Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00157/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00157-15/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

CLARENCE A. GIPBSIN,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-0157 MCE EFB P

vs.

SCOTT KERNAN, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. He has requested that the court appoint counsel. 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). 

 Here, plaintiff has provided the court with documentation indicating that on January 11,

2007, a Lassen County Superior Court judge issued an order directing that plaintiff be committed

to the Department of Mental Health for placement in a state hospital because plaintiff had been

found mentally incompetent to stand trial in his criminal proceedings. It appears that on or

around May 15, 2009, plaintiff was transferred to the Salinas Valley Psychiatric Program at

Case 2:07-cv-00157-MCE-EFB Document 128 Filed 05/29/09 Page 1 of 2
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Salinas Valley State Prison. Docket Nos. 126, 127. Notwithstanding these circumstances,

plaintiff has been able to articulate his claims in this action and the court finds that there are no

exceptional circumstances in this case. See Wood, 900 F.2d at 1335. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s November 26, 2008, January

26, 2009, and May 6 and 15, 2009 requests for appointment of counsel are denied.

DATED: May 29, 2009.

Case 2:07-cv-00157-MCE-EFB Document 128 Filed 05/29/09 Page 2 of 2