The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 JOSEPH HASKELL MAINE, ) Case No.: 1:20-cv-0303 JLT HBK (HC)
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12 Petitioner, ) ORDER GRANTING IN PART PETITIONER’S
) REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME
13 v. ) AND DENYING PETITIONER’S REQUEST
) FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
14 LUIS MARTINEZ, )
) (Doc. 32)
15 Respondent. )
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16 )
17 The Court denied the petition filed by Joseph Haskell Maine, in which he asserted juror
18 bias, and entered judgment on March 26, 2024. (Docs. 30, 31.) Petitioner now requests an
19 extension of time and to have counsel appointed. (Doc. 32.) For the reasons set forth below, the
20 request for an extension of time is GRANTED IN PART and the request for counsel is
21 DENIED.
22 I. Extension of Time
23 On April 26, 2024, Petitioner filed a request for a 90-day extension of time. (Doc. 32.)
24 Petitioner reports that he “received … mail from the courts dated March 26, 2024.” (Id. at 1.)
25 However, Petitioner asserts he “was transported to Bakersfield hospital for complications of
26 vertigo,” on April 9, 2024; and he returned to the hospital for an unidentified period on April 11,
27 2024. (Id.) Petitioner asserts that his “mobility [was] at a miniscule level” and he was unable to
28 “read or write or hold [his] head up.” (Id.) As a result, Petitioner indicated the request for an
1 extension of time was drafted by an inmate who came to his assistance. (Id.) Thus, Petitioner
2 requested “a 90 day extension of time due to serious medical condition.” (Id.)
3 Notably, it is unclear for what purpose Petitioner seeks an extension. If Petitioner
4 intended the extension to file a motion for relief from the judgment or reconsideration under Rule
5 59 or Rule 60 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court lacks authority to extend the
6 deadlines. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(2) (“A court must not extend the time to act under Rules 50(b)
7 and (d), 52(b), 59(b), (d), and (e), and 60(b)”). Consequently, to the extent Petitioner’s request
8 was for the purpose of filing a motion under Rule 59 or Rule 60, the request is denied.
9 On the other hand, the Court is authorized limited authority to grant an extension of time
10 for purposes of filing a notice of appeal. United States v. Brown, 626 F. App’x 688, 690 (9th Cir.
11 2015). In general, the notice of appeal “must be filed with the district clerk within 30 days after
12 the judgment or order appealed from.” Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). However, the district court
13 may extend the deadline for filing a notice of appeal if the moving party shows excusable neglect
14 or good cause. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A). The Ninth Circuit explained:
15 Rule 4(a)(5) permits a district court to extend the time to file a
[notice of appeal] if a party so moves within 30 days of the
16 expiration of the [30]—day clock, but only permits the district
court to extend the deadline to 1) 30 days after the close of the
17 NOA period..., or 2) 14 days after the date when its order granting
the motion to extend is entered—whichever is later.
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19 Brown, 626 F. App’x at 690. Based upon Petitioner’s reported hospitalizations and medical
20 condition during the relevant 30-day period, the Court finds good cause appears for granting an
21 extension of time. Because more 30 days have now passed following the initial deadline for
22 Petitioner to file a notice of appeal, the Court grants an extension of 14 days from the date of
23 service of this order. See Brown, 626 F. App’x at 690.
24 II. Motion for Counsel
25 Petitioner requests the Court appoint counsel due to his medical issues with vertigo. (Doc.
26 32 at 1.) Importantly, there currently is no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas
27 proceedings. See e.g., Anderson v. Heinze, 258 F.2d 479, 481 (9th Cir. 1958); Mitchell v. Wyrick,
28 727 F.2d 773, 774 (8th Cir. 1984). However, Title 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) authorizes the
1 | appointment of counsel at any stage of the case “if the interests of justice so require.” See Rule
2 | 8c), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. In the present case, the Court does not find that the
3 | interests of justice require the appointment of counsel at the present time, particularly because the
4 | Court has ruled on the merits of the petition and entered judgment in the action. Therefore,
5 | Petitioner’s motion for appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice.
6 | Il. Conclusion and Order
7 Based upon the foregoing, the Court ORDERS:
8 1. Petitioner’s request for an extension of time is GRANTED IN PART.
9 2. To the extent Petitioner requests an extension of the deadlines imposed under
10 Rules 59 and 60 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the request is DENIED.
11 3. Petitioner SHALL file any notice of appeal within 14 days of the date of service
12 of this order.
13 4. Petitioner’s request for appointment of counsel is DENIED.
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15 IT IS SO ORDERED.
16 | Dated: _ July 1, 2024 Charis [Tourn
TED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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