Opinion
Case No. 12cv415-AJB (BLM)
03-02-2012
LARRY EUGENE WILSON, JR., Petitioner, v. TIM BUSBY, Warden, et al., Respondents.
ORDER DENYING PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
[ECF No. 3]
On February 15, 2012, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, moved this Court to appoint counsel. ECF No. 3. In support of his motion, Petitioner states that he is "indigent and unable to afford counsel," and that he has "struggled with the complex and complicated issues presented in [his] petition." Id. at 1. Petitioner therefore requests counsel "so that [his] interests may finally be protected by the professional assistance [his] complex and complicated claims require." Id. at 2. Having considered the request submitted by Petitioner and the applicable law, and for the reasons set forth below, Petitioner's motion for appointment counsel is DENIED without prejudice.
The Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not extend to federal habeas corpus actions by state prisoners. McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 495 (1991); Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 459 (9th Cir. 1996) (noting that there currently exists no constitutional right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings): Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986). However, courts may appoint counsel for financially eligible habeas petitioners seeking relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 whenever the court "determines that the interests of justice so require." 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B); Terrovona v. Kincheloe, 912 F.2d 1176, 1181 (9th Cir. 1990) (citing 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B)); Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196 ("Indigent state prisoners applying for habeas corpus relief are not entitled to appointed counsel unless the circumstances of a particular case indicate that appointed counsel is necessary to prevent due process violations."). Whether or not to appoint counsel is a matter left to the court's discretion, unless an evidentiary hearing is necessary. Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 729-30 (9th Cir. 1986) (explaining that the interests of justice require appointment of counsel when the court conducts an evidentiary hearing on the petition.).
The court's discretion to appoint counsel may be exercised only under "exceptional circumstances." Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). "A finding of exceptional circumstances requires an evaluation of both the likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro sein light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed together before reaching a decision." Id. (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
The Terrell court cited 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d), but the legislature subsequently renumbered this section as 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1).
The Court has reviewed the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 1) submitted by Petitioner in this case and finds that Petitioner has provided a thorough and clear recitation of his contentions. Thus, the Court finds that Petitioner not only has a sufficient grasp of his individual claims for habeas relief and the legal issues involved in those claims, but also that Petitioner is able to articulate those claims adequately without legal assistance. Under such circumstances, a district court does not abuse its discretion in denying a state prisoner's request for appointment of counsel as it is simply not warranted by the interests of justice. See LaMere v. Risley, 827 F.2d 622, 626 (9th Cir. 1987) (affirming district court's denial of request for appointment of counsel where pleadings demonstrated petitioner had "a good understanding of the issues and the ability to present forcefully and coherently his contentions"). The Court also finds that while Petitioner has asserted sufficient facts to state a claim for federal habeas relief, he has not established a likelihood of success on the merits. See Terrell, 935 F.2d at 1017.
At this stage of the pleadings, the Court finds that the interests of justice do not require the appointment of counsel and that this habeas proceeding does not present "exceptional circumstances" justifying the appointment of legal counsel. Accordingly, Petitioner's Request for Appointment of Counsel is DENIED without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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BARBARA L. MAJOR
United States Magistrate Judge