Joseph F. Bataillon
MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER
This matter is before the court on Petitioner's Motion for Appointment of Counsel. (Filing No. 6.) "[T]here is neither a constitutional nor statutory right to counsel in habeas proceedings; instead, [appointment of counsel] is committed to the discretion of the trial court." McCall v. Benson, 114 F.3d 754, 756 (8th Cir. 1997) (citations omitted). As a general rule, counsel will not be appointed unless the case is unusually complex or the petitioner's ability to investigate and articulate the claims is unusually impaired or an evidentiary hearing is required. See, e.g., Morris v. Dormire, 217 F.3d 556, 558-59 (8th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 984 (2000); Hoggard v. Purkett, 29 F.3d 469, 471 (8th Cir. 1994) (citations omitted); see also Rule 8(c) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts (requiring appointment of counsel if an evidentiary hearing is warranted). Upon review of the pleadings and Petitioner's Motion, the court finds that there is no need for the appointment of counsel.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion for Appointment of Counsel (filing no. 6) is denied.
BY THE COURT:
Joseph F. Bataillon
United States District Judge
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