Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01418/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01418-5/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

SCOTT CHARLES MATTHEWS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-1418 GEB KJM P

vs.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme

Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent

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

certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel

pursuant to 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). In the present case, the court

does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of

counsel will therefore be denied.

Plaintiff has also asked why no defendants apart from defendant Hui have

responded to the complaint. In its screening order, the court found service of the complaint

appropriate for defendant Hui only. Docket No. 23. 

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Case 2:07-cv-01418-GEB -CKD Document 33 Filed 01/06/10 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for the

appointment of counsel (Docket No. 31) is denied.

DATED: January 6, 2010. 

2/md

matt1418.31

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