Opinion
No. C 12-1414 CRB (PR)
07-31-2012
JASPER BAILEY, G60744, Petitioner, v. RALPH DIAZ, Acting Warden, Respondent.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
(Docket # 3, 9 & 14)
Petitioner, a state prisoner incarcerated at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging a conviction and sentence from Santa Clara County Superior Court. He also seeks to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
BACKGROUND
Petitioner was convicted by a jury of one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 years and two counts of rape by force, violence, duress menace or fear. On May 4, 2009, he was sentenced to 27 years to life in state prison.
Petitioner unsuccessfully appealed his conviction to the California Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of California, which denied review on December 21, 2010. He also unsuccessfully sought habeas relief from the state court. The Supreme Court of California denied his final petition for state habeas relief on December 14, 2011.
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 by raising several claims, including ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct and false evidence. Liberally construed, the claims appear cognizable under § 2254 and merit 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 (docket # 3, 9 & 14) is GRANTED.
2. The clerk shall serve 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 must serve and file an opposition or statement of non-opposition not more than 28 days after the motion is served and filed, and respondent must serve and file a reply to an opposition not more than 14 days after the opposition is served and filed.
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.
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CHARLES R. BREYER
United States District Judge