Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01473/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01473-16/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 

DANA GRAY,

Plaintiff,

v.

ROMERO, et al.,

Defendant(s).

1:13-cv-01473 DLB (PC) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(Document# 73) 

On May 11, 2016, plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff 

does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 

F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), 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, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (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 

Aexceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success of 

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

complexity of the legal issues involved.@ Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 

Case 1:13-cv-01473-DAD-GSA Document 79 Filed 05/17/16 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even 

if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that she has made serious 

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

faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the court 

cannot make a determination that plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a 

review of the record in this case, the court does not find that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate 

her claims. Id. 

To the extent that plaintiff cites defendants’ jury demand and this court’s offer of an 

expedited trial, she is informed that trial will only be set if this case survives any future 

dispositive motions. In other words, there is no trial date set at this time. 

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff=s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY 

DENIED, without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 17, 2016 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 1:13-cv-01473-DAD-GSA Document 79 Filed 05/17/16 Page 2 of 2