Opinion ID: 550849
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of Counsel on Direct Appeal

Text: 9 Initially, we note that pro se litigants are not bound by the stringent standards governing formally trained attorneys. Jamison-Bey v. Thieret, 867 F.2d 1046, 1047 (7th Cir.1989). As such, we will liberally construe petitioner's Sec. 2255 motion. Id. Petitioner contends that it was error for the district court to deny his request for counsel on appeal. Petitioner is correct that the constitution guarantees criminal defendants the right to counsel both at trial and for the first appeal as of right. Buelow, 847 F.2d at 426. Here, the court did not appoint counsel because the appeal time, including the thirty day extension, had already run when the petitioner requested appointment of counsel to represent him on appeal. Additionally, after notifying the petitioner that his appeal time expired, the court instructed the petitioner to file a Sec. 2255 motion. Thus, the court committed no error.