Sam Khamsaen Phetinta v. John Mattos

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: December 29, 2025
• Docket: 2:25-cv-02564
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 Sam Khamsaen Phetinta, Case No.: 2:25-cv-02564-GMN-BNW

4 Petitioner. Order

5 v.

6 John Mattos,

7 Respondent. 8 Petitioner Sam Khamsaen Phetinta, immigration detainee, has filed a pro se Petition for 9 Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and an Application to Proceed In Forma 10 Pauperis (“IFP”). ECF Nos. 1, 1-1. The Court finds good cause to grant his IFP Application. 11 In his Petition, Phetinta requests appointment of counsel. ECF No. 1-1 at 1. The Court 12 determines that appointment of counsel is warranted. Generally, habeas petitioners not 13 sentenced to death are not entitled to appointed counsel unless the circumstances indicate that 14 appointed counsel is necessary to prevent due process violations. See Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 15 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986) (citing Kreiling v. Field, 431 F.2d 638, 640 (9th Cir. 1970) (per 16 curiam)). The Court may, however, appoint counsel if the interests of justice so require. See 18 17 U.S.C. § 3006A; Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196. Here, Petitioner is unrepresented and stands to lose 18 his right to an adjudication of his Petition on the merits due to ignorance of technical procedural 19 requirements. In addition, this case concerns immigration proceedings, prolonged detention, and 20 potentially removal, thus the outcome of this litigation is likely to have serious consequences for 21 Petitioner. The Court therefore finds that appointment of counsel is in the interests of justice and 22 appoints counsel. 23 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner Sam Khamsaen Phetinta’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 1) is granted. 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Federal Public Defender for the District of Nevada 2 (FPD) is appointed to represent Petitioner. If the FPD is unable to represent Petitioner, because 3 of a conflict of interest or for any other reason, alternate counsel will be appointed. In either 4 case, counsel will represent Petitioner in all federal court proceedings relating to this matter,

5 unless allowed to withdraw. 6 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is kindly instructed to electronically 7 serve upon the FPD a copy of this order, together with a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1-1). 8 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FPD will have 14 days from the date of entry of 9 this order to appear for Petitioner and file an Amended Petition for writ of habeas corpus. The 10 Federal Public Defender shall effectuate service of the Amended Petition on the Respondents. 11 The Clerk of Court is kindly directed to: 12 1. FILE the Petition (ECF No. 1-1). 13 2. DELIVER a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1-1) and this Order to the 14 U.S. Marshal for service.

15 3. ADD the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada and John 16 Mattos, the Warden of Nevada Southern Detention Center, to the 17 docket as Interested Parties. 18 4. SEND, through CM/ECF, a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1-1) and 19 this Order to: 20 o the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of 21 Nevada, at Sigal.Chattah@usdoj.gov, 22 summer.johnson@usdoj.gov, 23 Veronica.criste@usdoj.gov, and 1 caseview.ecf@usdoj.gov, pursuant to Federal Rule of 2 Civil Procedure 5(b)(2)(E). 3 o Counsel for Respondent John Mattos: Ashlee Hesman 4 at ahesman@strucklove.com and Jacob Brady Lee at

5 JLee@strucklove.com 6 5. SEND the Federal Public Defender, Petitioner, and the CJA 7 Coordinator for this division a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1-1) and 8 this Order. 9 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the U.S. Marshal SERVE a copy of the Petition (ECF 10 No. 1-1) and this Order on the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada or on an Assistant 11 United States Attorney or clerical employee designated by the United State Attorney pursuant to 12 Rule 4(i)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of 14 Nevada file a notice of appearance within 7 days of the date of this Order and file and serve their

15 Answer to the Amended Petition within 7 days of service of the Amended Petition. The 16 Respondents must file with their Answer any documents reference or relied upon in their 17 responsive pleading.1 Petitioner will then have 7 days to file a reply. 18 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties must meet and confer regarding any 19 requests for an extension of deadlines and stipulate to the extension if possible. Any motion for 20 extension must certify efforts taken to meet and confer and indicate the opposing party’s position 21

22 1 See Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S. 286, 290 (1969) (holding that “a district court, confronted by a petition for habeas corpus which establishes a prima facie case for relief, may use or authorize the 23 use of suitable discovery procedures . . . reasonably fashioned to elicit facts necessary to help the court to ‘dispose of the matter as law and justice require.’”) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2243). l}regarding the extension. Any motion or stipulation must comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(b) and Local Rules IA 6-1, 6-2. 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that John Mattos shall not transfer Petitioner out of this District. See F.7.C. v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597, 604 (1966) (noting the court's "express 5] authority under the All Writs Act to issue such temporary injunctions as may be necessary to 6]| protect its own jurisdiction"). Given the exigent circumstances, the Court finds that this order is 7|| warranted to maintain the status quo pending resolution on the merits and finds that Petitioner 8|| has satisfied the factors governing the issuance of such preliminary relief. 9 IT IS FURTHER KINDLY DIRECTED that the Clerk of Court MAIL a copy of the 10]| Petition (ECF No. 1-1) and this Order to: John Mattos, Warden, Nevada Southern Detention Center, 2190 E. Mesquite Ave. Pahrump, NV 89060. 12 DATED: — December 29, 2025 13 Gp 14 Wf 4 GLOR ry . NAVARRO 15 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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