(HC) Martinez Obando v. United States Department of Homeland Security

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BISMARCK ALFREDO MARTINEZ Case No. 1:24-cv-01328-SAB-HC OBANDO, ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S Petitioner, MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL v. (ECF No. 6) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

Respondent.

Petitioner is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Petitioner has moved for appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 5.) 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 he has a strong chance of success on the merits and the complexity of the law. (ECF No. 6 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. The Court finds that the interests of justice do not require the appointment of counsel at the present time. However, if upon review of Respondent’s response to the petition, the Court finds that the legal issues are more complex than they currently appear, the Court may revisit Petitioner’s request for counsel. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. 6) is DENIED without prejudice. Db IT IS SO ORDERED. DAM Le Dated: _November 18, 2024 __ Oe STANLEY A. BOONE United States Magistrate Judge