Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01714/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01714-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LANCE WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff,

v.

WASCO STATE PRISON, et al.,

Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:14-cv-01714(PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 9)

On March 2, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion to appoint counsel. (ECF No. 9.)

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, 

Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an 

attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United 

States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). 

However, in certain exceptional circumstances the Court may request the voluntary 

assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court 

will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In 

determining whether “exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate 

both the likelihood of success of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate 

his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal 

quotation marks and citations omitted).

Case 1:14-cv-01714-DAD-MJS Document 11 Filed 03/27/15 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional 

circumstances. Plaintiff claims his inmate status will make it difficult for him to gather 

evidence and conduct discovery. However, Plaintiff faces no pending deadlines in this 

case, and he may request an extension of time if he has trouble meeting any deadlines 

that arise.

Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has 

made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not

exceptional. This court is faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this stage in 

the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that plaintiff is likely to succeed 

on the merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does not find 

that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id.

Accordingly, the court will recommend that Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment 

of counsel be DENIED without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 27, 2015 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01714-DAD-MJS Document 11 Filed 03/27/15 Page 2 of 2