Crews v. Perkins

• Court: District Court, W.D. Washington
• Decided: October 30, 2024
• Docket: 3:24-cv-05714
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 5 AT TACOMA 6 ROBERT LORENZA CREWS, Case No. 3:24-cv-05714-BHS-TLF 7 Petitioner, v. ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S 8 MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF JEFFEREY PERKINS, COUNSEL 9 Respondent. 10

11 This matter comes before the Court on Petitioner’s motion to appoint counsel. 12 Dkt. 41. For the reasons discussed below, the Court DENIES Petitioner’s motion, 13 without prejudice. 14 Petitioner requests the appointment of counsel and an evidentiary hearing 15 because the “state has failed to provide a full and fair review of his constitutional 16 claims.” See Dkt. 4 at 2. 17 There is no constitutional right to appointment of counsel in habeas petitions 18 because they are civil, not criminal, in nature. See Terrovona v. Kincheloe, 912 F.3d 19 1176, 1181 (9th Cir. 1990). Appointment of counsel is mandatory only if the district court 20 determines that an evidentiary hearing is required. See Id., 852 F.2d at 429; Brown v. 21 Vasquez, 952 F.2d 1164, 1168 (9th Cir.1992); Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, 22 23 1 On October 16, 2024, the Court instructed Respondent to file any response to Petitioner’s motion by 24 October 23, 2024. Dkt. 10. Respondent did not file a response. 1 Rule 8(c). If no evidentiary hearing is necessary, the appointment of counsel remains 2 discretionary. Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1330–31 (9th Cir. 1986). 3 The Court may request an attorney to represent indigent civil litigants under 28 4 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) but should do so only under “exceptional circumstances.” Agyeman

5 v. Corrections Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 2004). “A finding of 6 exceptional circumstances requires an evaluation of both the likelihood of success on 7 the merits and the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the 8 complexity of the legal issues involved.” Wilborn, 789 F.2d at 1331. These factors must 9 be viewed together before reaching a decision on a request for counsel under § 10 1915(e)(1). Id. 11 At this time, Petitioner has not shown exceptional circumstances supporting the 12 appointment of counsel. The Petitioner has effectively articulated his grounds for relief 13 in the petition. Petitioner’s indigency and lack of legal expertise are challenges faced by 14 any pro se petitioner and do not present exceptional circumstances.

15 Furthermore, it is still very early in Petitioner’s habeas proceedings. Respondent 16 has not filed the state court record and Answer. Because it is so early, the Court cannot 17 determine the complexity of the legal issues involved, the need for counsel to aid in any 18 discovery, or the potential need for an evidentiary hearing in this case. 19 20 21 22 23

24 1 Accordingly, the Court will deny the motion without prejudice so that Petitioner 2 may, if he so chooses, make a new request for counsel if circumstances change. 3 4 Dated this 30th day of October, 2024.

5 6 A 7 Theresa L. Fricke 8 United States Magistrate Judge

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