Ford v. Williams

Full title: MARK MICHAEL FORD, Petitioner, v. BRIAN WILLIAMS, et al., Respondents.

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA

Date published: Apr 2, 2013

Case No. 2:13-cv-00087-MMD-PAL (D. Nev. Apr. 2, 2013)

Opinion

Case No. 2:13-cv-00087-MMD-PAL

04-02-2013

MARK MICHAEL FORD, Petitioner, v. BRIAN WILLIAMS, et al., Respondents.

MIRANDA M. DU

ORDER

This is a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in which petitioner, a state prisoner, is proceeding pro se. Petitioner has now paid the filing fee. (See dkt. no. 5.)

Petitioner has filed an ex parte motion for appointment of counsel (dkt. no. 2). There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel for a federal habeas corpus proceeding. Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 555 (1987); Bonin v. Vasquez, 999 F.2d 425, 428 (9th Cir. 1993). The decision to appoint counsel is generally discretionary. Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1023 (1987); Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d 1228, 1234 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 838 (1984). However, counsel must be appointed if the complexities of the case are such that denial of counsel would amount to a denial of due process, and where the petitioner is a person of such limited education as to be incapable of fairly presenting his claims. See Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196; see also Hawkins v. Bennett, 423 F.2d 948 (8th Cir. 1970). Here, it appears that the claims are somewhat complex. Additionally, petitioner was age 15 at the time of his conviction and is serving two consecutive sentences of ten years to life. Therefore, counsel shall be appointed to represent petitioner.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the clerk DETACH and FILE the petition (dkt. no. 1-1.)

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Federal Public Defender for the District of Nevada ("FPD") is appointed to represent petitioner.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall ELECTRONICALLY SERVE the FPD a copy of this order, together with a copy of the petition for writ of habeas corpus (dkt. no. 1-1). The FPD shall have thirty (30) days from the date of entry of this order to file a notice of appearance or to indicate to the Court its inability to represent petitioner in these proceedings.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, after counsel has appeared for petitioner in this case, the Court will issue a scheduling order, which will, among other things, set a deadline for the filing of a first amended petition.

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MIRANDA M. DU

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE