Simmons v. Cassady

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioners motions for appointment of counsel are DENIED. (Doc. Nos. 2 and 5.) Signed by District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on 10/22/14. (JWJ)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

RICHARD C. SIMMONS,

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Petitioner,
vs.
JAY CASSADY,
Respondent.

Case No. 4:14CV01378 AGF

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

This matter is before the Court on two motions filed by Petitioner for appointment of
counsel. There is no constitutional right for a pro se habeas petitioner to have counsel appointed,
although the Court has discretion to appoint counsel when necessary. Morris v. Dormire, 217
F.3d 556, 558 (8th Cir. 2000). Among the factors a court should consider in making this
determination are the factual and legal complexity of the case, the ability of the petitioner to
present the facts and his claims, and the degree to which the petitioner and the Court would
benefit from such an appointment. Id. Upon review of the record, the Court does not believe
that the appointment of counsel is warranted here.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s motions for appointment of counsel are
DENIED. (Doc. Nos. 2 and 5.)
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AUDREY G. FLEISSIG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 22nd day of October, 2014.