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Reyes v. Williams, 2:18-cv-01229-APG-CWH. (2018)

Court: District Court, D. Nevada Number: infdco20181221h14 Visitors: 24
Filed: Dec. 20, 2018
Latest Update: Dec. 20, 2018
Summary: ORDER ANDREW P. GORDON , District Judge . Petitioner Danny Reyes has submitted a 28 U.S.C. 2254 habeas corpus petition and has now paid the filing fee. ECF Nos. 1-1, 7. The petition shall be docketed and served on the respondents. A petition for federal habeas corpus should include all claims for relief of which the petitioner is aware. If the petitioner fails to include a claim in his petition, he may be forever barred from seeking federal habeas relief upon that claim. See 28 U.S.C.
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ORDER

Petitioner Danny Reyes has submitted a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition and has now paid the filing fee. ECF Nos. 1-1, 7. The petition shall be docketed and served on the respondents.

A petition for federal habeas corpus should include all claims for relief of which the petitioner is aware. If the petitioner fails to include a claim in his petition, he may be forever barred from seeking federal habeas relief upon that claim. See 28 U.S.C. §2254(b) (successive petitions). If Mr. Reyes is aware of any claim not included in his petition, he should notify the court of that as soon as possible, perhaps by means of a motion to amend his petition to add the claim.

Mr. Reyes has also filed a motion for appointment of counsel. ECF No. 2. There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel for a federal habeas corpus proceeding. Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 555 (1987); Bonin v. Vasquez, 999 F.2d 425, 428 (9th Cir.1993). The decision to appoint counsel is generally discretionary. Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1023 (1987); Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d 1228, 1234 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 838 (1984). However, counsel must be appointed if the complexities of the case are such that denial of counsel would amount to a denial of due process, and where the petitioner is a person of such limited education as to be incapable of fairly presenting his claims. See Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196; see also Hawkins v. Bennett, 423 F.2d 948 (8th Cir.1970). Here, Mr. Reyes notes that English is not his first language and that he had inmate assistance in drafting the petition. However, his petition clearly presents the issues that he wishes to raise, and the legal issues do not appear to be particularly complex. Therefore, counsel is not justified at this time. Mr. Reyes' motion is denied.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Clerk shall file and ELECTRONICALLY SERVE the petition (ECF No. 1-1) on the respondents.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall add Adam Paul Laxalt, Nevada Attorney General, as counsel for respondents.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the respondents shall file a response to the petition, including potentially by motion to dismiss, within 90 days of service of the petition, with any requests for relief by the petitioner by motion otherwise being subject to the normal briefing schedule under the local rules. Any response filed shall comply with the remaining provisions below, which are entered pursuant to Habeas Rule 5.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any procedural defenses raised by the respondents in this case shall be raised together in a single consolidated motion to dismiss. In other words, I do not wish to address any procedural defenses raised herein either in seriatum fashion in multiple successive motions to dismiss or embedded in the answer. Procedural defenses omitted from such a motion to dismiss will be subject to potential waiver. The respondents shall not file a response in this case that consolidates their procedural defenses, if any, with their response on the merits, except pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) as to any unexhausted claims clearly lacking merit. If the respondents seek dismissal of unexhausted claims under § 2254(b)(2), then (a) they shall do so within the single motion to dismiss, not in the answer; and (b) they shall specifically direct their argument to the standard for dismissal under § 2254(b)(2) set forth in Cassett v. Stewart, 406 F.3d 614, 623-24 (9th Cir. 2005). In short, no procedural defenses, including exhaustion, shall be included with the merits in an answer. All procedural defenses, including exhaustion, instead must be raised by motion to dismiss.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in any answer filed on the merits, the respondents shall specifically cite to and address the applicable state court written decision and state court record materials, if any, regarding each claim within the response as to that claim.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Reyes shall have 45 days from service of the answer, motion to dismiss, or other response to file a reply or opposition, with any other requests for relief by the respondents by motion otherwise being subject to the normal briefing schedule under the local rules.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any additional state court record exhibits filed herein by either Reyes or the respondents shall be filed with a separate index of exhibits identifying the exhibits by number. The CM/ECF attachments that are filed further shall be identified by the number or numbers of the exhibits in the attachment.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties SHALL SEND paper courtesy copies of all exhibits to Clerk of Court, Attn: Staff Attorney, 400 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89501. Additionally, in the future, all parties shall provide courtesy copies of any additional exhibits submitted to the court in this case, in the manner described above.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Reyes's motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 2) is DENIED.

Source:  Leagle

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