King v. People of the State of California

Filing 23

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes on 7/28/2017 GRANTING petitioner's 22 motion for appointment of counsel. The Federal Defender is APPOINTED to represent petitioner through the filing of an amended petition. The Clerk shall ser ve a copy of this order on the FD, Attention: Habeas Appointment. Within 30 days, counsel shall file an amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus on petitioner's behalf. If appropriate, the petition should include any request for equitable tolling of the statute of limitations. (cc: FD, Habeas Appointment)(Yin, K)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

LEONARD MICHAEL KING,

12
13
14

No. 2:15-cv-2174 DB P

Petitioner,
v.

ORDER

CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER,

15

Respondent.

16
17

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with an action under

18

28 U.S.C. § 2254. On March 16, 2017, the court found petitioner failed to state any claims

19

cognizable on habeas corpus. (ECF No. 18.) Petitioner was given leave to file an amended

20

petition.

21

Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. He states that he is in a mental health

22

facility and does not have the ability to comply with the court’s order due to his mental illness

23

and lack of literacy. Petitioner states that his TABE score is 3.3. “The TABE (Tests of Adult

24

Basic Education) scores reflect an inmate's educational achievement level and are expressed in

25

numbers reflecting grade level.” Marcelo v. Hartley, 2008 WL 4057003, *4 n. 7 (C.D. Cal. 2008)

26

(citing In re Roderick, 154 Cal. App. 4th 242, 253 n. 5, 257 n. 10). Petitioner’s TABE score

27

indicates that he functions at a third grade level. California regulations require inmates with a

28

TABE score lower than 4.0 to be evaluated for staff assistance or a reasonable accommodation

1

for “effective communication” in prison disciplinary proceedings. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3000.

2

(ECF No. 22.)

3

There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings.

4

See Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A

5

authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case “if the interests of justice so

6

require.” See Rule 8(c), Fed. R. Governing § 2254 Cases. In the court’s screening orders dated

7

March 25, 2016 and March 16, 2017, petitioner was informed that he should look to the appellate

8

brief submitted on his behalf to the state Court of Appeal and to his petition for review to the

9

California Supreme Court to identify claims to raise in his habeas petition here. (ECF No. 18 at

10
11
12

4.) Petitioner appears to be unable to follow these instructions.
The court finds that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel
for the limited purpose of filing an amended petition.

13

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

14

1. Petitioner’s motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 22) is granted.

15

2. The Federal Defender is appointed to represent petitioner through the filing of an

16
17
18

amended petition.
3. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order on the Federal Defender,
Attention: Habeas Appointment.

19

4. Within thirty days of the filed date of this order, counsel shall file an amended petition

20

for a writ of habeas corpus on petitioner’s behalf. If appropriate, the petition should include any

21

request for equitable tolling of the statute of limitations.

22

Dated: July 28, 2017

23
24
25
26
27

DLB:9
DLB1/prisoner-habeas/king2174.110a

28
2