Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00471/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00471-1/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHERMAN MONROE POLK,

Plaintiff,

v.

DIANE GRAY, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:15-cv-0471 CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 9 at 10.) 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 Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In 

certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); 

Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court 

does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of 

counsel will therefore be denied.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 9) is denied.

Dated: May 19, 2015

2/mp; polk0471.31(2)

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:15-cv-00471-CKD Document 10 Filed 05/19/15 Page 1 of 1