Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01572/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01572-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Chuck Gilkey
Respondent
Jose Maria Renteria
Petitioner

Document Text:

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE MARIA RENTERIA,

Petitioner,

v.

CHUCK GILKEY, Warden,

Respondent.

 /

CV F 05-1572 OWW SMS HC

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

[Doc. #1]

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER LEAVE

TO FILE AMENDED PETITION

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER’S

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS

[Doc. #5]

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

EXPEDITED STATUS

Petitioner is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. 

On December 12, 2005, the Federal Defender’s Office opened the instant habeas action

with a motion to appoint counsel. The motion is improper in several respects. First, a non-capital

habeas action cannot be opened with a motion to appoint counsel; the first pleading is to be the

actual petition. Second, the motion is unsigned by Petitioner but purportedly on his behalf. Third,

the Federal Defender’s Office has not been appointed to represent Petitioner. Title 18 U.S.C. §

3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel “[w]henever the United States magistrate judge or

the court determines that the interests of justice so require.” This determination has not been

made; therefore, the Federal Defender has not been authorized to prosecute this action on

Petitioner’s behalf. In the event the Court determines that the interests of justice require the

Case 1:05-cv-01572-OWW -SMS Document 8 Filed 02/16/06 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

appointment of the Federal Defender, the Court will so order, either sua sponte or at the request

of Petitioner. Thus, the instant motion must be denied.

On the same date and subsequent to filing the motion to appoint counsel, the Federal

Defender’s Office filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, also without the Petitioner’s

signature. Because the Federal Defender has not been appointed to represent Petitioner and the

petition does not contain an original signature from Petitioner, this filing is also unauthorized.

Petitioner will be granted leave to file a petition with his original signature.

On January 13, 2006, Petitioner submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Examination of these documents reveals that petitioner is unable to afford the costs of this action. 

Accordingly, the motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

On January 26, 2006, Petitioner filed a motion for expedited treatment of this case. The

Court does not have an expedited calendar. Petitioner is advised that the Court acts to resolve all

pending cases in the most efficient manner possible. The Court is aware of Petitioner’s time

concern, but the Court’s docket of pending cases is substantial.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. The motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED without prejudice; 

2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to remove the Federal Defender as counsel of

record and substitute Petitioner in as proceeding pro se; 

3. Petitioner is GRANTED fifteen (15) days from the date of service of this order to

file an amended petition including his original signature; 

4. Petitioner’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED; 

5. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to re-issue the new case documents to

Petitioner; and

6. The motion for expedited treatment is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 15, 2006 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-01572-OWW -SMS Document 8 Filed 02/16/06 Page 2 of 2