Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-00846/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-00846-18/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

CUONG HUY DAO,

Plaintiff,

v.

P. TABOR, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:22-cv-0846 KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In the request for reconsideration filed February 20, 2024, plaintiff 

requested appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 79.) On March 1, 2024, the Honorable Troy L. 

Nunley referred plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel to this court. (ECF No. 82.) 

For the reasons stated herein, plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel is denied. 

District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section

1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional 

circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily represent such a plaintiff. See 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). When determining whether “exceptional 

circumstances” exist, the court must consider plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits as 

well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the 

Case 2:22-cv-00846-TLN-CSK Document 83 Filed 03/05/24 Page 1 of 2
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legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not 

abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The burden of demonstrating exceptional 

circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances common to most prisoners, such as lack of 

legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional circumstances that 

warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel. 

Having considered the factors under Palmer, this court finds that plaintiff failed to meet 

his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of counsel at 

this time.

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

counsel, made in his request for reconsideration filed February 20, 2024, is denied. 

Dated: March 4, 2024

Dao846.31

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:22-cv-00846-TLN-CSK Document 83 Filed 03/05/24 Page 2 of 2