(HC) Scroggins v. Smith

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 RANDY LEE SCROGGINS, Case No. 1:24-cv-00519-JLT-CDB (HC)

Petitioner, ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

v. (Doc. 2) STEVE SMITH, Respondent. 16 Petitioner Geronimo Mejia (“Petitioner”), a state prisoner, proceeds pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Doc. 1). Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s motion that the Court appoint counsel to represent him. (Doc. 2). In support of his motion, Petitioner advances the following grounds: (1) he lacks financial resources to retain an attorney; (2) he has no legal training; and (3) the legal issue brought in his petition is complex and involves an unusual fact pattern. (Doc. 2 at 2-3). There is no constitutional right to counsel in federal habeas proceedings. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 752 (1991); Bonin v. Vasquez, 999 F.2d 425, 429 (9th Cir. 1993). However, the Criminal Justice Act 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, authorizes the Court to appoint…