Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01664/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01664-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL CHEEK,

Plaintiff,

vs.

EZRA CROSBY, et al.,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:10-cv-01664-RRB

ORDER REGARDING MOTION

AT DOCKET 22

At Docket 22 Plaintiff Michael Cheek, a state prisoner appearing pro se and in

forma pauperis, filed a Motion to Appoint Counsel. Generally, a state prisoner has no right

to counsel in civil actions. “However, a court may under exceptional circumstances appoint 1

counsel for indigent civil litigants pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). When determining

whether exceptional circumstances exist, a court must consider the likelihood of success

on the merits as well as the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of

the complexity of the legal issues involved. Neither of these considerations is dispositive

and instead must be viewed together.”2

Contrary to Cheeks contentions the this case does not present any complex legal

issues. Indeed, as was noted in the Screening Order, neither the applicable law nor the

See Storseth v. Spellman, 654 F.2d 1349, 1353 (9th Cir. 1981) (holding that

1

there is no constitutional right to appointed counsel for § 1983 claims).

Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (citations and internal 2

quotation marks omitted).

ORDER REGARDING MOTION AT DOCKET 22

Cheek v. Crosby, 1:10-cv-01664-RRB – 1

Case 1:10-cv-01664-RRB Document 23 Filed 03/18/14 Page 1 of 2
factual issues involved in this case are unduly complex. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion to 

Appointment Counsel at DOCKET 22 is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 18 day of March, 2014.

th

S/ RALPH R. BEISTLINE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

ORDER REGARDING MOTION AT DOCKET 22

Cheek v. Crosby, 1:10-cv-01664-RRB – 2

Case 1:10-cv-01664-RRB Document 23 Filed 03/18/14 Page 2 of 2