Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00762/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00762-0/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

GREGORY SMITH,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-10-0762 KJM P 

vs.

PREETRANJAN SAHOTA, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 together with a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915. Plaintiff has not, however, filed a certified copy of his prison trust account

statement for the six month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. See 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). Plaintiff will be provided the opportunity to submit a certified copy of his

prison trust account statement. 

In addition, plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. 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.

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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.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff shall submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, a certified

copy of his prison trust account statement for the six month period immediately preceding the

filing of the complaint. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in a

recommendation that this action be dismissed without prejudice; and

2. Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel (Docket No. 4) is denied.

DATED: April 7, 2010. 

/mp

smit0762.3c.new+31

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