Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02566/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-02566-5/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MUSTAFA WRIGHT,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 09-CV-2566 JLS

(MDD)

ORDER DENYING MOTION

FOR APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL

(ECF No. 124)

vs.

N. GRANNIS, et al.,

Defendants.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff Mustafa Wright’s (“Plaintiff”) Motion for

Appointment of Counsel. (ECF No. 124.) Plaintiff contends that the complex nature

of his case, as well as alleged mail tampering, has made it difficult for the Plaintiff to

proceed pro se. (ECF No. 124 at 1-2.)

While there is no right to counsel in a civil action, a court may under

“exceptional circumstances” exercise its discretion and “request an attorney to

represent any person unable to afford counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1); Palmer

v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). The court must consider both “‘the

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 legal issues

involved.’” Id. (quoting Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983)). 

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Case 3:09-cv-02566-JLS-MDD Document 134 Filed 07/16/13 Page 1 of 2
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Applying these standards, the Court finds that Plaintiff has not satisfied the

stringent standards required for an appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C. §

1915(e)(1). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel must be

DENIED at this time WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

However, the Court notes that, pursuant to General Order 596 which

adopted a Plan for the Representation of Pro se Litigants in Civil Cases, “the

Court may appoint counsel for purposes of trial as a matter of course in each

prisoner civil rights case where summary judgment has been denied.” S.D. Cal.

General Order No. 596. Accordingly, the Court informs Plaintiff that he may

filed a renewed motion for appointment of counsel at an appropriate time prior to

commencement of trial.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 16, 2013

Honorable Janis L. Sammartino

United States District Judge

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Case 3:09-cv-02566-JLS-MDD Document 134 Filed 07/16/13 Page 2 of 2