Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01652/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01652-1/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

ERIC DARNELL JOY,

Plaintiff,

v.

B. LASZUK, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:16-cv-01652-EPG (PC)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S FIRST 

MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 8)

90 DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding pro se in a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. '

1983. On November 30, 2016, plaintiff filed a motion to extend time to file a first amended 

complaint. Plaintiff explains that he just received the Court’s order, dated November 8, 2016,

instructing him to file a first amended complaint because he recently transferred prisons and that 

his property, including his legal documents, are currently impounded while he undergoes 

orientation. Good cause having been presented to the court, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that 

Plaintiff is granted ninety (90) days from the date of service of this order in which to file a first 

amended complaint.

Plaintiff also asks for the Court to appoint counsel to represent him in this case. Plaintiff 

does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 

Case 1:16-cv-01652-LJO-EPG Document 9 Filed 12/02/16 Page 1 of 2
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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. The court thus construes Plaintiff’s motion as a motion to request pro bono counsel.

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).

Plaintiff’s case does not demonstrate the exceptional circumstances required for the 

appointment of counsel. The Court cannot find that there is a likelihood that Plaintiff’s claim will 

succeed on its merits because Plaintiff has yet to file a complaint that articulates the facts of his 

case.

Plaintiff=s motion for the appointment of counsel is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 1, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-01652-LJO-EPG Document 9 Filed 12/02/16 Page 2 of 2