Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04780/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04780-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
W. L. Montgomery
Respondent
Brian K. Young
Petitioner

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRIAN K. YOUNG,

Petitioner,

v.

W. L. MONTGOMERY,

Respondent.

Case No. 15-cv-04780-SI 

ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Re: Dkt. No. 10

Petitioner has requested that counsel be appointed to represent him in this action. A 

district court may 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. 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). 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). 

Appointment is mandatory only when the circumstances of a particular case indicate that 

appointed counsel is necessary to prevent due process violations. See id. The interests of justice 

do not require appointment of counsel in this action. The request for appointment of counsel is 

DENIED. Dkt. No. 10.

In light of the possibility that petitioner was waiting for a decision on his request for 

counsel before sending in his traverse, the court now extends the deadline for the traverse. 

Petitioner must file and serve his traverse no later than September 23, 2016.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 17, 2016

______________________________________

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-04780-SI Document 11 Filed 08/17/16 Page 1 of 1