Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00047/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00047-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Patrick Covello
Respondent
Don C. Livingston
Petitioner

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DON C. LIVINGSTON, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

PATRICK COVELLO, Warden, 

Respondent. 

No. 2:20-cv-0047 AC P 

ORDER 

 Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus 

filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. By order filed January 24, 2020, this court granted 

petitioner’s request to proceed in forma pauperis and directed respondent to respond to the 

petition. ECF No. 5. Petitioner now requests appointment of counsel on the ground, inter alia, 

that he will be entitled to such appointment if the court convenes an evidentiary hearing 

concerning his mental health status. Petitioner also requests an evidentiary hearing. These 

requests will be denied as premature. 

 Petitioner is informed that there is no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas 

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

3006A, the court may appoint counsel in a habeas proceeding “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 appointment of counsel at the present time. 

Case 2:20-cv-00047-KJM-AC Document 9 Filed 02/19/20 Page 1 of 2
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Moreover, the court will determine whether an evidentiary hearing is warranted once this case has 

been fully briefed. 

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s motions for appointment of 

counsel, and for an evidentiary hearing, ECF No. 8, are DENIED without prejudice. 

DATED: February 18, 2020 

Case 2:20-cv-00047-KJM-AC Document 9 Filed 02/19/20 Page 2 of 2