Taylor v. Williams ( 2021 )

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 4 TERRELL TORRY TAYLOR, Case No. 2:21-cv-00948-RFB-DJA 5 Petitioner, ORDER 6 v. 7 CALVIN JOHNSON, et al., 8 Respondents. 9 10 This is a habeas corpus action, initiated pro se on May 17, 2021, by Terrell Torry 11 Taylor, an individual incarcerated at Nevada’s High Desert State Prison. 12 On November 3, 2021, Taylor filed a motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 13 11). “Indigent state prisoners applying for habeas corpus relief are not entitled to 14 appointed counsel unless the circumstances of a particular case indicate that appointed 15 counsel is necessary to prevent due process violations.” Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 16 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986) (citing Kreiling v. Field, 431 F.2d 638, 640 (9th Cir. 1970) 17 (per curiam). The court may, however, appoint counsel “if the interests of justice so 18 require.” See 18 U.S.C. § 3006A; see also Rule 8(c), Rules Governing § 2254 Cases; 19 Chaney, 801 F.2d at 1196. The Court determines that, in the interests of justice, 20 appointment of counsel is warranted in this case. 21 On December 20, 2021, Respondents filed a motion to dismiss Taylor’s pro se 22 habeas petition (ECF No. 13). The Court will deny that motion to dismiss as moot, and 23 without prejudice. The Court will grant Taylor an opportunity to file an amended habeas 24 petition, with the benefit of counsel, after appointed counsel appears on his behalf. 25 On December 20, 2021, Respondents also filed a motion for leave to file certain 26 exhibits—their Exhibits No. 73, 77 and 78—under seal (ECF No. 26). The exhibits 27 Respondents propose to file under seal are presentence investigation reports. While 1 || Warner Communications, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 (1978), a party may request sealing of 2 || a judicial record by demonstrating “compelling reasons” to do so. See Kamakana v. City 3 || & Cty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178-79 (9th Cir. 2006). The Court finds that the 4 || exhibits in question contain confidential information, and that there are compelling 5 || reasons to have those exhibits filed under seal. 6 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion for Appointment of 7 || Counsel (ECF No. 11) is GRANTED. 8 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that The Federal Public Defender for the District of 9 || Nevada (FPD) is appointed to represent the petitioner. If the FPD is unable to represent 10 || the petitioner due to a conflict of interest or other reason, then alternate counsel will be 11 || appointed. In either case, counsel will represent the petitioner in all federal-court 12 || proceedings relating to this matter, unless allowed to withdraw. 13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to 14 || electronically serve upon the FPD a copy of this order, together with a copy of the 15 || petition for writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 1). 16 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FPD will have 30 days from the date of this 17 || order to file a notice of appearance, or to indicate to the Court its inability to represent 18 || the petitioner in this case. 19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents’ Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 13) 20 || is DENIED as moot and without prejudice. 21 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents’ Motion for Leave to File Exhibits 22 || Under Seal (ECF No. 26) is GRANTED. As the exhibits in question have already been 23 || filed under seal (ECF Nos. 28-1, 28-2, 28-3), no further action is necessary in this 24 || regard. 25 DATED THIS27th day of December , 2021. 26 27 C | RICHARD F. BOULWARE, II 28 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE