Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00230/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00230-3/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSEPH LEONARD,

Petitioner,

v.

HUNTER ANGLEA,

Respondent.

No. 2:19-cv-0230 TLN DB P

ORDER

Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 25). In support of the 

motion, petitioner states in part that he is unable to afford private counsel, that the issues in his 

case are complex, and that he lacks the education needed to properly represent himself. (See id.

at 4-5).

There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. 

See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 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), Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. In the present case, the court does not

find that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel at the present 

time. This is due to the fact that to date, petitioner has adequately represented himself in these 

proceedings.

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Case 2:19-cv-00230-TLN-DB Document 27 Filed 01/27/20 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s request for appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 25) is DENIED without prejudice to a renewal of the motion at a later stage of 

the proceedings.

Dated: January 27, 2020

DLB:13

DB/ORDERS/ORDERS.PRISONER.HABEAS/leon0230.110(2)

Case 2:19-cv-00230-TLN-DB Document 27 Filed 01/27/20 Page 2 of 2