Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05684/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05684-1/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JUANARD-ROBINSON, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. )

)

A. W. CRAWFORD, )

)

)

Respondent. )

____________________________________)

1:03-cv-5684-TAG-HC 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(Doc. 66)

INFORMATIONAL ORDER

Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. (Doc. 66). This is the second

motion for appointment of counsel filed by Petitioner. As was when the Court ruled on the

previous motion (Doc. 8), there currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in

habeas proceedings. See e.g., Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 481 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 358

U.S. 889 (1958); Mitchell v. Wyrick, 727 F.2d 773 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 823 (1984).

However, Title 18 U.S.C. § 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case

"if the interests of justice so require." See Rule 8(c), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. 

Petitioner’s basis for seeking appointment of counsel is his lack of a legal education and

mental problems. (Doc. 66, p. 1). Regarding the former, Petitioner shares this disadvantage with

virtually all petitioners. Regarding the second, Petitioner has not presented any evidence from

which the Court could conclude that his mental condition is of such a nature as to place him at a

significantly greater advantage than other petitioners for whom counsel has been denied. The

documents submitted with Petitioner’s motion merely indicate that a Rules Violation Report

(“RVR”) was filed as a result of an incident in which Petitioner got angry at prison employees.

Case 1:03-cv-05684-TAG Document 67 Filed 02/21/06 Page 1 of 2
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The stated basis for the RVR was “disrespect toward staff.” (Doc. 66, Exh. 1). Such evidence

does not establish that Petitioner has a mental condition requiring the appointment of counsel.

Thus, in the present case, the Court does not find that the interests of justice require the

appointment of counsel at the present time. Accordingly, the Court will deny Petitioner’s motion

for appointment of counsel.

The Court also notesthat on several occasions Petitioner has expressed his dissatisfaction

with the speed with which this case has proceeded. Petitioner should be aware that the Court has

many active habeas cases on its docket. The Court issues a ruling on the merits of each case in

the order in which the case becomes ready for a decision on the merits. Petitioner’s case is no

exception and a decision on the merits of Petitioner’s claims will be issued in due course. In

addition to ruling on the merits of the cases, the Court also screens all new cases, as required by

the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, to ensure that those cases move forward.

Moreover, petitioners frequently file motions that must be carefully reviewed, researched, and

individually addressed by the Court, a process that is in itself quite time-consuming. Each time

a petitioner erroneously files a notice of appeal from a non-appealable order–a situation that has

occurred several times already in this case–the Court loses jurisdiction over every aspect of the

case until the matter has finally been remanded back to this Court from the Ninth Circuit, a process

that will delay ruling on even simple motions for months. 

ORDER

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner's request for appointment of

counsel (Doc. 66), is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 17, 2006 /s/ Theresa A. Goldner 

j6eb3d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 1:03-cv-05684-TAG Document 67 Filed 02/21/06 Page 2 of 2