Petitioner Michael Eugene Maas petitions for writ of habeas corpus, raising
issues regarding the validity of his sentence and ineffective assistance from his
counsel. He also contends the superior court denied him his statutory right under
section 170.6 to challenge the judge assigned to his habeas corpus petition in that
court. We construe his section 170.6 argument as seeking a writ of mandate and
grant relief on that ground. We decline to address the remaining issues set forth in
Maas's petition for writ of habeas corpus as they are premature.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 1998, Maas was convicted of grand theft of an automobile and unlawful
driving or taking of a vehicle. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. In a
subsequent case, he was convicted of burglary and forgery of a fictitious check and
sentenced to a consecutive term of 25 years to life. We affirmed the judgments of
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conviction on appeal. (People v. Thomas et al. (Jan. 11, 2001, D031288 [nonpub.
opn.]; People v. Maas (May 16, 2000, D032176) [nonpub. opn.].)
In July 2013, Maas petitioned for writ of habeas corpus in the superior court.
(Undesignated date references are to the year 2013.) On July 19, Maas wrote a
letter to the clerk of the superior court requesting his case number, the date of filing,
and the name of the judge assigned to his petition. On July 29, Maas received a
photocopy of the cover page of his petition, which was file stamped by the superior
court on July 17. The cover page indicated the case number, but did not identify the
judge assigned to the matter. Thus, on August 4, Maas again wrote to the superior
court requesting the name of the judge. On August 7, the superior court, through
the Honorable John M. Thompson, denied Maas's petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Maas petitioned this court for a writ of habeas corpus, raising many of the
same issues he asserted in the superior court concerning the validity of his sentence
and ineffective assistance from his counsel. He also argues that if he had been
informed of the judge assigned to his superior court petition, he would have asserted
a challenge under section 170.6 because Judge Thompson was biased against him.
He submitted a declaration in this court stating that if he had been advised Judge
Thompson was assigned to review his petition in the superior court, he would have
requested another judge.
We requested an informal response from the Attorney General addressing
Maas's contention that he was denied the right to file a peremptory challenge under
section 170.6. After receiving that response, we issued an order to show cause and
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appointed counsel for Maas. Maas's appointed counsel submitted a supplemental
petition for writ of habeas corpus.
DISCUSSION
"Section 170.6 permits a party to an action to disqualify summarily an
assigned judge based on a sworn statement of the party's belief that the judge is
prejudiced against that party or the party's attorneys. Provided the statement is
timely and in proper form, the judge has no discretion to refuse the challenge.
[Citations.] The right to disqualify a judge under section 170.6 ' "is 'automatic' in
the sense that a good faith belief in prejudice is alone sufficient, proof of facts
showing actual prejudice not being required." ' " (Pickett v. Superior Court (2012)
203 Cal.App.4th 887, 892.)
By its terms, section 170.6 applies in any "civil or criminal action or special
proceeding of any kind or character." (§ 170.6, subd. (a)(1), italics added.) A
petition for writ of habeas corpus "is generally regarded as a special proceeding."
(People v. Villa (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1063, 1069.) Thus, subject to the limitations set
forth in section 170.6 and case authority (see, e.g., Yokley v. Superior Court (1980)
108 Cal.App.3d 622), a petitioner seeking a writ of habeas corpus may assert a
challenge to the judge assigned to the petition.
"The right to exercise a peremptory challenge under . . . section 170.6 is a
substantial right and an important part of California's system of due process that
promotes fair and impartial trials and confidence in the judiciary. [Citation.] As a
remedial statute, section 170.6 is to be liberally construed in favor of allowing a
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peremptory challenge, and a challenge should be denied only if the statute
absolutely forbids it. [Citation.]" (Stephens v. Superior Court (2002) 96
Cal.App.4th 54, 60, 61-62.)
Here, the Attorney General does not contend that Maas did not have a right
to assert a section 170.6 challenge to Judge Thompson. Instead, the Attorney
General asserts arguments based on procedure and form. Specifically, the Attorney
General argues Maas's section 170.6 claim lacks merit because he raised it within an
ineffective assistance of counsel argument and the claim is not supported with
proper documentation. We find these arguments unavailing.
First, although Maas did not separately indentify his section 170.6 argument
as a ground for relief, he clearly set forth the argument and supporting facts. The
argument is encompassed within a claim related to ineffective assistance from
counsel, but it is clear that he is complaining regarding the superior court's failure to
provide notice of the assigned judge and his resulting inability to assert a section
170.6 challenge to Judge Thompson.
Second, the Attorney General's argument that Maas did not support his
section 170.6 challenge with proper documentation ignores the fact that Maas did
not have an opportunity to challenge Judge Thompson's assignment because Maas
was not provided with advance notice of the judge assigned to review the petition.
According to Maas, he sent the superior court multiple requests for the identity of
the judge assigned to his petition, but the superior court did not provide the
information. Instead, the first time Maas learned that Judge Thompson would
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review his petition was upon receiving Judge Thompson's decision. The Attorney
General has not proffered evidence suggesting Maas had advance notice of Judge
Thompson's assignment. Without advance notice of the assignment, Maas did not
have an opportunity to file a section 170.6 challenge in the superior court.
Based on the record before us, it is clear that Maas was improperly denied
his right to assert a section 170.6 challenge to Judge Thompson in the superior
court. At this point, however, it would serve no useful purpose and would result in
a waste of judicial resources to require Maas to file a section 170.6 challenge to
Judge Thompson in the superior court. Based on Maas's arguments and declaration
in this court, we accept as true his claim that had he been provided notice of Judge
Thompson's assignment, he would have asserted a section 170.6 challenge because
he believed Judge Thompson was biased against him. Maas's good faith belief that
Judge Thompson was prejudiced against him was sufficient to require Judge
Thompson's disqualification. (Pickett v. Superior Court, supra, 203 Cal.App.4th at
p. 892.)
We deem Maas's petition herein as seeking a writ of mandate directing the
superior court to vacate its August 7, 2013, order denying Maas's petition for writ of
habeas corpus and grant that relief. We also direct the superior court to reassign
Maas's petition to a judge other than Judge Thompson for decision. Because this
opinion directs the superior court to issue a new decision on Maas's habeas petition,
it would be premature for this court to review the merits of the petition filed in this
court. (See In re Hillery (1962) 202 Cal.App.2d 293, 294.)
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DISPOSITION
Let a writ of mandate issue directing respondent superior court to vacate its
August 7, 2013, order denying Maas's petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Thereafter, the superior court shall reassign Maas's petition for writ of habeas
corpus for decision by a judge other than Judge Thompson.
MCINTYRE, J.
WE CONCUR:
HALLER, Acting P. J.
MCDONALD, J.
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AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. A petitioner collaterally attacking a criminal conviction via a writ of habeas corpus may assert a peremptory challenge under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 against the judge assigned to the petition, provided the judge is not the original trial judge.
Issues
May a petitioner assert a peremptory challenge under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 to a judge assigned to a habeas corpus petition?
Did the superior court err by failing to provide notice of the assigned judge, thereby preventing the petitioner from exercising his right to a peremptory challenge?
Disposition. remanded
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“we hold that where petitioner collaterally attacks his criminal convictions and sentences by way of a petition for writ of habeas corpus and the matter is assigned to a judge other than the original trial judge, petitioner may assert a peremptory challenge under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6”
“it is clear that Maas was improperly denied his right to assert a section 170.6 challenge to Judge Thompson in the superior court.”