Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01571/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01571-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Chuck Gilkey
Respondent
Jesus Urena-Valencia
Petitioner

Document Text:

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U.S . District Court

 E. D . California 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JESUS URENA-VALENCIA, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. )

)

)

CHUCK GILKEY, Warden, )

)

Respondent. )

 )

1:05-CV-1571 AWI SMS HC

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

[Doc. #1]

ORDER GRANTING PETITIONER LEAVE

TO FILE AMENDED PETITION

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

EXPEDITED STATUS

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

to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. 

On December 9, 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

Case 1:05-cv-01571-AWI -SMS Document 9 Filed 02/13/06 Page 1 of 2
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U.S . District Court

 E. D . California 2

event the Court determines that the interests of justice require the 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 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. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to re-issue the new case documents to Petitioner;

and 

5. The motion for expedited treatment is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 12, 2006 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-01571-AWI -SMS Document 9 Filed 02/13/06 Page 2 of 2