Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00684/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00684-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 463
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federal)

---

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

- 1 - 08cv0684

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CESAR RAMOS BAUTISTA,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08cv0684 JM(NLS)

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS;

GRANTING APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL; SCHEDULING ORDER

vs.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, et al.,

Defendant.

Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis

Petitioner, a detainee in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Petitioner has also filed a request to proceed in forma pauperis

which reflects a $0.00 trust account balance at the facility in which he is presently confined. Petitioner

has insufficient funds on account at the facility in which he is presently confined. Petitioner cannot

afford the $5.00 filing fee. Thus, the Court GRANTS Petitioner’s application to proceed in forma

pauperis, and allows Petitioner to prosecute the above-referenced action as a poor person without

being required to prepay fees or costs and without being required to post security. The Clerk of the

Court shall file the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus without prepayment of the filing fee.

Motion for Appointment of Counsel

Petitioner requests the appointment of counsel to assist him in prosecuting his Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2241 because he has little legal experience, lacks

Case 3:08-cv-00684-JM-NLS Document 10 Filed 07/09/08 Page 1 of 2
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

- 2 - 08cv0684

the financial wherewithal to obtain representation, and, given the complexity of the issues raised,

cannot adequately address the issues raised in the Petition. The Constitution provides no right to

appointment of counsel in a civil case unless an indigent litigant may lose her physical liberty if she

loses the litigation. See Lassiter v. Dept. of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981). Under 18 U.S.C.

§3006A(g) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), however, district courts are granted discretion to appoint

counsel for indigent persons under “exceptional circumstances” or in the “interests of justice.” See

Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). “A finding of exceptional circumstances

requires an evaluation of both the ‘likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff

to articulate [his] claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.’ Neither of these

issues is dispositive and both must be viewed together before reaching a decision.’” Id. (quoting

Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986)).

In light of the legal and factual issues raised in the Petition, the court finds that it is in the

interests of justice to appoint counsel to represent Petitioner in this indefinite detention case. See 18

U.S.C. §3006A(g). The court appoints the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. to represent

Petitioner.

Scheduling Order

1. RESPONDENT IS ORDERED to file an answer or other responsive pleading to the

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Respondent shall file the pleading no later than August 8, 2008.

The answer shall include any and all transcripts or other documents relevant to the determination of

the issues presented in the Petition.

2. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Petitioner wishes to reply to the

pleading, a traverse or other appropriate pleading must be filed no later than August 22, 2008. The

court sets oral argument on the Petition for August 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 9, 2008

 Hon. Jeffrey T. Miller

 United States District Judge

cc: All parties

Case 3:08-cv-00684-JM-NLS Document 10 Filed 07/09/08 Page 2 of 2