Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04938/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04938-0/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SERGIO ALVAREZ,

Petitioner,

 v.

ROBERT HOREL, Acting Warden,

Respondent. /

No. C 06-4938 SBA (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. 

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

Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 728 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 867 (1986). However, a

district court is authorized to appoint 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. 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). 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). Appointment is mandatory only when the

circumstances of a particular case indicate that appointed counsel is necessary to prevent due

process violations, see Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196; Eskridge v. Rhay, 345 F.2d 778, 782 (9th Cir.

1965), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 996 (1966), and whenever an evidentiary hearing is required, see Rule

Case 4:06-cv-04938-SBA Document 14 Filed 06/12/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.06\Alvarez4938.ATTY.wpd2

8(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases; United States v. Duarte-Higareda, 68 F.3d 369,

370 (9th Cir. 1995); Bashor, 730 F.2d at 1234.

The Court finds that the appointment of counsel is not necessary at this time. Petitioner's

claims are typical claims that arise in criminal appeals and are not especially complex. This is not

an exceptional case that would warrant representation on federal habeas review. 

There also is no indication that an evidentiary hearing is required under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e). 

Petitioner's claims do not rely upon extra-record evidence and a factual basis exists in the record to

determine the claims. If during its review of the merits of the petition the Court determines that

further fact finding is required, the Court will decide whether to hold an evidentiary hearing or

whether the facts can be gathered by way of mechanisms short of an evidentiary hearing, such as

supplementation of the record with sworn declarations from the pertinent witnesses. See Downs v.

Hoyt, 232 F.3d 1031, 1041 (9th Cir. 2000). 

For these reasons, Petitioner's request for the appointment of counsel is DENIED. 

This Order terminates Docket no. 11.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 6/12/07 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:06-cv-04938-SBA Document 14 Filed 06/12/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.06\Alvarez4938.ATTY.wpd3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SERGIO ALVAREZ,

Plaintiff,

 v.

BOB HOREL, WARDEN et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV06-04938 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on June 12, 2007, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Pamela K. Critchfield

Attorney at Law

455 Golden Gate Avenue

Suite 11000

San Francisco, CA 94102-7004

Sergio Alvarez K42605

PO Box 7500

D3-114

Crescent City, CA 95532-7500

Dated: June 12, 2007

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:06-cv-04938-SBA Document 14 Filed 06/12/07 Page 3 of 3