Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05321/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05321-9/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

JOSH THOMAS MILLER, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

 )

v. ) 

)

LOIZA, M.D., )

 )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:03-CV-05321-OWW-LJO-P

 

ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL, OR 

IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR SIXTY

DAYS LEAVE OF COURT TO SEEK

COUNSEL

(DOCUMENT #52)

Plaintiff is proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

On February 6, 2006, plaintiff filed a request for appointment of counsel, or in the alternative, for

sixty days leave of court in which to seek counsel. Plaintiff's request shall be denied.

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court

has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in 

§ 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S.

296, 109 S.Ct. 1814 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the

voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Without a reasonable method of

securing and compensating counsel, this court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious

and exceptional cases. In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional

Case 1:03-cv-05321-OWW -LJO Document 57 Filed 03/14/06 Page 1 of 2
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circumstances. 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. Therefore, plaintiff's request for the appointment of

counsel must be denied.

In the alternative, plaintiff has requested sixty days leave of court in which to seek

counsel. Although plaintiff is free to seek counsel at any time, the court shall not stay plaintiff's

action for this purpose. Therefore, plaintiff's request for sixty days leave of court in which to seek

counsel is denied.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's request for

the appointment of counsel, or in the alternative, for sixty days leave of court to seek counsel is

denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 14, 2006 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b6edp0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:03-cv-05321-OWW -LJO Document 57 Filed 03/14/06 Page 2 of 2