Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00815/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00815-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

On July 18, 2013, Plaintiff Obie Crisp (“Plaintiff”) filed a motion seeking the 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, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (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. 

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 

“exceptional 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).

OBIE CRISP,

 Plaintiff,

v.

WASCO STATE PRISON, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-00815-BAM (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST FOR 

THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 7)

Case 1:13-cv-00815-BAM Document 9 Filed 07/23/13 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even if it is 

assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations which, if 

proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is faced with similar cases 

almost daily. Plaintiff claims that special circumstances warrant the appointment of counsel, including 

his inability to obtain addresses, his inability to obtain a lawyer, his limited law library access and his 

morbid obesity. However, these circumstances are not sufficient. At this early stage in the 

proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, 

and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately 

articulate his claims. Id.

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY 

DENIED without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 23, 2013 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-00815-BAM Document 9 Filed 07/23/13 Page 2 of 2