Lizarraga

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 LAWRENCE WILLIAMS, Case No. 1:18-cv-00748-AWI-JDP Petitioner, ORDER REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL AND REFERRING MATTER TO

v. FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE JOE LIZARRAGA, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO

SERVE DOCUMENTS

Respondent. 16 Petitioner Lawrence Williams is a state prisoner proceeding with a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. §2254. The court has granted reconsideration of its order denying appointment of counsel and now reevaluates whether to appoint counsel to petitioner. There currently exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See, e.g., Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986); Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 481 (9th Cir. 1958). However, the Criminal Justice Act authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the proceeding for financially eligible persons if “the interests of justice so require.” 18…