Guerrero v. Matterson

Opinion

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 RICHARD ORESTES GUERRERO, Case No. 20-cv-05923-WHO (PR)

Petitioner, 8 ORDER DISMISSING PETITION v. 9 WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

10 G. MATTERSON, 11 Respondent. Dkt. No. 2

12 13 INTRODUCTION 14 Petitioner Richard Orestes Guerrero seeks federal habeas relief from his state 15 convictions. The claims in the petition for such relief cannot proceed. Accordingly, the 16 petition is DISMISSED with leave to file an amended petition on or before January 18, 17 2021. Failure to file an amended petition that complies with the instructions in this Order 18 will result in the dismissal of the suit and entry of judgment in favor of respondent. 19 BACKGROUND 20 According to the petition, in 2018 Guerrero pleaded nolo contendere in the Santa 21 Clara County Superior Court to charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a firearm, 22 and a gang sentencing enhancement. (Pet., Dkt. No. 1 at 2.) His attempts at overturning 23 his convictions in state court were unsuccessful. This federal habeas petition followed. 24 DISCUSSION 25 This court may entertain a petition for writ of habeas corpus “in behalf of a person 26 in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in 27 custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. 1 “award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ 2 should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person 3 detained is not entitled thereto.” 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Summary dismissal is appropriate 4 only where the allegations in the petition are vague or conclusory, palpably incredible, or 5 patently frivolous or false. See Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990). 6 As grounds for federal habeas relief, Guerrero claims that the trial court ignored or 7 failed to grant various motions, there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions, 8 his speedy trial rights were violated, the trial judge should have been disqualified, there 9 was ineffective assistance of counsel, and evidence should have suppressed under the 10 Fourth Amendment. (Pet., Dkt. No. 1 at 5, 7; Dkt. No. 1-1 at 2-6.) These claims cannot 11 proceed. 12 The Fourth Amendment claims are barred from federal habeas review unless the 13 state did not provide an opportunity for full and fair litigation of those claims. Stone v. 14 Powell, 428 U.S. 465, 481-82, 494 (1976); Newman v. Wengler, 790 F.3d 876, 878 (9th 15 Cir. 2015) (Powell’s holding survived the passage of AEDPA). The existence of a state 16 procedure allowing an opportunity for full and fair litigation of Fourth Amendment claims, 17 rather than a defendant’s actual use of those procedures, bars federal habeas consideration 18 of those claims. Gordon v. Duran, 895 F.2d 610, 613-14 (9th Cir. 1990) (whether or not 19 defendant litigated Fourth Amendment claim in state court is irrelevant if he had 20 opportunity to do so under California law). California state procedure provides an 21 opportunity for full litigation of any Fourth Amendment claim. See Cal. Pen. Code 22 § 1538.5. 23 Nor can the other claims proceed. Because Guerrero pleaded guilty, only two 24 habeas claims are available to him: the (i) voluntary and intelligent character of the plea 25 and (ii) adequacy of the advice of counsel. Womack v. Del Papa, 497 F.3d 998, 1002 (9th 26 Cir. 2007) (quoting Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56-57 (1985)).1 Neither claim appears 27 1 in the petition. Accordingly, the petition will be dismissed with leave to file an amended 2 petition that contains these two claims if appropriate. 3 Because Guerrero may not have exhausted such claims in state court, he may wish 4 to file a motion to stay habeas proceedings while he exhausts his claims. Prisoners in state 5 custody who wish to challenge either the fact or length of their confinement collaterally in 6 federal habeas proceedings are first required to exhaust state judicial remedies, either on 7 direct appeal or through collateral proceedings, by presenting the highest state court 8 available with a fair opportunity to rule on the merits of each and every claim they seek to 9 raise in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b), (c); Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 515-16 10 (1982). If Guerrero proceeds with unexhausted claims, respondent will likely file a motion 11 to dismiss on grounds of nonexhaustion. 12 Guerrero’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. (Dkt. No. 2.) 13 CONCLUSION 14 The petition is DISMISSED with leave to file an amended petition on or before 15 January 18, 2021. Guererro may wish to file a motion for a stay along with the amended 16 petition. 17 The amended petition must include the caption and civil case number used in this 18 order (20-05923 WHO (PR)) and the words FIRST AMENDED PETITION on the first 19 page. Because an amended petition completely replaces the previous petitions, Guerrero 20 must include in his amended petition all the claims he wishes to present. See Ferdik v. 21 Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). He may not incorporate material from the 22 prior petition by reference. Failure to file an amended petition in accordance with this 23 order will result in dismissal of this action without further notice to him. 24 It is Guerrero’s responsibility to prosecute this case. He must keep the court 25 informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper with the Clerk headed 26

27 to answer the charge brought against him, see Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306, 320 (1983) 1 || “Notice of Change of Address.” He must comply with the court’s orders in a timely 2 || fashion or ask for an extension of time to do so. Failure to comply may result in the 3 || dismissal of this action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 4 The Clerk shall terminate all pending motions. 5 || ITISSO ORDERED. . 6 Dated: December 8, 2020 \f C0 ® LLIAM H. ORRICK 8 United States District Judge 9 10 11 a 12

15 16

Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28