Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08186/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08186-2/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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WO RP

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Ronald Fox, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Charles L. Ryan, et al., 

Respondents. 

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No. CV 10-8186-PCT-GMS (ECV)

ORDER

Pending before the Court are Petitioner’s “Objection to the Order of the Court issued

December 9, 2010 and Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 10) and “Objection to the Order

of the Court issued December 9, 2010 and Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 11). The

Court will deny both Motions.

I. Procedural Background

On September 27, 2010, Petitioner Ronald Fox, who is confined in the Arizona State

Prison Complex-Tucson, filed a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2254 (Doc. 1), a Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 3), and a Brief in

Support of Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254 Application Form #530 (Doc. 4). Petitioner did not

immediately pay the $5.00 filing fee or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.

By Order filed October 5, 2010 (Doc. 5), the Court gave Petitioner 30 days from the

filing date of the Order to either pay the $5.00 filing fee or file a completed Application to

Proceed In Forma Pauperis using the form included with the Order. On October 18, 2010,

Case 3:10-cv-08186-GMS Document 12 Filed 03/01/11 Page 1 of 4
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the $5.00 filing fee was paid (Doc. 6). 

Then, by Order filed December 9, 2010 (Doc. 7), the Court denied Petitioner’s Motion

for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 3); denied without prejudice Petitioner’s claims in the

Petition (Doc. 1) that his rights under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1343(a)(1) and (a)(2), 1357, and 1746,

as well as 42 U.S.C. § 1986 and Model Penal Code § 5.03 were violated; directed the Clerk

of Court to serve a copy of the Petition (Doc. 1), Petitioner’s Brief in Support of Title 28

U.S.C. § 2254 Application Form #530 (Doc. 4), and the Order on the Respondent and the

Attorney General of the State of Arizona by certified mail; gave the Petitioner 40 days from

the date of service to answer the Petition; gave Petitioner 30 days from the date of service

of the answer to file a reply; and referred this matter to Magistrate Judge Edward C. Voss

pursuant to Rules 72.1 and 72.2 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for further proceedings

and a report and recommendation.

II. Objections and Motions for Reconsideration

On January 6, 2011, Petitioner filed his “Objection to the Order of the Court issued

December 9, 2010 and Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 10) (First Motion for

Reconsideration) and “Objection to the Order of the Court issued December 9, 2010 and

Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 11) (Second Motion for Reconsideration).

Motions for reconsideration should be granted only in rare circumstances. Defenders

of Wildlife v. Browner, 909 F. Supp. 1342, 1351 (D.Ariz. 1995). “Reconsideration is

appropriate if the district court (1) is presented with newly discovered evidence,

(2) committed clear error or the initial decision was manifestly unjust, or (3) if there is an

intervening change in controlling law.” School Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah County v. ACandS,

Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993). Such motions should not be used for the purpose of

asking a court “‘to rethink what the court had already thought through - rightly or wrongly.’”

Defenders of Wildlife, 909 F. Supp. at 1351 (quoting Above the Belt, Inc. v. Mel Bohannon

Roofing, Inc., 99 F.R.D. 99, 101 (E.D.Va. 1983)).

In his First Motion for Reconsideration, Petitioner objects to the Court’s denial of his

Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 3). After having considered the foregoing

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standards, and liberally reviewing the circumstances of Petitioner’s case, Petitioner’s Motion

for Appointment of Counsel, the Court’s previous Order filed December 9, 2010, the record

in this case, and Petitioner’s First Motion for Reconsideration, the Court declines to reverse

itself and set aside its denial of Petitioner’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel.

 Petitioner has done nothing more than disagree with this Court and has failed to

demonstrate a clear error of law, or that the Court’s decision was manifestly unjust. Also,

Petitioner has neither alleged that there has been an intervening change of controlling law,

nor has he offered newly discovered evidence that would make reconsideration appropriate.

In so doing, the Court notes, as it did in its December 9, 2010 Order, that if, at a later

date, the Court determines that an evidentiary hearing is required, counsel will be appointed

in accordance with Rule 8(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 

In his Second Motion for Reconsideration, Petitioner objects to the Court’s dismissal

without prejudice of his claims in the Petition (Doc. 1) that his rights under 28 U.S.C.

§§ 1343(a)(1) and (a)(2), 1357, and 1746, as well as 42 U.S.C. § 1986 and Model Penal Code

§ 5.03 were violated. After having considered the foregoing standards, and liberally

reviewing the circumstances of Petitioner’s case, the Petition, the Court’s previous Order

filed December 9, 2010, the record in this case, and Petitioner’s Second Motion for

Reconsideration, the Court declines to reverse itself and set aside its dismissal without

prejudice of Petitioner’s claims in the Petition that his rights under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1343(a)(1)

and (a)(2), 1357, and 1746, as well as 42 U.S.C. § 1986 and Model Penal Code § 5.03 were

violated. At most, Petitioner attempts to elaborate on how his rights under these provisions

were violated. Petitioner cannot use a motion for reconsideration to correct deficiencies in

his Petition. 

Petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear error of law, or that the Court’s decision

was manifestly unjust. Also, Petitioner has neither alleged that there has been an intervening

change of controlling law, nor has he offered newly discovered evidence that would make

reconsideration appropriate. 

Accordingly, both of Petitioner’s Motions will be denied. 

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IT IS ORDERED:

(1) The reference to Magistrate Judge Edward C. Voss is withdrawn only with

respect to Petitioner’s “Objection to the Order of the Court issued December 9, 2010 and

Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 10) and “Objection to the Order of the Court issued

December 9, 2010 and Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 11).

(2) Petitioner’s “Objection to the Order of the Court issued December 9, 2010 and

Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 10) and “Objection to the Order of the Court issued

December 9, 2010 and Motion for Reconsideration” (Doc. 11) are both denied.

(3) All other matters must remain with Magistrate Judge Edward C. Voss for

disposition as appropriate.

DATED this 1st day of March, 2011.

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