Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00557/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00557-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FERNANDO GUIZAR,

Plaintiff,

 v.

JENNIE WOODFORD, et al., 

 Defendants. ____________________________

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. C 05-0557 MMC (PR) 

ORDER DENYING APPOINTMENT

OF COUNSEL

(Docket No. 27)

Plaintiff Fernando Guizar, currently incarcerated at California State Prison, Corcoran

and proceeding pro se, filed the above-titled civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff alleges that officials at Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”) violated his

constitutional rights in validating him as a gang member and placing him in administrative

segregation (“SHU”). Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which plaintiff has

opposed, is currently pending. 

Plaintiff has filed a request for appointment of counsel. There is no constitutional

right to counsel in a civil case such as this. See Lassiter v. Dep't of Social Services, 452 U.S.

18, 25 (1981). Rather, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, a district court has the power to

"request" that counsel represent a litigant who is proceeding in forma pauperis. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(1). To date, plaintiff has been able to present his claims, which do not appear to be

particularly complex, in an adequate manner, and there are no exceptional circumstances

Case 3:05-cv-00557-MMC Document 28 Filed 01/05/07 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

warranting appointment of counsel at this time. Should the circumstances of the case

materially change, the Court may reconsider plaintiff’s request sua sponte.

Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED.

This order terminates Docket No. 27.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 5, 2007

_____________________________

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

Case 3:05-cv-00557-MMC Document 28 Filed 01/05/07 Page 2 of 2