Opinion ID: 1707797
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: appointed counsel

Text: Livingston has also assigned as error the postconviction court's failure to appoint counsel to represent him for his postconviction relief proceedings. There is no federal or state constitutional right to an attorney in state postconviction proceedings. See, Coleman v. Thompson, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S.Ct. 2546, 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991); State v. Stewart, 242 Neb. 712, 496 N.W.2d 524 (1993). Statutorily, the district court may appoint not to exceed two attorneys to represent prisoners in all postconviction relief proceedings. See Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 29-3001 through 29-3004 (Reissue 1989 & Cum.Supp. 1992). Thus, whether counsel is to be appointed in postconviction relief proceedings is discretionary with the trial court, and the failure to appoint counsel in such proceedings is not error in the absence of an abuse of discretion. It was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to deny appointed counsel for Livingston when the court found that on the face of his postconviction relief motions Livingston was not entitled to any relief. It is apparent that, upon remand of these two causes to the district court, Livingston, to support his claims, will need to present facts not contained in his postconviction records. Upon remand of these causes to the district court, nothing in this opinion should be construed as preventing Livingston from again applying to the district court for appointed counsel. In summary, we reverse the Court of Appeals' summary affirmances in these two appeals. We remand the causes to the Court of Appeals with directions to remand them to the district court with instructions to grant Livingston an evidentiary hearing in the two causes. REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS. SHANAHAN, J., not participating. BOSLAUGH, J., dissents.