Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-akd-3_19-cv-00223/USCOURTS-akd-3_19-cv-00223-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA

PATRICK LEO SHORTY,

Petitioner,

vs.

EARL L. HOUSER, Superintendent III,

Goose Creek Correctional Center,

Respondent.

No. 3:19-cv-00223-JKS

ORDER

[Re: Friend of Court Brief in Support of Petition

for Writ of Habeas Corpus at Docket No. 15;

Motion to Appoint Counsel at Docket No. 2]

At Docket No. 15, the Federal Public Defender for the District of Alaska filed, as friend

of the court, a supplemental brief in support of Shorty’s petition for writ of habeas corpus. In

that filing, the Federal Public Defender requests that the Court grant Shorty’s request for

appointment of counsel, which was previously denied without prejudice to renew, Docket No. 4. 

The Federal Public Defender contends that Shorty has a potentially-meritorious claim that he

exhausted in state courts, and requires assistance to amend his petition to raise it in these

proceedings.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

1. Shorty’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel at Docket No. 2 is provisionally

granted. The Federal Public Defender for the District of Alaska shall determine

whether Shorty qualifies for a court-appointed attorney under the Criminal Justice

Act (“CJA”), 18 U.S.C. § 306A. If Mr. Shorty qualifies, the Federal Public

Defender’s office shall designate counsel to represent Mr. Shorty in this case. 

Once designated, but in no more than fourteen (14) days from the date of this

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Order, appointed counsel shall immediately file a notice of appearance. If

Mr. Shorty does not qualify for an appointed attorney, the Federal Public

Defender should notify the Court.

2. Counsel for Mr. Shorty shall review the record, confer with Mr. Shorty, and file

an amended § 2254 petition, a notice that no amended petition will be filed, or a

notice that the petition is being withdrawn, within sixty (60) days from the date of

this Order.

3. If Mr. Shorty files an amended petition, Respondent shall file and serve either an

answer or a motion in response within sixty (60) days from the date of service of

the amended petition. See Rule 4, Rules Governing § 2254 Cases. The Court

also notes its preference that procedural issues be addressed concurrently with the

merits of the habeas petition. If not already provided to the Court, any response

to the amended petition shall be accompanied by any and all transcripts or other

documents relevant to the determination of the issues presented in the application. 

See Rules 4 and 5, Rules Governing § 2254 Cases. Counsel for Mr. Shorty may

file and serve an optional reply within twenty-one (21) days of service of

Respondent’s answer.

4. If Mr. Shorty elects to proceed on the petition at Docket No. 1, he should

concurrently file with his notice that no amended petition will be filed, a reply to

Respondent’s submission at Docket No. 13.

5. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to provide a copy of this Order to the

Federal Public Defender.

Dated at Anchorage, Alaska this 16th day of January, 2020.

 s/James K. Singleton, Jr. 

JAMES K. SINGLETON, JR.

Senior United States District Judge

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