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Petition For A Writ Of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State Custody Form. This is a Texas form and can be use in District Court Federal.
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Tags: Petition For A Writ Of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State Custody, Texas Federal, District Court
PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS: 28 USC §2254 (Rev. 9/10)
ADOPTED BY ALL FEDERAL COURTS IN TEXAS
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE ___________________ DISTRICT OF TEXAS
___________________ DIVISION
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS BY
A PERSON IN STATE CUSTODY
__________________________________
PETITIONER
____________________________________
CURRENT PLACE OF CONFINEMENT
(Full name of Petitioner)
vs.
____________________________________
PRISONER ID NUMBER
__________________________________
RESPONDENT
____________________________________
CASE NUMBER
(Name of TDCJ Director, Warden, Jailor, or
(Supplied by the District Court Clerk)
authorized person having custody of Petitioner)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS - READ CAREFULLY
1.
The petition must be legibly handwritten or typewritten and signed and dated by the petitioner,
under penalty of perjury. Any false statement of an important fact may lead to prosecution for
perjury. Answer all questions in the proper space on the form.
2.
Additional pages are not allowed except in answer to questions 11 and 20. Do not cite legal
authorities. Any additional arguments or facts you want to present must be in a separate
memorandum. The petition, including attachments, may not exceed 20 pages.
3.
Receipt of the $5.00 filing fee or a grant of permission to proceed in forma pauperis must occur
before the court will consider your petition.
4.
If you do not have the necessary filing fee, you may ask permission to proceed in forma pauperis.
To proceed in forma pauperis, (1) you must sign the declaration provided with this petition to
show that you cannot prepay the fees and costs, and (2) if you are confined in TDCJ-CID, you
must send in a certified In Forma Pauperis Data Sheet form from the institution in which you are
confined. If you are in an institution other than TDCJ-CID, you must send in a certificate
completed by an authorized officer at your institution certifying the amount of money you have
on deposit at that institution. If you have access or have had access to enough funds to pay the
filing fee, then you must pay the filing fee.
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5.
Only judgments entered by one court may be challenged in a single petition. A separate petition
must be filed to challenge a judgment entered by a different state court.
6.
Include all of your grounds for relief and all of the facts that support each ground for relief in this
petition.
7.
Mail the completed petition and one copy to the U. S. District Clerk. The “Venue List” in your
unit law library lists all of the federal courts in Texas, their divisions, and the addresses for the
clerk’s offices. The proper court will be the federal court in the division and district in which you
were convicted (for example, a Dallas County conviction is in the Northern District of Texas,
Dallas Division) or where you are now in custody (for example, the Huntsville units are in the
Southern District of Texas, Houston Division).
8.
Failure to notify the court of your change of address could result in the dismissal of your case.
___________________________________________________________________________________
PETITION
What are you challenging? (Check all that apply)
9
9
9
9
A judgment of conviction or sentence,
(Answer Questions 1-4, 5-12 & 20-25)
probation or deferred-adjudication probation.
A parole revocation proceeding.
(Answer Questions 1-4, 13-14 & 20-25)
A disciplinary proceeding.
(Answer Questions 1-4,15-19 & 20-25)
Other:__________________________
(Answer Questions 1-4, 10-11 & 20-25)
All petitioners must answer questions 1-4:
Note: In answering questions 1-4, you must give information about the conviction for the sentence you
are presently serving, even if you are challenging a prison disciplinary action. (Note: If you are challenging
a prison disciplinary action, do not answer questions 1-4 with information about the disciplinary case.
Answer these questions about the conviction for the sentence you are presently serving.) Failure to follow
this instruction may result in a delay in processing your case.
1.
Name and location of the court (district and county) that entered the judgment of conviction and
sentence that you are presently serving or that is under attack: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2.
Date of judgment of conviction: ___________________________________________________
3.
Length of sentence: _____________________________________________________________
4.
Identify the docket numbers (if known) and all crimes of which you were convicted that you wish
to challenge in this habeas action:___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Judgment of Conviction or Sentence, Probation or Deferred-Adjudication Probation:
9 Not Guilty
9 Guilty
9 Nolo Contendere
5.
What was your plea? (Check one)
6.
Kind of trial: (Check one)
7.
Did you testify at trial?
8.
Did you appeal the judgment of conviction?
9.
If you did appeal, in what appellate court did you file your direct appeal? __________________
9 Jury
9 Yes
9 Judge Only
9 No
_________________________________
9 Yes
9 No
Cause Number (if known) ____________________
What was the result of your direct appeal (affirmed, modified or reversed)?_________________
What was the date of that decision? ________________________________________________
If you filed a petition for discretionary review after the decision of the court of appeals, answer the
following:
Grounds raised:________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Result: _______________________________________________________________________
Date of result: ______________________
Cause Number (if known): ___________________
If you filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, answer the
following:
Result: _______________________________________________________________________
Date of result: _________________________________________________________________
10.
Other than a direct appeal, have you filed any petitions, applications or motions from this judgment
in any court, state or federal? This includes any state applications for a writ of habeas corpus that
9 No
you may have filed. 9 Yes
11.
If your answer to 10 is “Yes,” give the following information:
Name of court: ________________________________________________________________
Nature of proceeding: ___________________________________________________________
Cause number (if known): _______________________________________________________
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Date (month, day and year) you filed the petition, application or motion as shown by a file-stamped
date from the particular court: _______________________________________________________
Grounds raised: ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date of final decision: __________________________________________________________
What was the decision? __________________________________________________________
Name of court that issued the final decision: _________________________________________
As to any second petition, application or motion, give the same information:
Name of court: ________________________________________________________________
Nature of proceeding: ___________________________________________________________
Cause number (if known): _______________________________________________________
Date (month, day and year) you filed the petition, application or motion as shown by a file-stamped
date from the particular court:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Grounds raised: ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date of final decision: __________________________________________________________
What was the decision? __________________________________________________________
Name of court that issued the final decision: _________________________________________
If you have filed more than two petitions, applications, or motions, please attach an additional
sheet of paper and give the same information about each petition, application, or motion.
12.
Do you have any future sentence to serve after you finish serving the sentence you are attacking
9 Yes
9 No
in this petition?
(a)
If your answer is “yes,” give the name and location of the court that imposed the sentence
to be served in the future: ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(b)
Give the date and length of the sentence to be served in the future: _________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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(c)
Have you filed, or do you intend to file, any petition attacking the judgment for the
sentence you must serve in the future?
9 Yes 9 No
Parole Revocation:
13.
Date and location of your parole revocation: _________________________________________
14.
Have you filed any petitions, applications, or motions in any state or federal court challenging your
9 Yes
9 No
parole revocation?
If your answer is “yes,” complete Question 11 above regarding your parole revocation.
Disciplinary Proceedings:
15.
For your original conviction, was there a finding that you used or exhibited a deadly weapon?
9 Yes
9 No
16.
Are you eligible for release on mandatory supervision?
17.
Name and location of the TDCJ Unit where you were found guilty of the disciplinary violation:
_____________________________________________________________________________
9 Yes
9 No
Disciplinary case number: _______________________________________________________
What was the nature of the disciplinary charge against you? _____________________________
18.
Date you were found guilty of the disciplinary violation: ________________________________
Did you lose previously earned good-time days?
9Yes
9 No
If your answer is “yes,” provide the exact number of previously earned good-time days that were
forfeited by the disciplinary hearing officer as a result of your disciplinary hearing:
______________________________________________________________________________
Identify all other punishment imposed, including the length of any punishment if applicable and
any changes in custody status:
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
19.
Did you appeal the finding of guilty through the prison or TDCJ grievance procedure?
9 Yes
9 No
If your answer to Question 19 is “yes,” answer the following:
Step 1 Result: _________________________________________________________________
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Date of Result: __________________________________________________________
Step 2 Result: _________________________________________________________________
Date of Result: __________________________________________________________
All petitioners must answer the remaining questions:
20.
For this petition, state every ground on which you claim that you are being held in violation of the
Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. Summarize briefly the facts supporting each
ground. If necessary, you may attach pages stating additional grounds and facts supporting them.
CAUTION: To proceed in the federal court, you must ordinarily first exhaust your available statecourt remedies on each ground on which you request action by the federal court. Also, if you fail
to set forth all the grounds in this petition, you may be barred from presenting additional grounds
at a later date.
A.
GROUND ONE: ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supporting facts (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
B.
GROUND TWO: ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supporting facts (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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C.
GROUND THREE: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supporting facts (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
D.
GROUND FOUR: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supporting facts (Do not argue or cite law. Just state the specific facts that support your claim.):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
21.
Relief sought in this petition: ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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22.
Have you previously filed a federal habeas petition attacking the same conviction, parole
revocation, or disciplinary proceeding that you are attacking in this petition? 9Yes
9No
If your answer is “yes,” give the date on which each petition was filed and the federal court in
which it was filed. Also state whether the petition was (a) dismissed without prejudice, (b)
dismissed with prejudice or (c) denied.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
If you previously filed a federal petition attacking the same conviction and such petition was
denied or dismissed with prejudice, did you receive permission from the Fifth Circuit to file a
second petition as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3) and (4)?
9 Yes 9 No
23.
Are any of the grounds listed in question 20 above presented for the first time in this petition?
9 Yes
9 No
If your answer is “yes,” state briefly what grounds are presented for the first time and give your
reasons for not presenting them to any other court, either state or federal.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
24.
Do you have any petition or appeal now pending (filed and not yet decided) in any court, either
state or federal, for the judgment you are challenging?
9 Yes
9 No
If “yes,” identify each type of proceeding that is pending (i.e., direct appeal, art. 11.07 application,
or federal habeas petition), the court in which each proceeding is pending, and the date each
proceeding was filed. ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
25.
Give the name and address, if you know, of each attorney who represented you in the following
stages of the judgment you are challenging:
(a)
At preliminary hearing: ____________________________________________________
(b)
At arraignment and plea: ___________________________________________________
(c)
At trial: ________________________________________________________________
(d)
At sentencing: ___________________________________________________________
(e)
On appeal: ______________________________________________________________
(f)
In any post-conviction proceeding: ___________________________________________
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(g)
On appeal from any ruling against you in a post-conviction proceeding: _____________
_______________________________________________________________________
Timeliness of Petition:
26.
If your judgment of conviction, parole revocation or disciplinary proceeding became final over one
year ago, you must explain why the one-year statute of limitations contained in 28 U.S.C. §
2244(d) does not bar your petition.1
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
1
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), as contained in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d),
provides in part that:
(1)
A one-year period of limitation shall apply to an application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in
custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court. The limitation period shall run from the latest of (A)
(B)
the date on which the impediment to filing an application created by State action in violation of the
Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the applicant was prevented from filing by
such State action;
(C)
the date on which the constitutional right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if
the right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to
cases on collateral review; or
(D)
(2)
the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of
the time for seeking such review;
the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or claims presented could have been discovered
through the exercise of due diligence.
The time during which a properly filed application for State post-conviction or other collateral review with
respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is pending shall not be counted toward any period of limitation
under this subsection.
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Wherefore, petitioner prays that the Court grant him the relief to which he may be entitled.
_________________________________________
Signature of Attorney (if any)
_________________________________________
I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct
and that this Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus was placed in the prison mailing system on
__________________________________________ (month, day, year).
Executed (signed) on _______________________________ (date).
_________________________________________
Signature of Petitioner (required)
Petitioner’s current address: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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