Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-01548/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-01548-2/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

STEPHEN KELLEY, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-03-1548 DFL EFB P

vs.

B. WILLIAMS, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner without counsel seeking relief for alleged civil rights violations. 

See 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On March 6, 2007, he filed a motion for the court to appoint counsel and

to stay the taking of his deposition until counsel has been appointed.

District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in

section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In

exceptional circumstances, the court may request counsel voluntarily to represent such a

plaintiff. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1); Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood

v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). The court finds that there are no

exceptional circumstances in this case. 

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Case 2:03-cv-01548-RRB-EFB Document 29 Filed 04/09/07 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s March 6, 2007, motion for

appointment of counsel and to stay his deposition is denied.

DATED: April 9, 2007.

Case 2:03-cv-01548-RRB-EFB Document 29 Filed 04/09/07 Page 2 of 2