Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01043/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01043-0/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

ZECHARIAH LEE,

Plaintiff,

v.

SHERIFF VERNON H. WARNKE, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01043-EPG (PC)

ORDER DENYING, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, 

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT 

OF PRO BONO COUNSEL

(ECF No. 8)

Plaintiff Zechariah Lee is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this 

civil rights action filed under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Plaintiff filed the action on July 17, 2019. (ECF 

No. 1.) Plaintiff filed the instant motion for the appointment of pro bono counsel on August 7, 

2019. (ECF No. 8.) Plaintiff argues that he is entitled to the appointment of pro bono counsel for 

the following reasons: (1) Plaintiff is unable to afford counsel; (2) the issues involved in this case 

are complex; (3) Plaintiff must share the law library with three other prison yards, with each yard 

having their own separate day to use the library, limiting Plaintiff’s library access; (4) Plaintiff 

has limited knowledge of the law; (5) this case will require significant research and investigation, 

and (6) Plaintiff has attempted to find counsel to take his case, to no avail. (ECF No. 8)

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. 

Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part on other grounds, 154 F.3d 952 

Case 1:19-cv-01043-EPG Document 13 Filed 03/03/20 Page 1 of 2
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(9th Cir. 1998), and the Court cannot require an attorney to represent Plaintiff pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 

490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However, in certain exceptional circumstances the Court may request 

the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek 

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 

“exceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success of 

the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the 

complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

The Court will not order appointment of pro bono counsel at this time. The Court has 

reviewed the record in this case, and at this time the Court is unable to make a determination that 

Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits of his claims. Moreover, it appears that Plaintiff can 

adequately articulate his claims. 

Plaintiff is advised that he is not precluded from renewing his motion for appointment of 

pro bono counsel at a later stage of the proceedings. 

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion for appointment of pro 

bono counsel is DENIED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 3, 2020 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-01043-EPG Document 13 Filed 03/03/20 Page 2 of 2