Godwin

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 JASON CLAUDE EDWARDS, No. 2:20-cv-00530 TLN GGH P Petitioner, v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RON GODWIN, Acting Warden,1 Respondent. 16 17 Introduction and Summary Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding through counsel, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter was referred to the United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 626(b)(1) and Local Rule 302(c). This is a tough case. Petitioner went to trial on child molestation charges—charges which carried a potential of life imprisonment. The first trial ended in a hung jury (7-5 on a pair of 24 1 “A petitioner for habeas corpus relief must name the state officer having custody of him 25 or her as the respondent to the petition.” Stanley v. California Supreme Court, 21 F.3d 359, 360 (9th Cir. 1994) (citing Rule 2(a), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254). The court is required to consider sua sponte whether the named respondent has the power to…