Opinion
No. C 04-2079 VRW (PR).
June 8, 2004
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at California State Prison, Solano, seeks a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging a conviction from the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Santa Clara.
Prisoners in state custody who wish to challenge collaterally in federal habeas corpus proceedings either the fact or length of their confinement are first required to exhaust state judicial remedies, either on direct appeal or through collateral proceedings, by presenting the highest state court available with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of each and every claim they seek to raise in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)-(c). Petitioner has not done so. He has not presented the Supreme Court of California with an opportunity to consider and rule on his claims. See O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999) (state's highest court must be given opportunity to rule on claims even if review is discretionary); Larche v. Simons, 53 F.3d 1068, 1071-72 (9th Cir 1995) (Supreme Court of California must be given at least one opportunity to review state prisoners' federal claims). The petition for a writ of habeas corpus therefore is DISMISSED without prejudice to refiling after state judicial remedies are exhausted.
The Clerk shall close the file and terminate all pending motions as moot.
SO ORDERED.