Marriage of Estrada & Ortega CA5
Appellant Jaime Ignacia Estrada, a self-represented inmate at Kern Valley State Prison, appeals the dismissal of his petition for dissolution of marriage. Respondent Maria Ortega did not appear in the superior court or in this appeal.
Estrada’s petition was dismissed after he failed to appear at a December 8, 2020 case management conference and a subsequent hearing on an order to show cause. The trial court’s order stated the inmate locator of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) did not show Estrada was in custody.
On appeal, Estrada has demonstrated that he has been in prison since 1994, that his imprisonment was good cause for failing to appear at the case management conference, and that the trial court abused its discretion in dismissing his petition.
We therefore reverse the order of dismissal.
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