(HC) Lockett v. Diaz, No. 1:2012cv01834 - Document 16 (E.D. Cal. 2013)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A Boone on 01/09/2013. Referred to Judge O'Neill; Objections to F&R due by 2/14/2013. (Flores, E)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 10 11 12 ELLIS LORENZO LOCKETT, Petitioner, 13 14 15 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) vs. RALPH DIAZ, 16 Respondent. Case No.:1:12-cv-01834-LJO-SAB (HC) FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS [Doc. 1] 17 18 19 20 Petitioner is proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus on September 12, 2012, in 21 the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. On November 7, 2012, 22 the petition was transferred to this Court for lack of jurisdiction. Petitioner contends the Board 23 of Parole Hearings’ April 26, 2011, denial of release on parole violated his constitutional rights. 24 25 26 DISCUSSION I. Preliminary Review of Petition Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides in pertinent part: “If it 27 28 plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to 1 1 relief in the district court, the judge must dismiss the petition and direct the clerk to notify the 2 3 4 5 6 petitioner.” A petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears that no tenable claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave granted. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440 F.2d 13, 14 (9th Cir. 1971). The Court will review the instant petition pursuant to its authority under Rule 4. 7 II. Failure to State a Cognizable Ground for Relief 8 In the context of a state parole hearing, a federal court’s habeas corpus review is 9 extremely limited. The United States Supreme Court held in Swarthout v. Cooke, ___ U.S.___, 10 131 S.Ct. 859, 863 (2011) (per curiam) that “the responsibility for assuring that the 11 constitutionally adequate procedures governing California’s parole system are properly applied 12 rests with California courts,” and not with the federal court. Since there is no right under the 13 14 15 United States Constitution to be released before the expiration of a valid sentence, the federal court’s review role is to focus solely on whether a prisoner denied parole received due processdefined as whether the prisoner “was allowed an opportunity to be heard and was provided a 16 17 18 19 20 statement of the reasons why parole was denied.” Id., at 862, citing, Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal and Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 16 (1979). “The Constitution does not require more [process].” Id. I find that a review of the instant case reveals Petitioner was present at his parole hearing, 21 was given an opportunity to be heard, and was provided a statement of reasons for the parole 22 board’s decision. (See Memo in Support of Petition, Ex. E.). Accordingly, under Swarthout, the 23 federal court’s inquiry ends and the petitioner’s present petition fails to state a claim upon which 24 relief can be granted, and hence, the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus must be dismissed. 25 26 Additionally, because there is no tenable claim for relief that can be pled by further amendment to the petition, the granting of leave to amend would be futile and result in the same 27 28 2 1 findings and recommendation. Therefore, the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus must be 2 3 dismissed. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440 F.3d at 14. RECOMMENDATION 4 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 5 6 1. The petition for writ of habeas corpus be DISMISSED with prejudice; and 7 2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment and close the case. 8 These proposed findings of fact and recommendations are submitted to the assigned 9 United States District Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and 10 Rule 304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of 11 California. Within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy, any party may file written 12 13 14 15 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” Replies to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. The Court will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(C). The parties are 16 17 18 advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 19 IT IS SO ORDERED. 20 Dated: 21 January 9, 2013 /s/ Stanley A. Boone UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEAC_Signature-END: 22 i1eed4 23 24 25 26 27 28 3
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