Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00456/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00456-10/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

DANIEL MANRIQUEZ,

Plaintiff,

vs.

J. HUCHINS, et al.

Defendants. 

________________________________/

1:09-cv-00456 OWW SMS (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 125)

On July8, 2011, 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 mayrequest the voluntaryassistance 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).

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Case 1:09-cv-00456-BAM Document 126 Filed 07/12/11 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. Further, 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 motion for the appointment of counsel is

HEREBY DENIED, without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 12, 2011 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

cm411 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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