Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-02279/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-02279-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Kevin D. Wilkins,

Petitioner,

vs.

Tara Diaz, et al.,

Respondents.

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No. CIV 06-2279-PHX-JAT (DKD)

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. #13).

Indigent state prisoners applying for habeas corpus relief are not entitled to appointed counsel

unless the circumstances indicate that appointed counsel is necessary to prevent due process

violations. Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1023

(1987); Kreiling v. Field, 431 F.2d 638, 640 (9th Cir. 1970) (per curiam); Eskridge v. Rhay, 345

F.2d 778, 782 (9th Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 996 (1966). The Court has discretion to

appoint counsel when a judge "determines that the interests of justice so require." Terrovona

v. Kincheloe, 912 F.2d 1176, 1181 (9th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 979 (1991) (quoting

18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B)). "In deciding whether to appoint counsel in a habeas proceeding,

the district 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 has not shown that

he is more likely to succeed on the merits of his claims than any other habeas petitioner before

Case 2:06-cv-02279-JAT Document 14 Filed 11/17/06 Page 1 of 2
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this Court, nor has he shown that his claims are complex. Therefore, the Motion for

appointment of counsel will be denied.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Petitioner’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel

(Doc. #13) is denied. 

DATED this 16th day of November, 2006.

Case 2:06-cv-02279-JAT Document 14 Filed 11/17/06 Page 2 of 2