Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-06564/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-06564-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Mike Evans
Respondent
Greg Lee
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

GREG LEE,

Petitioner.

 v.

MIKE EVANS, Acting Warden,

Respondent. /

No. C 06-06564 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 4:06-cv-06564-SBA Document 14 Filed 05/17/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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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). 

The Court finds that appointment of counsel is not warranted in this case. Petitioner's claims

are typical claims that arise in criminal appeals and are not especially complex. This is not an

exceptional case that would warrant representation on federal habeas review. Therefore, Petitioner's

motion for appointment of counsel 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.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 5/16/07 _______________________________

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:06-cv-06564-SBA Document 14 Filed 05/17/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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GREG LEE,

Plaintiff,

 v.

EVANS et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV06-06564 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 17, 2007, 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.

Greg Lee K90835

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1050

Soledad, CA 93960

Dated: May 17, 2007

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:06-cv-06564-SBA Document 14 Filed 05/17/07 Page 3 of 3