Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-00744/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-00744-0/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)

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Order Denying Motions to Proceed in Forma Pauperis and to Pay Filing Fee Within Thirty Days; Denying Motion

for Appointment of Counsel Without Prejudice

P:\pro-se\sj.jf\hc.06\McGhee744denmisc 1

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARRELL MCGHEE,

Petitioner,

 vs.

SCOTT KERNAN, Warden, 

Respondent. __________________________________ 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

C 06-0744 JF (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTIONS TO

PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS AND TO PAY FILING

FEE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS;

DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

(Docket Nos. 2, 3, 5)

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a petition for a writ of habeas

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner also filed two motions to proceed in

forma pauperis and a motion for appointment of counsel. The Court will DENY

Petitioner’s motions to proceed in forma pauperis and order Petitioner to pay the filing

fee and DENY Petitioner’s motion for appointment of counsel without prejudice. 

DISCUSSION 

A. Motions to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

Petitioner filed two motions to proceed in forma pauperis, but his trust account

documents reveal that for the six months preceding the filing of this petition, Petitioner

had average monthly deposits of $ 28.00, and an average balance of $13.00. This is

**Original filed 8/16/06**

Case 5:06-cv-00744-JF Document 6 Filed 08/16/06 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Order Denying Motions to Proceed in Forma Pauperis and to Pay Filing Fee Within Thirty Days; Denying Motion

for Appointment of Counsel Without Prejudice

P:\pro-se\sj.jf\hc.06\McGhee744denmisc 2

sufficient to pay the $5.00 habeas filing fee. Accordingly, Petitioner’s motions to

proceed in forma pauperis (docket nos. 2, 5) are DENIED. Within thirty days of the

date this order is filed, Petitioner shall pay the $5.00 filing fee. Petitioner shall include

with his payment a clear indication that it is for this case number, C 06-0744 JF (PR).

Failure to pay the filing fee within thirty days of the date this order is filed shall result

in the dismissal of this action without prejudice.

B. Motion For Appointment of Counsel

Petitioner filed a motion for appointment of counsel. Petitioner asserts that

appointment of counsel is necessary because he has no training in the law, he has limited

law library access, and the instant petition states a prima facie case for relief. See Pet.’s

Mot. at 1. 

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, 18 U.S.C. 

§ 3006A(a)(2)(B) authorizes appointment of counsel to represent a habeas petitioner

whenever “the court determines that the interests of justice so require and such person is

financially unable to obtain representation.” The decision to appoint counsel is within

the discretion of the district court. See Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir.

1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1023 (1987); Knaubert, 791 F.2d at 728; Bashor v. Risley,

730 F.2d 1228, 1234 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 838 (1984). 

 The Court concludes that the interests of justice do not require appointment of

counsel at this time. The Court has yet to review the claims set forth in the instant

petition, nor the merits of these claims. Appointment of counsel is premature at this

stage of the proceedings. Accordingly, Petitioner’s motion for appointment of counsel

(docket no. 3) is DENIED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: _______________ 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

8/16/06

Case 5:06-cv-00744-JF Document 6 Filed 08/16/06 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Order Denying Motions to Proceed in Forma Pauperis and to Pay Filing Fee Within Thirty Days; Denying Motion

for Appointment of Counsel Without Prejudice

P:\pro-se\sj.jf\hc.06\McGhee744denmisc 3

A copy of this ruling was mailed to the following:

Darrell McGhee

C-84197

CSP -Sacramento

P.O. Box 290066

Represa, CA 95671-0066 

Case 5:06-cv-00744-JF Document 6 Filed 08/16/06 Page 3 of 3