Opinion
No. C 14-0936 CRB (PR)
06-02-2014
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE (Dkt. # 12)
Petitioner, a state prisoner currently incarcerated at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (CSP - LAC), has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging a prison disciplinary finding from Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) that resulted in the loss of 90 days of time credit. Petitioner also seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
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. Claims
Petitioner seeks federal habeas corpus relief on the ground that the disciplinary panel's finding that he willfully delayed or obstructed a peace officer by refusing to accept assigned housing, and subsequent assessment of time credits, does not comport with due process. Petitioner specifically claims that the panel's denial of his request to present certain witnesses at the hearing and failure to provide him with a staff assistant deprived him of an opportunity to present an adequate defense under Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974). Liberally construed, the claim appears cognizable under § 2254 and merits an answer from respondent. See Zichko v. Idaho, 247 F.3d 1015, 1020 (9th Cir. 2001) (federal courts must construe pro se petitions for writs of habeas corpus liberally).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown,
1. Petitioner's request to proceed in forma pauperis (dkt. #12) is GRANTED.
2. The clerk shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition and all attachments thereto on respondent and respondent's attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California. The clerk also shall serve a copy of this order on petitioner.
3. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within 60 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 granted. 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 30 days of his receipt of the answer.
4. 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 28 days of receipt of the motion, and respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner a reply within 14 days of receipt of any opposition.
5. 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 also keep the court and all parties informed of any change of address. SO ORDERED. DATED: June 2, 2014
/s/_________
CHARLES R. BREYER
United States District Judge
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