Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_96-cv-05576/USCOURTS-caed-1_96-cv-05576-9/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

REX CHAPPELL,

Plaintiff, 

v. 

C/O DICKERSON, et al.,

Defendants.

____________________________________/

1:96-cv-05576 AWI DLB (PC)

 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(DOCUMENT #127)

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 District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct.

1814, 1816 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance

of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997).

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, this court will seek volunteer

counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. 

In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. See Rand,

113 F.3d at 1525. Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made

serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court

is faced with similar cases almost daily. Therefore, plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel

Case 1:96-cv-05576-AWI -DLB Document 133 Filed 10/04/07 Page 1 of 2
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shall be denied.

In accordance with the above, plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 4, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

cf0di0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:96-cv-05576-AWI -DLB Document 133 Filed 10/04/07 Page 2 of 2