Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04476/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04476-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES A. CRAMER,

Plaintiff,

v.

C. DUCART, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-04476-VC (PR) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Dkt. No. 9

James A. Cramer moves for the appointment of counsel so that his “interests may be 

protected by the professional assistance required.”

“[I]t is well-established that there is generally no constitutional right to counsel in civil 

cases.” United States v. Sardone, 94 F.3d 1233, 1236 (9th Cir. 1996). Nonetheless, under 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), the Court has the discretion to appoint counsel to “any person unable to 

afford counsel.” The discretionary appointment of counsel typically is reserved for cases involving 

“exceptional circumstances.” Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). “A finding 

of exceptional circumstances requires an evaluation of both ‘the likelihood of success on the merits 

and the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal 

issues involved.’ Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed together before 

reaching a decision.” Id. 

Here, exceptional circumstances requiring the appointment of counsel are not evident. If, in 

the future, the Court concludes it is necessary to appoint counsel to represent Cramer, it shall do so 

sua sponte. The request for appointment of counsel is denied.

This Order terminates Docket No. 9.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: _______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

April 21, 2016

Case 3:15-cv-04476-VC Document 19 Filed 04/21/16 Page 1 of 1