C.D. Cal. L.R. 83-17.4

(a) Initial Appointment of Counsel - Upon receipt of the habeas

corpus petition or the initial request for appointment of counsel,

unless the petition is patently frivolous, or the request for

appointment of counsel is clearly premature, the Federal Public

Defender’s Office (“FPDO”) will be appointed. If the FPDO

has already been assigned the maximum number of cases, as

determined by the Defender Services Committee of the United

States Judicial Conference, and the FPDO has not agreed to an

excess appointment, or otherwise has a conflict or cannot accept

the appointment, lead and second counsel must be selected and

appointed from a panel of attorneys, qualified for appointment

in capital habeas corpus cases. In exceptional circumstances,

the Court may appoint an attorney who is not a member of the

panel.

(b) Subsequent Appointment of Second Counsel - If second

counsel is not appointed at the time lead counsel is appointed,

and lead counsel recommends that second counsel be

appointed, lead counsel must apply to the assigned judge for

appointment of a second counsel.

(c) Substitution of First or Second Counsel - If the assigned judge,

in his or her discretion, determines that the substitution of

counsel is necessary, section (a) applies.