Opinion
Case No. 1:18-cv-00407-SAB-HC
03-27-2018
ARDEN EARL STARK, Petitioner, v. SCOTT FRAUENHEIM, Respondent.
ORDER DENYING APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL (ECF No. 3)
Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
Petitioner has moved for appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 3). There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See, e.g., Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986); Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 481 (9th Cir. 1958). However, the Criminal Justice Act authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the proceeding for financially eligible persons if "the interests of justice so require." 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). See also Rule 8(c), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. To determine whether to appoint counsel, the "court must evaluate the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved." Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983).
Petitioner argues that counsel should be appointed because Petitioner is untrained in the law and the petition raises extremely complex legal issues. Upon review of the petition and the motion or appointment of counsel, the Court finds that Petitioner appears to have a sufficient grasp of his claims and the legal issues involved and that he is able to articulate those claims adequately. The legal issues involved are not extremely complex, and Petitioner does not demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits such that the interests of justice require the appointment of counsel at the present time.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the application for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 3) is DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: March 27 , 2018
/s/_________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE