Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-00991/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-00991-9/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gerald Howard
Petitioner
M. Martel
Respondent

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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GERALD HOWARD,

Petitioner,

v.

M. MARTEL,

Respondent.

No. 2:11-cv-0991 JAM CKD P

ORDER

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding in forma pauperis with a petition for writ of 

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Before the court is petitioner’s November 12, 2013 

motion to appoint new counsel. (ECF No. 62.) Per the court’s order of December 30, 2013, 

petitioner’s counsel, Ms. Hart, has filed a response to the motion. (ECF No. 67.) The court has 

reviewed this response, filed under seal. (See ECF No. 66.)

As set forth in the court’s December 30, 2013 order, a motion by a habeas petitioner to 

substitute counsel should be decided under the “interests of justice” standard. Martel v. Clair, 

132 S. Ct. 1276, 1284-1286 (2012). Having reviewed Ms. Hart’s response to the motion, and in 

light of the full record of this action, the undersigned concludes that the interests of justice do not 

warrant a substitution of counsel at this time. However, the court will deny petitioner’s motion 

Case 2:11-cv-00991-JAM-CKD Document 68 Filed 02/07/14 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

without prejudice to renewal at a later stage of the proceedings, e.g., in the event that an 

evidentiary hearing is scheduled in this matter.

Accordingly, IT IS SO ORDERED that petitioner’s motion to appoint new counsel (ECF 

No. 62) is denied without prejudice to renewal at a later stage of this action.

Dated: February 7, 2014

2 / how0991.ord

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:11-cv-00991-JAM-CKD Document 68 Filed 02/07/14 Page 2 of 2