Manjinder S. v. Christopher Chestnut, et al.

Opinion

MANJINDER S., No. 1:26-cv-01892-TLN-SCR Petitioner, v. ORDER CHRISTOPHER CHESTNUT, et al., Respondents. Petitioner Manjinder S.1 (“Petitioner”), an immigration detainee who is representing himself, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Based on the substance of Petitioner’s brief and the relief requested therein, the Court construes Petitioner’s pleading as a motion for a temporary restraining order. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976) (stating that pleadings by pro se litigants must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers). Respondents shall file a response to Petitioner’s request for injunctive relief within three (3) court days from the date of this order. Any opposition shall include copies of all referenced and relevant portions of Petitioner’s A-File and any and all available records related to 1 As recommended by the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Court omits Petitioner’s full name, using only his first name and last initial, to protect sensitive personal information. See Memorandum re: Privacy Concern Regarding Social Security and Immigration Opinions, Committee on Court Administration and Case Management, Judicial Conference of the United States (May 1, 2018), https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/18-cv-l-suggestion_cacm_0.pdf. Petitioner’s allegations. Respondents shall inform the Court whether Respondents oppose converting Petitioner’s motion into a Motion for Preliminary Injunction and/or request the Court enter final judgment on the merits of Petitioner’s writ of habeas corpus if the Court is inclined to grant preliminary relief. Petitioner may file a reply, if any, within five (5) court days from the date of this order. Pending the Court’s ruling on this petition, Respondents shall not take any action to transfer Petitioner out of this District. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 608 (1966) (acknowledging the Court’s “express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction”). Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914. Petitioner has also filed a motion for the appointment of counsel. In light of the complexity of the legal issues involved, the Court has determined that the interests of justice require the appointment of counsel for Petitioner. See 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B); see also Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Within seven (7) court days from the date of this order, the appointing authority for the Eastern District of California shall identify counsel and send counsel’s contact information to Michele Krueger, Courtroom Deputy for Chief Judge Troy Nunley, via email at mkrueger@caed.uscourts.gov, who shall update the docket to reflect counsel’s appointment. If counsel is not a member of the Eastern District of California Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Panel, the Court hereby authorizes them to serve as CJA counsel for petitioner for the duration of the proceedings in this Court pursuant to Local Rule 180(b)(1). In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Respondents shall file a response to Petitioner’s request for immediate injunctive relief within three (3) court days from the date of this order. Petitioner may file a reply, if any, within five (5) court days from the date of this order. 2. In order to ensure this Court’s jurisdiction to resolve the pending § 2241 petition, Respondents shall not transfer Petitioner to another detention center outside of this judicial district, pending further order of the Court. 3. Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is granted. ] 4. Petitioner’s motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. 3) is granted. Within seven (7) court days from the date of this order, the appointing authority for the Eastern District of California shall identify counsel and send counsel’s contact information to Michele Krueger, Courtroom Deputy for Chief Judge Troy Nunley, who shall update the docket to reflect counsel’s appointment. 5. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order on the Federal Defender, Attention: Habeas Appointment, along with a copy of the § 2241 petition. 6. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order together with a copy of Petitioner’s application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 on the United States Attorney. 1] IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: March 11, 2026 7, CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE