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Torres v. Montgomery

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Apr 25, 2018
Case No. 18-CV-01247 LHK (PR) (N.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2018)

Opinion

Case No. 18-CV-01247 LHK (PR)

04-25-2018

ANGEL ANTONIO TORRES, Petitioner, v. WARREN L. MONTGOMERY, Respondent.


ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS; ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. For the reasons that follow, the court orders respondent to show cause why the petition should not be granted.

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); Rose v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975).

A district court 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." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Summary dismissal is appropriate only where the allegations in the petition are vague or conclusory, palpably incredible, or patently frivolous or false. See Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990) (quoting Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75-76 (1977)). B. Petitioner's Claim

Petitioner raises the following claims in his petition: (1) the trial court violated petitioner's right to confrontation by allowing the prosecutor to introduce a codefendant's recorded conversation with Melgoza, an informant; (2) there was insufficient evidence to sustain petitioner's convictions; (3) the trial court erred when it failed to instruct the jury that witness Sanchez was an accomplice as a matter of law, or to permit the jury to find Sanchez to be an accomplice; (4) the admission of testimony from Melgoza about statements made by Lopez violated petitioner's right to due process; and (5) petitioner suffered cumulative prejudice. Liberally construed, petitioner has stated cognizable claims for relief. The court orders respondent to show cause why the petition should not be granted.

CONCLUSION

1. The clerk shall serve by mail a copy of this order and the petition and all attachments thereto (docket no. 1) upon the respondent and the respondent's attorney, the Attorney General of the State of California. The clerk shall also serve a copy of this order on petitioner.

2. Respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner, within sixty days of the date this order is filed, 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 underlying state criminal 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 thirty days of the date the answer is filed.

3. 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 within sixty days of the date this order is filed. If respondent files such a motion, petitioner shall file with the court and serve on respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within twenty-eight days of the date the motion is filed, and respondent shall file with the court and serve on petitioner a reply within fourteen days of the date any opposition is filed.

4. It is petitioner's responsibility to prosecute this case. 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 keep the court and all parties informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper captioned "Notice of Change of Address." He must comply with the court's orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: 4/25/2018

/s/_________

LUCY H. KOH

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE


Summaries of

Torres v. Montgomery

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Apr 25, 2018
Case No. 18-CV-01247 LHK (PR) (N.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2018)
Case details for

Torres v. Montgomery

Case Details

Full title:ANGEL ANTONIO TORRES, Petitioner, v. WARREN L. MONTGOMERY, Respondent.

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Date published: Apr 25, 2018

Citations

Case No. 18-CV-01247 LHK (PR) (N.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2018)