Opinion
1:22-cv-00319-REP
11-01-2022
ALAN DALE SMITH, Petitioner, v. THE UNSAID ARRESTING OFFICER; AND JONATHAN DAVID LOSCHI, THE UNSAID PUBLIC DEFENDER IN CASE # CR-FE-2016-3563 in ADA COUNTY; Respondents.
INITIAL REVIEW ORDER
HONORABLE RAYMOND E. PATRICCO CHIEF U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Pending before the Court is Petitioner Alan Dale Smith's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, challenging a probation revocation in Ada County Case No. CR-FE-2016-3563. Dkt. 3. In March 2022, Petitioner pleaded guilty to several probation violations in his state court criminal case. He now alleges that the officer who arrested him took advantage of Petitioner's reduced mental capacity to gain consent to search the borrowed vehicle he was driving. Petitioner also asserts that his counsel was ineffective in ignoring these facts and counseling him to plead guilty.
Petitioner's probation was revoked and he was incarcerated. He did not file a state court appeal. See Petition, Dkt. 3.
Federal habeas corpus relief is available to petitioners who are held in custody under a state court judgment that violates the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a).
A court entertaining a petition for a writ of habeas corpus must have jurisdiction over the respondent. The proper respondent in a circumstance where the petitioner is in custody is the person who has the power to produce the petitioner-prisoner if a writ issues, see Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996), or if the petitioner is not in custody, the respondent is “the entity of person who exercises legal control with respect to the challenged ‘custody,'” Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 438 (2004).
Petitioner will be required to file a notice of substitution of respondent to name his current custodian. Failure to do so deprives the Court of jurisdiction. Stanley v. California Supreme Court, 21 F.3d 359, 360 (9th Cir. 1994). When Petitioner has filed a notice of substitution, the Court will dismiss the current improper respondents from this action.
The Court is required to review each newly-filed habeas corpus petition to determine whether it should be served upon the respondent, amended, or summarily dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 2243. If “it plainly appears from the face of the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court,” the petition will be summarily dismissed. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.
Habeas corpus law requires that a petitioner “exhaust” his state court remedies before pursuing a claim in a federal habeas petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). To exhaust a claim, a habeas petitioner must fairly present it as a federal claim to the highest state court for review in the manner prescribed by state law. See O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999).
Unless a petitioner has exhausted state court remedies, a federal district court generally is prohibited from hearing the merits of or granting relief on such a claim. If, in this case, Respondent seeks dismissal of the habeas corpus petition on the ground that Petitioner did not properly exhaust federal claims in state court, called “procedural default,” Petitioner will have an opportunity to show that the claims are properly exhausted or that the claims meet one of several exceptions to the rule of exhaustion.
Having reviewed the Petition, the Court concludes that Petitioner has not exhausted his state court remedies. He may either choose to dismiss his case voluntarily or proceed to the next stage of litigation. The Court will order the Clerk of Court to serve the Petition upon Respondent, who will be permitted to file an answer or a pre-answer motion for summary dismissal. The Court will entertain a motion from Respondent regarding procedural default, if the remainder of the record supports the Court's preliminary conclusion.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED:
1. Within 14 days, Petitioner shall file a supplement to the Petition naming the warden or supervisor who has custody of him as the proper respondent in this action.
2. The Clerk of Court shall serve (via ECF) a copy of the Petition and attachments (Dkts. 3 through 3-3), together with a copy of this Order, on L. LaMont Anderson, on behalf of Petitioner's custodian, at Mr. Anderson's registered ECF address.
3. Petitioner's request for appointment of counsel, contained in the Petition, is DENIED without prejudice. If Petitioner desires to show that he has mental deficiencies that significantly impair his ability to pursue this action, he may file a copy of his prison and medical records in support of a motion for reconsideration of his request.
4. Petitioner's Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Dkt. 1) is GRANTED.
5. Within 120 days after entry of this Order, Respondent shall have the option of filing either of the following: (1) a motion for summary dismissal or partial summary dismissal on procedural grounds (which may be followed by an answer if the motion is unsuccessful); or (2) an answer and brief on the claims that were adjudicated on the merits by the Idaho Supreme Court, that also includes a brief summary (between one paragraph and several pages) of any procedural defenses for any claims (which may be argued in the alternative). If Respondent files an answer and brief, the Court first will determine the claims that were adjudicated on the merits by the Idaho Supreme Court; for any claims that appear to warrant relief or for any claims not disposed of on the merits that appear subject to procedural defenses, the Court next will determine whether those claims are barred by any procedural defenses and will call for additional briefing, evidence, or a hearing, if necessary.
6. Respondent shall file with the responsive pleading or motion, or within a reasonable time period thereafter, a copy of all portions of the state court record previously transcribed that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented. Any presentence investigation reports or evaluations shall be filed under seal. The lodging of the remainder of the state court record, to the extent that it is lodged in paper format, is exempt from the redaction requirements, as provided in District of Idaho Local Civil Rule 5.5(c).
7. If the response to the habeas petition is an answer, Petitioner shall prepare a reply (formerly called a traverse), containing a brief rebutting Respondent's answer and brief, which shall be filed and served within 30 days after service of the answer. Respondent has the option of filing a sur-reply within 14 days after service of the reply. At that point, the case shall be deemed ready for a final decision.
8. If the response to the habeas petition is a motion, Petitioner's response to the motion shall be filed and served within 30 days after service of the motion, and Respondent's reply, if any, shall be filed and served within 14 days thereafter.
9. If Petitioner files a notice of dismissal due to the procedural default of his claims, Respondent need not respond to the Petition.
10. No party shall file supplemental responses, replies, affidavits or other documents not expressly authorized by the Local Rules without first obtaining leave of Court.
11. No discovery shall be undertaken in this matter unless a party obtains prior leave of Court, pursuant to Rule 6 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.
12. The parties may, but need not, file the following in this matter: (1) notices of nonobjections to motions to which they do not object; (2) responses to motions for appointment of counsel; (3) responses to motions that are meritless, frivolous, or filed in contravention of this Order; or (4) notices of intent not to file a reply. If additional briefing is required on any issue, the Court will order it.
13. Each party shall ensure that all documents filed with the Court are simultaneously served via the ECF system or by first-class mail upon the opposing party (through counsel if the party has counsel), pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5. Each party shall sign and attach a proper mailing certificate to each document filed with the court, showing the manner of service, date of service, address of service, and name of the person upon whom service was made, or as specified by the applicable ECF rules. The Court will not consider ex parte requests unless a motion may be heard ex parte according to the rules and the motion is clearly identified as requesting an ex parte order, pursuant to Local Rule 7.2. (“Ex parte” means that a party has provided a document to the court, but that the party did not provide a copy of the document to the other party to the litigation.)
14. All Court filings requesting relief or requesting that the Court make a ruling or take an action of any kind must be in the form of a pleading or motion, with an appropriate caption designating the name of the pleading or motion, served on all parties to the litigation, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 7, 10 and 11, and Local Rules 5.2 and 7.1. The Court will not consider requests made in the form of letters.
15. Petitioner shall keep the Court and Respondent advised of any changes in address.
16. If Petitioner's custodian changes at any point during this litigation, counsel for Respondent shall file a Notice of Substitution of Respondent within 30 days of such change, identifying the person who is substituted as Respondent. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d); Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.