Opinion
Bernard J. Spencer, Petitioner, Pro se, Delano, CA.
HON. MARGARET M. MORROW, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE. KENLY KIYA KATO, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING EXTENSION REQUEST AND SUMMARILY DISMISSING ACTION
HON. MARGARET M. MORROW, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
On October 9, 2014, " petitioner" Bernard J. Spencer, a California state prisoner who has not yet actually filed a petition in this Court, filed a request for an extension of time in which to file a petition for writ of habeas corpus by a person in state custody under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. It appears that petitioner is seeking an enlargement of his time under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act's (" AEDPA") one-year statute of limitations to file a federal habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Because there is no pending petition, the Court cannot grant petitioner's request.
Under Article III of the U.S. Constitution, federal courts may only adjudicate cases or controversies, and may not issue advisory opinions. U.S. Nat'l Bank v. Independent Ins. Agents of Am., Inc., 508 U.S. 439, 446, 113 S.Ct. 2173, 124 L.Ed.2d 402 (1993). Because petitioner has not actually filed a federal habeas petition challenging his conviction or sentence, there is no case or controversy properly before the Court. The Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to grant a motion to extend petitioner's time to file a federal habeas petition or to decide the timeliness of a potential future petition. See United States v. Leon, 203 F.3d 162, 164 (2d Cir. 2000) (" [A] federal court lacks jurisdiction to consider the timeliness of a § 2255 petition until a petition is actually filed.") (citations omitted); McDade v. Warden, No. CV 10-08507 JVS (SS), 2010 WL 4795377, at * 1 (C.D. CaL. Nov. 16, 2010) (no jurisdiction to decide timeliness or entitlement to equitable tolling in advance of filing of § 2254 petition); see also Calderon v. Ashmus, 523 U.S. 740, 746-49, 118 S.Ct. 1694, 140 L.Ed.2d 970 (1998) (no " case or controversy" where prisoners sought declaratory relief to determine the time limits that would govern future habeas actions); United States v. Cook, 795 F.2d 987, 994 (Fed. Cir. 1986) (district court erred by tolling statute of limitations in advance of the filing of potentially untimely claims).
Petitioner contends he needs more time to file his habeas corpus petition because an institutional lockdown has prevented access to the law library. If and when petitioner files a habeas petition in this Court, and if the timeliness of that petition is questioned, this Court can consider whether petitioner is entitled to statutory tolling under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2) or equitable tolling. However, those matters cannot be decided at this juncture.
IT IS ORDERED that (1) petitioner's motion for extension of time to file a habeas corpus petition is DENIED; and (2) Judgment be entered summarily dismissing this action without prejudice.
JUDGMENT
Pursuant to the Memorandum and Order Denying Extension Request and Summarily Dismissing Action, IT IS HEREBY ADJUDGED that this action is dismissed without prejudice.