(HC) Fegan v. Schultz

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEPHEN FEGAN, Case No. 1:24-cv-01250-KES-SAB-HC

Petitioner, ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL v. (ECF No. 8) SCHULTZ, et al.,

Respondents.

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner has moved for appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 8.) There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See, e.g., Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986); Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 481 (9th Cir. 1958). However, the Criminal Justice Act authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the proceeding for financially eligible persons if “the interests of justice so require.” 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). To determine whether to appoint counsel, the “court must evaluate the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.” Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Petitioner contends that counsel should be appointed because the issues and claims in this case are particularly complex. (ECF No. 8 at 2.) Upon review of the petition, the Court finds that Petitioner appears to have a sufficient grasp of his claims and the legal issues involved and that he is able to articulate those claims adequately. Further, the Court has issued findings and recommendation recommending dismissal of the petition as successive. (ECF No. 5.) Therefore, Petitioner does not demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits such that the interests of justice require the appointment of counsel at the present time. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s motion to appoint counsel No. 8) is DENIED. i IT IS SO ORDERED. FA. ee Dated: _ December 3, 2024 STANLEY A. BOONE United States Magistrate Judge