Jackson v. Berghuis

Filing 86

OPINION and ORDER Denying the 85 MOTION to Appoint Counsel. Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (TMcg)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
DOUGLAS JACKSON,
Case No. 15-cv-11622

Petitioner,

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
JUDGE
GERSHWIN A. DRAIN

v.
LES PARISH,
Respondent.                           
______________                              /      

OPINION AND ORDER DENYING THE MOTION FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL [#85]
Douglas Jackson (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus with
this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On September 20, 2019, this Court held
the petition in abeyance and administratively closed the case so that petitioner could
complete state post-conviction proceedings in the state courts where he was
attempting to exhaust additional claims. ECF No. 84.
Petitioner has now filed a motion for the appointment of counsel, which is
DENIED.
There is no constitutional right to counsel in habeas proceedings. Cobas v.
Burgess, 306 F. 3d 441, 444 (6th Cir. 2002). The decision to appoint counsel for a
federal habeas petitioner is within the discretion of the court and is required only
where the interests of justice or due process so require. Mira v. Marshall, 806 F. 2d
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636, 638 (6th Cir. 1986). Since petitioner has failed to exhaust his state court
remedies, he is not entitled at this time to the appointment of counsel to assist him
with his habeas petition. See e.g. Villeneuve v. Romanowski, No. 2:14-CV-13768,
2015 WL 4429733, at * 5 (E.D. Mich. July 20, 2015)(citing Dupree v. Jones, 281 F.
App’x. 559, 561 (7th Cir. 2008)(unpublished)). Moreover, a trial court in Michigan
is authorized to appoint counsel for the petitioner to assist him with his postconviction proceedings. See M.C.R. 6.505; see also Nasr v. Stegall, 978 F. Supp.
714, 717 (E.D. Mich. 1997). Petitioner should therefore direct his request for the
appointment of post-conviction counsel to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
The motion for the appointment of counsel is therefore DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

October 9, 2019
s/Gershwin A. Drain
HON. GERSHWIN A. DRAIN
United States District Court Judge

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed to the attorneys
of record on this date, October 9, 2019, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
s/Teresa McGovern
Case Manager

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