Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01197/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01197-1/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSHUA MICHAEL GODFREY,

Petitioner,

v.

WARDEN PBSP,

Respondent.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01197-LJO-JDP 

ORDER REQUIRING RESPONSE TO 

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS 

CORPUS, SETTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE, 

AND DIRECTING SERVICE OF 

DOCUMENTS 

ECF No. 1 

ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S MOTION 

TO APPOINT COUNSEL 

ECF No. 2

Petitioner Joshua Michael Godfrey, a state prisoner without counsel, seeks a petition for a 

writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. ECF No. 1. The matter is before the court for 

preliminary review. Under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the court must 

examine the habeas corpus petition and order a response to the petition unless it “plainly appears” 

that the petitioner is not entitled to relief. It does not plainly appear that petitioner is not entitled 

to relief. Therefore, we order the government to respond to the petition, set a briefing schedule, 

and direct service of documents.

Second, petitioner moved this court for the appointment of counsel, stating that he lacks 

legal education and cannot afford to hire counsel. ECF No. 2. A petitioner in a habeas 

Case 1:19-cv-01197-JLT-HBK Document 12 Filed 01/29/20 Page 1 of 4
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proceeding does not have an absolute right to counsel. See Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 

481 (9th Cir. 1958).

There are three specific circumstances in which appointment of counsel is required in 

habeas proceedings. First, appointment of counsel is required for an indigent person seeking to 

vacate or set aside a death sentence in post-conviction proceedings under 28 U.S.C §§ 2254 or 

2255. See 18 U.S.C. § 3599(a)(2). Second, appointment of counsel may be required if an 

evidentiary hearing is warranted. See Rules Governing § 2254 Cases 8(c). Third, appointment of 

counsel may be necessary for effective discovery. See id. at 6(a). None of these situations are

present here.

This court is further authorized to appoint counsel for an indigent petitioner in a habeas 

corpus proceeding if the court determines that the interests of justice require the assistance of 

counsel. See Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986); 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). 

However, “[i]ndigent state prisoners applying for habeas corpus relief are not entitled to 

appointed counsel unless the circumstances of a particular case indicate that appointed counsel is 

necessary to prevent due process violations.” Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196. In assessing whether to 

appoint counsel, the court evaluates the petitioner’s likelihood of success on the merits as well as 

the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims without counsel, considering the complexity of 

the legal issues involved. See Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). 

We cannot conclude at this point that counsel is necessary to prevent a due process 

violation. The legal issues currently involved are not exceptionally complicated, petitioner is able 

to articulate his claims, and petitioner has not yet demonstrated a great likelihood of success on 

the merits at this early stage in the case. Accordingly, we find that appointed counsel is not 

necessary to guard against a due process violation and that the interests of justice do not require 

the appointment of counsel at this time. 

Order

1. Petitioner’s motion for the appointment of counsel is denied. ECF No. 2.

2. Within sixty days of the date of service of this order, respondent must file a 

response to the petition. 

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3. A response may be one of the following: 

A. An answer addressing the merits of the petition. Any argument by 

respondent that petitioner has procedurally defaulted a claim must be raised 

in the answer, which must also address the merits of petitioner’s claims. 

B. A motion to dismiss the petition. 

4. Within sixty days of the date of service of this order, respondent must file all 

transcripts and other documents necessary for resolving the issues presented in the 

petition. See Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, Rule 5(c). 

5. If respondent files an answer to the petition, petitioner may file a traverse within 

thirty days of the date of service of respondent’s answer. If no traverse is filed 

within thirty days, the petition and answer are deemed submitted.

6. If respondent moves to dismiss, petitioner must file an opposition or statement of 

non-opposition within twenty-one days of the date of service of respondent’s 

motion. Any reply to an opposition to the motion to dismiss must be filed within 

seven days after the opposition is served. The motion to dismiss will be 

considered submitted twenty-eight days after the service of the motion or when the 

reply is filed, whichever comes first. See Local Rule 230(l).

7. Respondent must complete and return to the court within thirty days a form stating 

whether respondent consents or declines to consent to the jurisdiction of a United 

States Magistrate Judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1).

8. The clerk of the court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the state attorney 

general or the attorney general’s representative.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 28, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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No. 206.

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