Gardner v. California

Petitioner is a California state prisoner who filed pro se various papers with the State Superior Court alleging state action that interfered with his access to the courts for determination of his claims. The Superior Court, which granted a hearing and designated the Public Defender’s office to represent petitioner at that hearing, treated the papers as requests for habeas corpus relief. After hearing, it made findings and held that the State *368had not impaired petitioner’s rights of access to the courts.

Under California law, while the State has an appeal from an order discharging a prisoner in…