Bobby Knight v. Pam Ahlin

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

BOBBY JOE KNIGHT , No. 10-56211 Petitioner-Appellant, D.C. No. v. 2:10-cv-00039-

CAS-RZ

PAM AHLIN , Executive Director, Respondent-Appellee. OPINION

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Christina A. Snyder, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted February 14, 2013—Pasadena, California

Filed March 13, 2013

Before: Alfred T. Goodwin, Andrew J. Kleinfeld, and Barry G. Silverman, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam Opinion KNIGHT V . AHLIN

SUMMARY*

Habeas Corpus

The panel reversed the district court’s denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas corpus petition by a California state prisoner challenging his detention pending a civil commitment proceeding under the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA). Knight was convicted of rape and sentenced to 20 years. Before his expected release in 2004, the state filed a SVPA petition and the superior court ordered that petitioner Knight remain in custody while awaiting trial. After challenging his detention in state court, Knight filed his federal…