Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01629/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01629-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Joe Lizarraga
Respondent
Willie Wheeler
Petitioner

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIE WHEELER,

Petitioner,

v.

JOE LIZARRAGA, Warden,

Respondent.

No. 2:15-cv-1629 MCE DAD P

ORDER

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed an application for a writ of habeas 

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner has not, however, filed an in forma pauperis 

affidavit or paid the required filing fee ($5.00). See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a); 1915(a). Petitioner 

will be provided the opportunity to either submit the appropriate affidavit in support of a request 

to proceed in forma pauperis or submit the appropriate filing fee. As petitioner has already filed a 

trust account statement with the court, he need not re-file this document with the court. (See ECF 

No. 2.)

In addition, petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. 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, the court does not find that the interests of justice would be 

Case 2:15-cv-01629-MCE-DB Document 7 Filed 08/24/15 Page 1 of 2
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served by the appointment of counsel at the present time. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner shall submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, an affidavit in 

support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis or the appropriate filing fee; petitioner’s 

failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed; 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner a copy of the in forma pauperis 

form used by this district; and

3. Petitioner’s July 30, 2015 motion for appointment of counsel (Docket No. 3) is denied 

without prejudice to a renewal of the motion at a later stage of the proceedings.

Dated: August 21, 2015

DAD:10; mp

whee1629.101a+110

Case 2:15-cv-01629-MCE-DB Document 7 Filed 08/24/15 Page 2 of 2