Opinion
Case No.: 1:19-cv-01327-JLT (HC)
10-09-2019
JESUS RICARDO CASTANEDA, Petitioner, v. W.L. MUNIZ, Chief Deputy Warden, Respondent.
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR STAY AND ABEYANCE (Doc. 2) [SIXTY DAY DEADLINE]
On September 23, 2019, Petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging his 2014 conviction in Tulare County Superior Court for first degree murder and discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury. After conducting a preliminary review of the petition, it is apparent that the petition is unexhausted. Petitioner, however, requests a stay of the proceedings pending exhaustion in the state courts. As discussed below, the Court will grant a stay of proceedings.
DISCUSSION
I. Preliminary Review of Petition
Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases requires the Court to conduct a preliminary review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must summarily dismiss a petition "[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court . . . ." Rule 4; O'Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990). The Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 8 indicate that the Court may dismiss a petition for writ of habeas corpus, either on its own motion under Rule 4, pursuant to the respondent's motion to dismiss, or after an answer to the petition has been filed.
II. Exhaustion
A petitioner who is in state custody and wishes to collaterally challenge his conviction by 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. Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995).
Petitioner presents nine claims in his instant petition and states that they have all not yet been exhausted. He further states that a habeas petition is currently pending in the California Supreme Court. Therefore, the petition is a mixed petition containing unexhausted claims. Petitioner has requested a stay of the mixed petition pending exhaustion.
III. Motion for Stay and Abeyance
A district court has discretion to stay a mixed petition and allow the petitioner to return to state court to exhaust his state remedies. Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269, 277 (2005); Calderon v. United States Dist. Court (Taylor), 134 F.3d 981, 987-88 (9th Cir.1998); Greenawalt v. Stewart, 105 F.3d 1268, 1274 (9th Cir.1997). However, the Supreme Court has held that this discretion is circumscribed by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). Rhines, 544 U.S. at 277. In light of AEDPA's objectives, "stay and abeyance [is] available only in limited circumstances" and "is only appropriate when the district court determines there was good cause for the petitioner's failure to exhaust his claims first in state court." Id. at 277.
In this case, the Court finds good cause to grant the motion for stay. Petitioner states that he was investigating "new issues of merit" and states that appellate counsel failed to raise certain constitutional claims. Petitioner states he has already commenced exhaustion of the issues in state court by filing a habeas petition in the California Supreme Court. It appears Petitioner is acting diligently. Accordingly, the Court finds that Petitioner has shown good cause for a stay of the proceedings and will grant his motion for stay.
However, the Court will not indefinitely hold the petition in abeyance. Rhines, 544 U.S. at 277. Petitioner must diligently pursue his state court remedies. He is directed to file a status report within 60 days of the date of service of this Order, and he must file a status report every 60 days thereafter advising the Court of the status of the state court proceedings. Following final action by the state courts, Petitioner will be allowed 30 days to file a motion to lift the stay. Failure to comply with these instructions and time allowances will result in this Court vacating the stay nunc pro tunc to the date of this order, and dismissal of the unexhausted claims. Rhines, 544 U.S. at 278.
ORDER
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS:
1) Petitioner's motion for stay (Doc. 2) is GRANTED; and
2) Petitioner is DIRECTED to file a status report within 60 days of the date of service of this Order, and then every 60 days thereafter. Following final action by the California Supreme Court, Petitioner is DIRECTED to notify the Court by filing a motion to lift the stay within 30 days of the date of the California Supreme Court's decision. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 9 , 2019
/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE