Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-03287/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-03287-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Luis Alberto Luna
Petitioner
State of California
Respondent

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LUIS ALBERTO LUNA,

Petitioner, No. 2:10-cv-3287 KJN P

vs.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Pursuant to order filed December 15, 2010, plaintiff is required to file a completed

in forma pauperis application on or before January 13, 2011. (Dkt. No. 3.) Petitioner has now

filed a motion for appointment of counsel (Dkt. No. 6), and requests confirmation that his motion

was filed (Dkt. No. 5).

There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas

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

§ 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case “if the interests of justice

so require.” See Rule 8(c), Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. In the present case, particularly at

this early juncture before receipt of petitioner’s in forma pauperis application and the screening

of his habeas petition, the court does not find that the interests of justice would be served by the

appointment of counsel at the present time. 

Case 2:10-cv-03287-KJM -KJN Document 7 Filed 01/04/11 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s December 21, 2010 request for appointment of counsel (Dkt. No.

6) is denied without prejudice to renewal of the motion at a later stage of the proceedings; and 

2. The Clerk of Court is directed to send petitioner a copy of the first (fileendorsed) page of petitioner’s motion filed December 21, 2010 (Dkt. No. 6).

DATED: January 3, 2011

_____________________________________

KENDALL J. NEWMAN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

luna3287.110

Case 2:10-cv-03287-KJM -KJN Document 7 Filed 01/04/11 Page 2 of 2