The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 PERCY L. BROWN, No. 1:23-cv-00629-JLT-HBK (HC)
12 Petitioner, ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER LEAVE
TO FILE MOTION TO AMEND TO NAME A
13 v. PROPER RESPONDENT
14 J. RUIZ, ET AL., THIRTY DAY DEADLINE
15 Respondents.
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17 On April 24, 2023, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. §
18 2254. (Doc. No. 1). Petitioner names correctional officer J. Ruiz, sergeant A. Hernandez, chief
19 deputy warden S. Smith, the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, and “chief appeals,
20 office of grievance, CDCR” as respondents in this action. (See generally Doc. No. 1). These are
21 not proper respondents; therefore, Petitioner will be granted leave to amend the respondent in
22 order to avoid dismissal of the action.
23 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases requires the Court to make a preliminary
24 review of each petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Court must dismiss a petition "[i]f it
25 plainly appears from the petition . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief." Rule 4 of the
26 Rules Governing § 2254 Cases; see also Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990).
27 A petition for habeas corpus should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless it appears
28 that no tenable claim for relief can be pleaded were such leave granted. Jarvis v. Nelson, 440
1 F.2d 13, 14 (9th Cir. 1971).
2 A petitioner seeking habeas corpus relief must name the officer having custody of him as
3 the respondent to the petition. Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases; Ortiz-Sandoval v.
4 Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 894 (9th Cir. 1996); Stanley v. California Supreme Court, 21 F.3d 359, 360
5 (9th Cir. 1994). Normally, the person having custody of an incarcerated petitioner is the warden
6 of the prison in which the petitioner is incarcerated because the warden has "day-to-day control
7 over" the petitioner. Brittingham v. United States, 982 F.2d 378, 379 (9th Cir. 1992); see also
8 Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360. However, the chief officer in charge of penal institutions is also
9 appropriate. Ortiz, 81 F.3d at 894; Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360. Where a petitioner is on probation or
10 parole, the proper respondent is his probation or parole officer and the official in charge of the
11 parole or probation agency or correctional agency. Id.
12 Petitioner’s failure to name a proper respondent requires dismissal of his habeas petition
13 for lack of jurisdiction. Stanley, 21 F.3d at 360; Olson v. California Adult Auth., 423 F.2d 1326,
14 1326 (9th Cir. 1970); see also Billiteri v. United States Bd. Of Parole, 541 F.2d 938, 948 (2nd
15 Cir. 1976). The Court will afford Petitioner an opportunity to cure this defect by amending the
16 petition to name the proper respondent, such as the warden of his facility. See West v. Louisiana,
17 478 F.2d 1026, 1029 (5th Cir. 1973), vacated in part on other grounds, 510 F.2d 363 (5th Cir.
18 1975) (en banc) (allowing petitioner to amend petition to name proper respondent); Ashley v.
19 State of Washington, 394 F.2d 125 (9th Cir. 1968) (same). In the interests of judicial economy,
20 Petitioner need not file an amended petition. Instead, Petitioner may file a motion entitled
21 "Motion to Amend Petition to Name Proper Respondent" in which Petitioner identifies the name
22 of the proper respondent he seeks to substitute in this action.
23 ////
24 ////
25 ////
26 Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
27 Petitioner is GRANTED thirty days (30) from the date of service of this Order in which
28 to file a motion to amend the instant petition and name a proper respondent. Failure to timely
1 | comply with this Order will result in a recommendation that the petition be dismissed without
2 | further notice.
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* | Dated: _ May 30, 2023 Wile. Th. PoareA fackt
5 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA
‘ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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