Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-02173/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-02173-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. RAZO, et al.,

Defendants. 

________________________________/

1:10-cv-02173-AWI-GBC (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Doc. 25

On November 10, 2011, Plaintiff filed amotion seeking the appointment of counsel. 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.

In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even if

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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 early 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. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY

DENIED, without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 16, 2011 

0jh02o UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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