Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-00310/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-00310-1/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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cc: The Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

 All Counsel of Record 1 05cv310 BTM (PCL)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ARNOLD C. BACON, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

WILLIAM B. KOLENDER et al.,

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 05cv310 BTM (PCL)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL (Doc. 92)

Now before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel. (Doc. 92.) This is the

second time that Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel to assist him in prosecuting this civil

action. (See Doc. 53.) 

The Constitution provides no right to appointment of counsel in a civil case unless an indigent

litigant may lose his physical liberty if he loses the litigation. Lassiter v. Dept. of Social Services, 452

U.S. 18, 25 (1981). Nonetheless, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), district courts are granted discretion to

appoint counsel for indigent persons. This discretion may be exercised only under “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 plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.’ 

Case 3:05-cv-00310-MMA-PCL Document 93 Filed 11/02/07 Page 1 of 2
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 All Counsel of Record 2 05cv310 BTM (PCL)

Neither of these issues is dispositive and both must be viewed together before reaching a decision.” Id.

(quoting Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986)).

Here, Plaintiff has been able to articulate adequately the factual basis of his complaint, has survived

a summary judgment motion, and has brought his case to the trial stage. Under these circumstances, the

Court DENIES Plaintiff’s request without prejudice, as neither the interests of justice nor exceptional

circumstances warrant appointment of counsel at this time. LaMere v. Risley, 827 F.2d 622, 626 (9th

Cir. 1987); Terrell, 935 F.2d at 1017.

 Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 2, 2007

Peter C. Lewis

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Case 3:05-cv-00310-MMA-PCL Document 93 Filed 11/02/07 Page 2 of 2