Opinion
No. CIV S-06-2223 MCE GGH P.
May 27, 2008
ORDER
Petitioner, proceeding with appointed counsel, has filed a petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss on March 27, 2007, to which petitioner, following liberal extensions of time, filed an opposition and request for an evidentiary hearing, on January 17, 2008, after which respondent, also with extensions of time, filed a reply on March 27, 2008. Petitioner does not dispute that the petition was filed beyond the AEDPA filing deadline. See Opposition, filed on Jan. 17, 2007, p. 2. On May 7, 2008, petitioner, claiming entitlement to equitable tolling based on petitioner's alleged serious mental illness and cognitive impaitments, filed a motion for an evidentiary hearing and expansion of the record.
These matters came on for hearing on May 22, 2008, with Marylou Hillberg appearing for petitioner and Robert Gezi on behalf of respondent. At the hearing, petitioner's motion for an evidentiary hearing (# 33) was GRANTED and a hearing set for July 15, 2008, at 9 a.m.
The court now makes the following additional ORDERS with respect to the impending evidentiary hearing:
A. Witnesses
On or before ten days prior to the hearing the parties shall provide witness lists, including addresses and telephone numbers, to opposing counsel.
Each party may call any witnesses designated by the other.
1. No other witness will be permitted to testify unless:
a. The party offering the witness demonstrates that the witness is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could not be reasonably anticipated prior to the evidentiary hearing.
b. The witness was discovered after the exchange of witnesses and the proffering party makes the showing required in "2," below.
2. If not timely designated within the ten day period prior to the evidentiary hearing, the parties shall promptly inform the court and opposing parties of the existence of the unlisted witnesses so that the court may consider at the evidentiary hearing whether the witnesses shall be permitted to testify. The witnesses will not be permitted unless:
a. The witnesses could not reasonably have been discovered prior to the exchange of witness lists;
b. The court and the opposing party were promptly notified upon discovery of the witnesses;
c. If time permitted, the party proffered the witnesses for deposition; or
d. If time did not permit, a reasonable summary of the witnesses' testimony was provided to the opposing party.
3. On or before twenty days prior to the hearing, the parties shall designate their expert witnesses, if any; on or before thirty days prior to the hearing, movant shall provide respondent and respondent shall provide movant, with the report of each party's expert witness(es) in compliance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 26;
B. Exhibits, Schedules and Summaries
Both parties shall exchange copies of their exhibits twenty days prior to the evidentiary hearing. Any objections to exhibits may be raised at the hearing.
Movant will use numbers to mark exhibits; respondents will use letters.
1. No other exhibits will be permitted to be introduced unless:
a. The party proffering the exhibit demonstrates that the exhibit is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could not have been reasonably anticipated, or
b. The exhibit was discovered after the exchange of exhibits and the proffering party makes the showing required in Paragraph "2" below.
2. If not timely exchanged within the fifteen day period prior to the evidentiary hearing, the parties shall promptly inform the court and opposing party of the existence of such exhibits so that the court may consider their admissibility at the evidentiary hearing. The exhibits will not be received unless the proffering party demonstrates:
a. The exhibits could not reasonably have been discovered earlier;
b. The court and the opposing party were promptly informed of their existence; or
c. The proffering party forwarded a copy of the exhibit(s) (if physically possible) to the opposing party. If the exhibit(s) may not be copied the proffering party must show that he has made the exhibit(s) reasonably available for inspection by the opposing party.
The parties are directed to each bring an "exhibit book" containing copies of their exhibits to the evidentiary hearing. The "exhibit book" is for bench use during trial.
C. Miscellaneous
Counsel shall make the appropriate writ ad testificandum filings if the presence of movant or any other incarcerated witness is desired. Petitioner shall file these writs at least thirty days prior to the hearing. The parties shall otherwise make their own arrangements for the attendance of non-incarcerated witnesses.