Eastern District of California • 1:26-cv-00978

#1

Jan 08, 2026

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Fed/2241) filed by Leonid Kovalchuk. (14 pages and envelope) (Attachments: # 1 Envelope)(EJA) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/08/2026)

#2

Jan 08, 2026

MOTION to Appoint Counsel by Leonid Kovalchuk. (2 pages) (EJA) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/08/2026)

#3

Jan 08, 2026

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT (Attachments: # 1 Instructions) (EJA) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/08/2026)

#4

Jan 23, 2026

ORDER denying 2 Motion to Appoint Counsel. The Clerk's Office must substitute Luis Rosa, Jr. as the Respondent in this case. The Clerk must serve a copy of the Summons, the Petition (Doc. 1) and this Order upon the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, United States Attorney General, and to Respondents by certified mail. The Clerk must immediately transmit by email a copy of this Order and the Petition to AUSA Katherine Branch, Melissa Kroeger, Lon Leavitt, and Theo Nickerson. Respondents must show cause no later than 1/30/26, why the Petition should not be granted. Petitioner may file a reply no later than 2/6/26. The Clerk must mail Petitioner a court-approved form for filing an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Habeas). Signed by Judge Michael T Liburdi on 1/22/26. (DXD) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/23/2026)

#5

Jan 23, 2026

Summons Issued as to Luis Rosa, Jr, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons)(DXD) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/23/2026)

#7

Jan 27, 2026

Mail Returned as Undeliverable. Mail sent to Leonid Kovalchuk. Reason for return: Released 1-2-26. Document number 3 . (KLG) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/28/2026)

#8

Jan 30, 2026

SERVICE EXECUTED: Certified Mail Receipt re: Summons, Petition and Order upon Luis Rosa Jr. on 1/27/26. (EJA) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#9

Jan 30, 2026

SERVICE EXECUTED: Certificate of Service re: Summons, Petition and Order upon U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona on 1/27/26. (EJA) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#10

Jan 30, 2026

MOTION to Change Venue/Transfer Case to Eastern District of California, MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re: 4 Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel,,, 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Fed/2241) by Luis Rosa, Jr. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Branch, Katherine) [Transferred from azd on 2/4/2026.] (Entered: 01/30/2026)

#11

Feb 04, 2026

Order on Motion to Change Venue

#12

Feb 04, 2026

CASE TRANSFERRED IN from District of Arizona; Case Number 2:26-cv-00106. (Entered: 02/04/2026)

#13

Feb 04, 2026

PRISONER NEW CASE DOCUMENTS and ORDER RE CONSENT ISSUED. (Attachments: # 1 Order re Consent) (Deputy Clerk SSA) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

#14

Feb 04, 2026

DESIGNATION of COUNSEL FOR SERVICE. Added attorney Cody S. Chapple for Unknown Estapa,Cody S. Chapple for N. Martinez,Cody S. Chapple for Luis Rosa, Jr,Cody S. Chapple for United States Department of Homeland Security (Chapple, Cody) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb 04, 2026

Service by Mail

Feb 04, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 13 Prisoner New Case Documents served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk SSA)

#15

Feb 06, 2026

05 - HC/Order Authorizing IFP

Feb 06, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 15 Order Authorizing IFP Status served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk SSA)

Feb 06, 2026

Service by Mail

#16

Feb 09, 2026

06 - HC/Order Requiring Respondent to File a Response

Feb 09, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 16 Order Directing Respondent to File a Response to the Petition served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk CRM)

Feb 09, 2026

Service by Mail

#17

Feb 17, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINE of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), this document is restricted to attorneys and court staff only. Judges do not have access to view this document and will be informed of a party's response only if all parties have consented to the referral. (Deputy Clerk OFR) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

#18

Feb 23, 2026

Temporary Restraining Order

#19

Feb 23, 2026

Appoint Counsel

#20

Feb 23, 2026

Appoint Counsel

#21

Feb 24, 2026

MINUTE ORDER (Text Entry Only) The Court has reviewed the Petition filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (Doc. 1) and the related request for emergency injunctive relief (Doc. 18). Petitioner asserts that he has been detained since May 20, 2025 (Doc. 18 at 5 ), more than 8 months ago. He has received bond determinations on August 20, 2025 and November 20, 2025. (Doc. 1 at 4) He does not explain his delay in seeking his request for a temporary restraining order or why despite this delay, the Court should treat the situation as an emergency. Thus, the TRO request is untimely, and it is DENIED. Local Rule 231(b). The Court refers the matter to the assigned magistrate judge for a determination on the merits. The Court sets the following briefing schedule, which may be modified by the magistrate judge as needed. Respondents SHALL file their responsive pleading within 30 days. Petitioner may file a traverse no later than 15 days after the respondents file their brief.In the meantime, unless and until the Court orders otherwise, the Court ORDERS that Respondents shall not remove Petitioner from the United States nor transfer Petitioner out of this District. See F.T.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (noting the court's "express authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to protect its own jurisdiction"). Given the circumstances, the Court finds that this order is warranted to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and any subsequent order and finds that Petitioner has satisfied the factors governing the issuance of such relief signed by District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on February 24, 2026. (Deputy Clerk IM) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb 24, 2026

Order on Motion for TRO

#22

Mar 06, 2026

RESPONSE by Unknown Estapa, N. Martinez, Luis Rosa, Jr, United States Department of Homeland Security to 1 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Chapple, Cody) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

#23

Mar 11, 2026

Findings and Recommendations

Mar 11, 2026

Service by Mail

Mar 11, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 23 Findings and Recommendations (Motion) served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk SSA)

#24

Mar 17, 2026

RESPONSE by Unknown Estapa, N. Martinez, Luis Rosa, Jr, United States Department of Homeland Security to 23 Findings and Recommendations (Motion). (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of DO Moradi, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Conviction Record, # 3 Exhibit 2 - NLETS, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Removal Order, # 5 Exhibit 4 - Board Decision, # 6 Exhibit 5 - Second Removal Order, # 7 Exhibit 6 - Second Board Decision, # 8 Exhibit 7 - I-213 Form (2024), # 9 Exhibit 8 - I-213 Form (2025))(Chapple, Cody) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

#25

Mar 19, 2026

Findings and Recommendations AND Findings and Recommendations AND Order Vacating Findings and Recommendations

Mar 19, 2026

Service by Mail

Mar 19, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 25 Order Vacating Findings and Recommendations, Findings and Recommendations (Motion) served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk EF)

#26

Mar 23, 2026

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE signed by Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 3/23/26 The Court, having considered the equitable division and efficient and economical determination of court business, finds the necessity for reassignment. This case is REASSIGNED to Magistrate Judge Frank J. Singer for all further proceedings. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto no longer assigned to case. New Case Number: 1:26-cv-0978-JLT-FJS. (TEXT ONLY ENTRY) (Deputy Clerk RMG) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

Mar 23, 2026

Order Reassigning Case

Mar 23, 2026

Service by Mail

Mar 23, 2026

SERVICE BY MAIL: 26 Order Reassigning Case, served on Leonid Kovalchuk. (Deputy Clerk RMG)

#27

Apr 09, 2026

Order AND ~Util - 1 Set/Reset Deadlines and Hearings

Apr 09, 2026

Service by Mail