Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-03830/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-03830-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Cesar Rodriguez
Petitioner
John F. Salazar
Respondent

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

CESAR RODRIGUEZ,

Petitioner.

 v.

JOHN F. SALAZAR, Warden,

Respondent. /

No. C 08-03830 CW (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

Case 4:08-cv-03830-CW Document 10 Filed 09/18/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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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 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. The Court notes that Petitioner has presented his

claims adequately in the petition, and no evidentiary hearing

appears necessary. 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

reconsideration should the Court on its own motion find an

evidentiary hearing necessary following consideration of the merits

of Petitioner's claims. 

This Order terminates Docket no. 9.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 9/18/08 

CLAUDIA WILKEN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:08-cv-03830-CW Document 10 Filed 09/18/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CESAR RODRIGUEZ,

Plaintiff,

 v.

JOHN F SALAZAR et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV08-03830 CW 

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 September 18, 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.

Cesar Rodriguez F-30844

Chuckwalla Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 2349

Blythe, CA 92226

Dated: September 18, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Sheilah Cahill, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:08-cv-03830-CW Document 10 Filed 09/18/08 Page 3 of 3