Opinion
No. CV 09-1049-PHX-MHM (ECV).
May 19, 2009
ORDER
Petitioner Karen Sanchez, who is confined in the Arizona State Prison Complex, Perryville Unit, in Goodyear, Arizona, has filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. (Doc.# 1, 3.) The Court will require an answer to the Petition.
"Doc.#" refers to the docket number of filings in this case.
I. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Petitioner's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis indicates that his inmate trust account balance is less than $25.00. Accordingly, the Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis will be granted. See LRCiv 3.5(b).
II. Petition
Petitioner was convicted pursuant to a plea agreement in Maricopa County Superior Court, case #CR2002-006129, of second degree murder and was sentenced to a 20-year term of imprisonment. In her Petition, Petitioner names Charles L. Ryan as Respondent and the Arizona Attorney General as an Additional Respondent.
Petitioner raises one ground for relief. She alleges that her Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to a fair trial and due process were violated where her sentence was aggravated based on factors found by the court by a preponderance of the evidence rather than by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court will require Respondents to answer the Petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a).
III. Warnings
A. Address Changes
Petitioner must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Petitioner must not include a motion for other relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this action.
B. Copies
Petitioner must serve Respondents, or counsel if an appearance has been entered, a copy of every document that he files. Fed.R.Civ.P. 5(a). Each filing must include a certificate stating that a copy of the filing was served. Fed.R.Civ.P.5(d). Also, Petitioner must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice to Petitioner.
C. Possible Dismissal
If Petitioner fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the Court).
IT IS ORDERED:
(1) Petitioner's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, filed with the Petition, is granted. (Doc.# 3.)
(2) The Clerk of Court must serve a copy of the Petition and this Order on the Respondent and the Attorney General of the State of Arizona by certified mail pursuant to Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. (Doc.# 1.)
(3) Respondents must answer the Petition within 40 days of the date of service. Respondents must not file a dispositive motion in place of an answer but may file an answer limited to relevant affirmative defenses, including but not limited to, statute of limitations, procedural bar, or non-retroactivity. If the answer is limited to affirmative defenses, only those portions of the record relevant to those defenses need be attached to the answer. Failure to set forth an affirmative defense in an answer may be treated as a waiver of the defense. Day v. McDonough, 126 S. Ct. 1675, 1684 (2006). If not limited to affirmative defenses, the answer must fully comply with all of the requirements of Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.
(4) Petitioner may file a reply within 30 days from the date of service of the answer.
(5) This matter is referred to Magistrate Judge Edward C. Voss pursuant to Rules 72.1 and 72.2 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for further proceedings and a report and recommendation.