Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01531/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01531-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Raul Morales
Respondent
Brandon Nixon
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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRANDON NIXON,

Petitioner,

v.

RAUL MORALES,

Respondent.

No. 2:24-CV-1531-KJM-DMC-P

ORDER

Petitioner, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of habeas 

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s renewed motion 

for the appointment of counsel, ECF No. 18.

There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas 

proceedings. See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C.

§ 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case “if the interests of justice 

so require.” See Rule 8(c), Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. In the present case, the Court does 

not find that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel. Petitioner's 

prior motion for the appointment of counsel was denied without prejudice to renewal following 

the filing of an answer. The docket reflects that an answer was filed on October 9, 2024. See

ECF No. 14. In the renewed motion, Petitioner asks that the Court reconsider the prior denial 

and approve his original request. See ECF No. 18. In the original request, Petitioner stated 

Case 2:24-cv-01531-KJM-DMC Document 19 Filed 11/26/24 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

"Requesting legal counsel" without providing any reasons warranting the appointment of 

counsel. The renewed motion will, therefore, be denied without prejudice to renewal 

accompanied by an explanation of the reasons Petitioner believes warrant the appointment of 

counsel in this case. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s motion for appointment 

of counsel, ECF No. 18, is denied without prejudice.

Dated: November 25, 2024

____________________________________

DENNIS M. COTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:24-cv-01531-KJM-DMC Document 19 Filed 11/26/24 Page 2 of 2