respondent and the Respondent's attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California, at the following email addresses: SFAWTParalegals@doj.ca.gov and docketingsfawt@doj.ca.gov. The petition and any exhibits thereto are available via the Electronic Case Filing System for the Northern District of California. The Clerk also shall serve a copy of this order on Petitioner.
2. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner, within ninety (90) days of the issuance of this order, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be issued. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on Petitioner a copy of all portions of the state trial record that have been transcribed previously and that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the petition.
If Petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse with the Court and serving it on Respondent within thirty (30) days of his receipt of the answer.
3. Respondent may file a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds in lieu of an answer, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. If Respondent files such a motion, Petitioner shall file with the Court and serve on Respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within twentyeight (28) days of receipt of the motion, and Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner a reply within fourteen (14) days of receipt of any opposition.
4. It is Petitioner's responsibility to prosecute this case. 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 and all parties informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper captioned “Notice of Change of Address.” He must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
5. Upon a showing of good cause, requests for a reasonable extension of time will be granted provided they are filed on or before the deadline they seek to extend.
IT IS SO ORDERED.