Collier v. Vandergriff
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner's motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. #3 ) is DENIED without prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Noelle C. Collins on 10/16/2020. (TMT)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
RANDY COLLIER,
Petitioner,
v.
DAVID VANDERGRIFF,
Respondent.
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No. 4:20-cv-1472-NCC
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon petitioner Randy Collier’s motion for the
appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 3). The motion will be denied without prejudice.
There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel in a habeas action. See 28 U.S.C. §
2254(h) (stating that a court may appoint counsel for a financially eligible petitioner); see also
Hoggard v. Purkett, 29 F.3d 469, 471 (8th Cir. 1994) (noting that habeas proceedings are civil
proceedings in which the Sixth Amendment right to counsel is inapplicable, and that it has never
“been held that there is a constitutional right to counsel in a habeas action.”). Instead, a court
may appoint counsel to represent a financially eligible habeas petitioner if the court determines
that the “interests of justice so require.” 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B). See also 28 U.S.C. §
2254(h). If an evidentiary hearing is warranted, the court must appoint counsel to represent a
petitioner who qualifies to have counsel appointed under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. Rule 8(c), Rules
Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. If an evidentiary hearing is
unwarranted, the appointment of counsel is discretionary. Hoggard, 29 F.3d at 471. In exercising
such discretion, a district court should consider the legal and factual complexity of the case, the
petitioner’s ability to investigate and present his claims, and any other relevant factors. Id.
Here, it is not apparent that the appointment of counsel would be of sufficient benefit to
petitioner or the Court. This case appears legally and factually straightforward, petitioner has so
far demonstrated his ability to present his claims and arguments to the Court, and there is no
indication that petitioner’s claims involve information that is not readily available to him.
However, recognizing that circumstances may change, the Court will deny the motion for the
appointment of counsel without prejudice, and will entertain future such motions, if appropriate.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that petitioner’s motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. 3) is
DENIED without prejudice.
Dated this 16th day of October, 2020.
/s/ Noelle C. Collins
NOELLE C. COLLINS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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