Vargas v. Hedgpeth

Filing 8

ORDER DIRECTING RESPONDENT to File a Response to Petition signed by Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on 8/7/09. Clerk to serve a copy of this order, a copy of the Petition and the Order re Consent on the Attorney General. Petitioner's 3 Mo tion to Appoint Counsel is DENIED ; 7 Motion to Dismiss the insufficient evidence claim is GRANTED. Respondents are directed to file a response to petitioners habeas petition within 60 days from the date of this order. (cc Michael Farrell)(Dillon, M)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 vs. ANTHONY HEDGPETH, et al., Respondents. / Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The petition raises five claims: 1) insufficient evidence to support conviction for assault with a firearm; 2) tainted eyewitness identification procedure; 3) partial verdict procedure improper; 4) comments to the jury by the court were improper; 5) use of juvenile conviction to justify upper term improper. On June 26, 2009, the court issued an order finding that the insufficient evidence claim was not exhausted. The court ordered petitioner to inform the court whether he wanted to stay the action and return to state court to exhaust this claim or proceed on the exhausted claims only. On July 27, 2009, petitioner filed a request to dismiss the unexhausted claim and proceed on the exhausted claim only. ///// 1 ORDER IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ALFREDO VARGAS, Petitioner, No. CIV S-09-1697 GGH P

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 denied;

Petitioner has also requested the appointment of counsel. There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case "if the interests of justice so require." See Rule 8(c), Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. In the present case, the court does not find that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel at the present time. In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Petitioner's July 27, 2009, motion to dismiss the insufficient evidence claim (no. 7) is granted; 2. Petitioner's June 18, 2009, motion for the appointment of counsel (no. 3) is

3. Respondents are directed to file a response to petitioner's habeas petition within sixty days from the date of this order. See Rule 4, Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. An answer shall be accompanied by all transcripts and other documents relevant to the issues presented in the petition. See Rule 5, Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases; 4. If the response to the habeas petition is an answer, petitioner's reply, if any, shall be filed and served within thirty days after service of the answer; 5. If the response to the habeas petition is a motion, petitioner's opposition or statement of non-opposition to the motion shall be filed and served within thirty days after service of the motion, and respondents' reply, if any, shall be filed and served within fifteen days thereafter; and ///// ///// ///// ///// /////

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6. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order, the consent/reassignment form contemplated by Appendix A(k) to the Local Rules of this court together with a copy of the petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 on Michael Patrick Farrell, Senior Assistant Attorney General. DATED: August 7, 2009 /s/ Gregory G. Hollows

7 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 var1697.100