Gates v. Neuschnid

Opinion

FREDERICK RENEE GATES, Case No. 19-cv-07780-RMI

Plaintiff, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE v.

Defendant.

Petitioner, a California prisoner, filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The original petition was dismissed with leave to amend, and petitioner has filed an amended petition. Petitioner was convicted of first-degree robbery and felony domestic violence. Am. Pet. (Dkt. 7) at 2. He was sentenced to 13 years in state prison. Id. at 1. The California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Id. at 3. Standard of Review This court may entertain a petition for 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). Habeas corpus petitions must meet heightened pleading requirements. McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994). An application for a federal writ of must “specify all the grounds for relief available to the petitioner . . . [and] state the facts supporting each ground.” Rule 2(c) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. “‘[N]otice’ pleading is not sufficient, for the petition is expected to state facts that point to a ‘real possibility of constitutional error.’” Rule 4 Advisory Committee Notes (quoting Aubut v. Maine, 431 F.2d 688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)). Legal Claims For federal habeas relief asserts that: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel for his attorney’s failure to challenge the admissibility of certain evidence; (2) the trial court erred in admitting evidence of prior bad acts; (3) California Evidence Code section 1109 is unconstitutional on its face; and (3) false evidence was introduced at trial. Liberally construed, these claims are sufficient to require a response. The clerk shall serve by electronic mail a copy of this order, and a Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction form on the Attorney General of the State of California at SFAWTParalegals@doj.ca.gov. The clerk also shall serve a copy of this order on Petitioner. Respondent can view the petition on the electronic docket (dkt. 7). Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner, within eighty-four (84) 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 twenty-eight (28) days of his receipt of the answer. 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, it is due eighty-four (84) days from the date this order is entered. If 1 statement of non-opposition within twenty-eight (28) days of receipt of the motion, and 2 Respondent shall file with the court and serve on Petitioner a reply within twenty-eight (28) days 3 of receipt of any opposition. 4 Petitioner is reminded that all communications with the court must be served on 5 Respondent by mailing a true copy of the document to Respondent’s counsel. Petitioner must keep 6 the court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a timely 7 fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant 8 to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). See Martinez v. Johnson, 104 F.3d 769, 772 (Sth Cir. 9 1997) (Rule 41(b) applicable in habeas cases). 11 Dated: April 17, 2020 12

13 4 R@BERT M. ILLMAN United States Magistrate Judge 15 16

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