Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04196/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04196-1/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID A. NWAONUMAH,

Petitioner,

v.

M. E. SPEARMAN,

Respondent.

Case No. 15-cv-04196-JCS (PR) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Dkt. No. 4

Petitioner moves for the appointment of counsel. (Docket No. 4.) He contends that 

the “jailhouse lawyer” who prepared his habeas petition will no longer be available, and he 

asserts without elaboration that he “requires assistance of counsel.” (Id.) There is no right 

to counsel in habeas corpus actions. See Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 728 (9th 

Cir. 1986). A district court is authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) 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. 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), and should be granted only when exceptional 

circumstances are present. See generally 1 J. Liebman & R. Hertz, Federal Habeas Corpus 

Practice and Procedure § 12.3b at 383-86 (2d ed. 1994). 

Petitioner has provided no reason to justify the appointment of counsel, other than 

that he “requires” it. This undetailed assertion is insufficient to show that extraordinary

circumstances exist. Accordingly, the motion is DENIED. 

The Clerk shall terminate Docket No. 4. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 8, 2016

_________________________

JOSEPH C. SPERO

 Chief Magistrate Judge

Case 3:15-cv-04196-WHO Document 5 Filed 02/08/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID A. NWAONUMAH,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. E. SPEARMAN,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-04196-JCS 

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 February 8, 2016, 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.

David A. Nwaonumah ID: #: K89261

Correctional Training Facility

P.O. Box 705

Soledad, CA 93960 

Dated: February 8, 2016

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Karen Hom, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable JOSEPH C. SPERO

Case 3:15-cv-04196-WHO Document 5 Filed 02/08/16 Page 2 of 2