Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-05252/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-05252-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited.

Case No. C 06-5252 JF

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(JFLC1)

**E-Filed 10/24/2006**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

CHAD RHODES,

 Petitioner,

 v.

ROBERT KIRKLAND,

 Respondent.

Case Number C 06-5252 JF

ORDER1 GRANTING LEAVE TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

[re: docket no. 5, 6]

I. BACKGROUND

On April 8, 2003, Petitioner entered a guilty plea to charges of second degree murder

while using a firearm and assault with a semiautomatic firearm upon a peace officer. On May

30, 2003, petitioner was sentenced to state prison for life without possibility of parole for seconddegree murder while using a firearm. Petitioner is now incarcerated at Pelican Bay State prison.

Petitioner appealed the sentence he received and has exhausted state court remedies. He

has petitioned the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus on the grounds that a sentence of life

without parole for second-degree murder violates equal protection and constitutes cruel and

Case 5:06-cv-05252-JF Document 19 Filed 10/24/06 Page 1 of 5
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Case No. C 06-5252 JF

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(JFLC1)

unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The Court issued an order to show

cause why relief should not be granted on September 8, 2006. Respondent answered the order to

show cause on October 12, 2006.

Petitioner is represented by counsel. However, Petitioner informs the Court that he and

his family have no additional funds with which to pay counsel for the purpose of replying to

Respondent’s answer to the order to show cause. Petitioner asks the Court to allow him to

proceed in forma pauperis and to appoint counsel.

II. PERMISSION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

The Court will grant Petitioner’s application for permission to proceed in forma pauperis. 

The total filing fee that ultimately will be due is $ 150.00. Petitioner has paid an initial filing fee

of $5.00. Funds for the remainder of the filing fee will be taken from income to Plaintiff’s prison

trust account in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). A copy of this Order and the attached

instructions will be sent to the prison trust account office and the Court’s financial office.

III. APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

The Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel does not apply in habeas corpus actions. 

Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 728 (9th Cir. 1986). However, a district court may

appoint counsel to represent any financially eligible habeas petitioner whenever it “determines

that the interests of justice so require.” 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B); see also Knaubert, 791 F.2d

at 728. A petitioner is financially eligible if he or she is “financially unable to obtain adequate

representation.” 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a). Unless the circumstances of the particular case require

appointment to afford due process of law, only indigent petitioners qualify for court-appointed

counsel. Eskridge v. Rhay, 345 F.2d 778, 782 (9th Cir. 1965).

The decision whether to appoint counsel generally lies within the sound discretion of the

district court. Knaubert, 791 F.2d at 728. However, counsel must be appointed when an

evidentiary hearing is required. Rule 8(c), 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254; Knaubert, 791 F.2d at 728. 

Moreover, the court must appoint counsel when the complexities of the case are such that denial

of counsel would amount to a denial of due process, Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th

Case 5:06-cv-05252-JF Document 19 Filed 10/24/06 Page 2 of 5
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Case No. C 06-5252 JF

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(JFLC1)

Cir. 1986); Brown v. United States, 623 F.2d 54, 61 (9th Cir. 1980), and when the petitioner is a

person of such limited education as to be incapable of fairly presenting his or her claims,

Hawkins v. Bennett, 423 F.2d 948, 951 (8th Cir. 1970). Finally, counsel must be appointed when

necessary to permit the petitioner to utilize the discovery process effectively. Rule 6(a), 28

U.S.C. foll. § 2254. 

Petitioner is financially eligible for appointed counsel. However, the Court concludes

that the interests of justice do not require the appointment of counsel in this case. Through

retained counsel, Petitioner has filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and accompanying

memorandum that clearly frame the issues before the Court. Justice does not require that the

Court appoint counsel for the purpose of submitting a reply brief. 

IV. ORDER

Good cause therefor appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to proceed in

forma pauperis is GRANTED; and that the motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED. 

Petitioner’s present counsel, Juliana Drous, shall notify the Court within thirty (30) days

of this order if she intends to seek permission to withdraw from this case. Attorney Drous shall

ensure that Petitioner receives a copy of this order. If he continues to be represented by counsel,

Petitioner shall file his reply to Respondent’s answer within forty five (45) days of this order. If

counsel seeks and is granted permission to withdraw from the case, Petitioner shall file his reply

to Respondent’s answer within thirty days of the filing of an order permitting such withdrawal. 

DATED: October 23, 2006.

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 5:06-cv-05252-JF Document 19 Filed 10/24/06 Page 3 of 5
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Case No. C 06-5252 JF

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(JFLC1)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYMENT OF PRISONER'S FILING FEE

The prisoner shown as the plaintiff or petitioner on the attached order has filed a civil

action in forma pauperis in this court and owes to the court a filing fee. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915, the fee is to be paid as follows:

The initial partial filing fee listed on the attached order should be deducted by the

prison trust account office from the prisoner's trust account and forwarded to the

clerk of the court as the first installment payment on the filing fee. This amount is

twenty percent of the greater of (a) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's

account for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the

complaint/petition or (b) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for

the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint/petition. 

Thereafter, on a monthly basis, 20 percent of the preceding month's income

credited to the prisoner's trust account should be deducted and forwarded to the

court each time the amount in the account exceeds ten dollars ($10.00). The

prison trust account office should continue to do this until the filing fee has been

paid in full. 

If the prisoner does not have sufficient funds in his/her account to pay the initial partial

filing fee, the prison trust account office should forward the available funds, and carry the

balance forward each month until the amount is fully paid. 

If the prisoner has filed more than one complaint, (s)he is required to pay a filing fee for

each case. The trust account office should make the monthly calculations and payments for each

case in which it receives an order granting in forma pauperis and these instructions.

The prisoner's name and case number must be noted on each remittance. The initial

partial filing fee is due within thirty days of the date of the attached order. Checks should be

made payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court and sent to Prisoner Accounts Receivable, U.S.

District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36060, San Francisco, CA 94102.

cc: Plaintiff/Petitioner

Finance Office

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Case No. C 06-5252 JF

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Allen Robert Crown allen.crown@doj.ca.gov, ecfcoordinator@doj.ca.gov;

docketingsfawt@doj.ca.gov; delia.desuyo@doj.ca.gov;

cherryl.crisostomo@doj.ca.gov; maricris.argarin@doj.ca.gov 

Juliana Drous jdrous@msn.com 

Case 5:06-cv-05252-JF Document 19 Filed 10/24/06 Page 5 of 5