Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-01708/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-01708-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Darrel Adams
Respondent
Robert Elias Ventura
Petitioner

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT E. VENTURA,

Petitioner,

 v.

DARREL ADAMS, Warden

Respondent. /

No. C 08-01708 SBA (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Petitioner has requested appointment of counsel in this action. 

The Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not apply in habeas corpus actions. See

Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 728 (9th Cir. 1986). Title 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B),

however, authorizes a district court to appoint counsel to represent a habeas petitioner whenever "the

court determines that the interests of justice so require" and such person is financially unable to

obtain representation. The decision to appoint counsel is within the discretion of the district court. 

See Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986); Knaubert, 791 F.2d at 728; Bashor v.

Risley, 730 F.2d 1228, 1234 (9th Cir. 1984). The courts have made appointment of counsel the

exception rather than the rule by limiting it to: (1) capital cases; (2) cases that turn on substantial and

complex procedural, legal or mixed legal and factual questions; (3) cases involving uneducated or

mentally or physically impaired petitioners; (4) cases likely to require the assistance of experts either

in framing or in trying the claims; (5) cases in which petitioner is in no position to investigate crucial

Case 4:08-cv-01708-SBA Document 8 Filed 05/30/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.08\Ventura1708.DenyAtty.frm 2

facts; and (6) factually complex cases. See generally 1 J. Liebman & R. Hertz, Federal Habeas

Corpus Practice and Procedure § 12.3b at 383-86 (2d ed. 1994). Appointment is mandatory only

when the circumstances of a particular case indicate that appointed counsel is necessary to prevent

due process violations. See Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196; Eskridge v. Rhay, 345 F.2d 778, 782 (9th

Cir. 1965). 

At this early stage of the proceedings the Court is unable to determine whether the

appointment of counsel is mandated for Petitioner. Accordingly, the interests of justice do not

require appointment of counsel at this time, and Petitioner's request is DENIED. This denial is

without prejudice to the Court's sua sponte reconsideration should the Court find an evidentiary

hearing necessary following consideration of the merits of Petitioner's claims. 

This Order terminates Docket no. 2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 5/29/08 SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Court Judge

Case 4:08-cv-01708-SBA Document 8 Filed 05/30/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\HC.08\Ventura1708.DenyAtty.frm 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT E. VENTURA,

Plaintiff,

 v.

DARREL ADAMS et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV08-01708 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on May 30, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle located

in the Clerk's office.

Robert Elias Ventura V-80485

CSP - Corcoran State Prison

P.O. Box 3476

Corcoran, CA 93212-3476

Dated: May 30, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:08-cv-01708-SBA Document 8 Filed 05/30/08 Page 3 of 3