Watson v. People of The State of California

Filing 18

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan on 1/5/10 DIRECTING RESPONDENT to File a Response to Petition within 60 days. Clerk to serve a copy of this order, a copy of the Petition and the Order re Consent on the Attorney General. Petitioners 11/30/09 request for appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice. (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. JAMES D. HARTLEY, Respondent. / Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding without counsel, seeks a writ of habeas corpus. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254. A judge "entertaining an application for a writ of habeas corpus shall forthwith award the writ or issue an order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person detained is not entitled thereto." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. It is not apparent from the face of the application that the petitioner is not entitled to relief. Petitioner has requested that the court appoint 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). The court may appointment counsel at any stage of the proceedings "if the interests of justice so require." See 18 U.S.C. § 3006A; see also, Rule 8(c), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. The court does not find that the interests of justice would be served by the ORDER LARRY WATSON, Petitioner, No. CIV S-09-1855 FCD EFB P IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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appointment of counsel at this stage of the proceedings. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that: 1. Respondent shall file and serve either an answer or a motion in response to petitioner's application within 60 days from the date of this order. See Rule 4, Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. Any response shall be accompanied by any and all transcripts or other documents relevant to the determination of the issues presented in the application. See Rules 4, 5, Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. 2. Petitioner's reply, if any, shall be filed and served within 30 days of service of an answer. 3. If the response to petitioner's application is a motion, petitioner's opposition or statement of non-opposition shall be filed and served within 30 days of service of the motion, and respondent's reply, if any, shall be filed within 14 days thereafter. 4. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order together with a copy of petitioner's November 30, 2009, petition for a writ of habeas corpus with any and all attachments, including petitioner's accompanying motions, on Michael Patrick Farrell, Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of California. The Clerk of the Court also shall serve on the Senior Assistant Attorney General the consent form used in this court. 5. Petitioner's November 30, 2009 request for appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice. Dated: January 5, 2010.

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