Opinion
Case No. 3:20-cv-00031-MMD-CLB
04-07-2020
ERIC L. DALE, Petitioner, v. BRIAN E. WILLIAMS, et al., Respondents.
ORDER
Petitioner Eric L. Dale has submitted a pro se 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for writ of habeas corpus. (ECF No. 1-1.) His application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) is granted. The Court has reviewed the petition pursuant to Habeas Rule 4, and it will be docketed and served on Respondents.
A petition for federal habeas corpus should include all claims for relief of which Petitioner is aware. If Petitioner fails to include such a claim in his petition, he may be forever barred from seeking federal habeas relief upon that claim. See 28 U.S.C. §2254(b) (successive petitions). If Petitioner is aware of any claim not included in his petition, he should notify the Court of that as soon as possible, perhaps by means of a motion to amend his petition to add the claim.
Petitioner has also submitted a motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 1-2). There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel for a federal habeas corpus proceeding. See 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. See 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, Petitioner alleges that his counsel failed to properly investigate his competency and failed to present an insanity defense. Petitioner's petition appears to present his claims in a reasonably clear manner. However, in order to ensure due process in light of his possible mental health problems, the Court grants his motion for counsel.
It is therefore ordered that Petitioner's application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) is granted.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court detach, file, and electronically serve the petition (ECF No. 1-1) on Respondents.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court add Aaron D. Ford, Nevada Attorney General, as counsel for Respondents.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court detach and file Petitioner's motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 1-2).
It is further ordered that Petitioner's motion for appointment of counsel is granted.
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 electronically serve the FPD a copy of this order, together with a copy of the petition for writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 1-1). The FPD has 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 an amended petition.
DATED THIS 7th day of April 2020.
/s/_________
MIRANDA M. DU, CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT