Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01931/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01931-15/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

ROBERT G. BAKER

Plaintiff,

v.

CONNIE GIPSON, et al.,

Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:13-cv-01931-MJS (PC)

ORDER ON MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 58)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR DELAY 

IN SCHEDULING TRIAL

(ECF No. 62)

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil 

rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The action proceeds on Plaintiff’s 

first amended complaint against Defendant Kitt for inadequate medical care in violation 

of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The deadlines to complete 

discovery and to file dispositive motions have passed. The matter is ready to be set for 

trial. 

Before the Court are Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 

58), and his motion requesting that the Court delay trial setting in light of the parties’ 

ongoing settlement negotiations (ECF No. 62).

Case 1:13-cv-01931-MJS Document 63 Filed 06/28/16 Page 1 of 3
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I. 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). 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. However, 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 

Aexceptional 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. (internal quotation marks and 

citations omitted).

The Court finds that the circumstances of this case warrant a request for the 

voluntary assistance of counsel. The Court will take and keep Plaintiff’s motion under 

submission and will endeavor to secure volunteer counsel for Plaintiff. As stated, 

however, the Court cannot require an attorney to represent Plaintiff, nor can the Court 

guarantee that Plaintiff will be represented in this action. Unless and until Plaintiff 

receives a court order advising him that counsel has been appointed, he shall continue 

to proceed in this action pro se. 

II. DELAY OF TRIAL SETTING

Plaintiff represents that the parties are engaged in settlement discussions and 

have exchanged several compromise proposals. While the Court encourages the parties 

to continue such discussions, it cannot hold the case in abeyance pending a settlement 

that may never occur. The Court will proceed with setting the case for trial. However, the 

Court’s schedule is such that it will be several months before trial actually begins. The 

parties may, and should, continue their informal negotiations in the interim. They also 

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are invited to ask the Court to assign a Magistrate Judge to act as a mediator if they feel

that might facilitate negotiation and resolution of this case.

III. ORDER

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Court will keep Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel (ECF 

No. 58) under submission pending efforts to secure volunteer counsel; and 

2. Plaintiff’s motion requesting delay in trial scheduling (ECF No. 62) is 

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 28, 2016 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01931-MJS Document 63 Filed 06/28/16 Page 3 of 3