Reese v. Larson

Filing 15

ORDER Denying Petitioner's 3 Motion for Appointment of Counsel. Signed by District Judge Denise Page Hood. (Loury, R)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION

VERDELL REESE,
Case Number: 2:13-CV-12366

Petitioner,

HONORABLE DENISE PAGE HOOD

v.
JEFFREY LARSON,
Respondent.
/

ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Petitioner Verdell Reese, a state inmate currently incarcerated at the Central Michigan
Correctional Facility in St. Louis, Michigan, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas
corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Now before the Court is Petitioner’s Motion for
Appointment of Counsel.
There exists no constitutional right to the appointment of counsel in civil cases, and
the court has broad discretion in determining whether counsel should be appointed. Franklin
v. Rose, 765 F.2d 82, 85 (6th Cir. 1985) (holding that a habeas petitioner is not entitled to the
appointment of counsel to assist in habeas corpus proceedings); Childs v. Pellegrin, 822 F.2d
1382, 1384 (6th Cir. 1987) (“[A]ppointment of counsel in a civil case is . . . a matter within
the discretion of the court. It is a privilege and not a right.”) (internal quotation omitted).
A habeas petitioner may obtain representation at any stage of the case “[w]henever the
United States magistrate or the court determines that the interests of justice so require.” 18

U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). The Court determines that the interests of justice do not require
appointment of counsel at this time.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel
[dkt. # 3] is DENIED.

S/Denise Page Hood
Denise Page Hood
United States District Judge
Dated: January 22, 2014
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record on
January 22, 2014, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
S/LaShawn R. Saulsberry
Case Manager

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