Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01759/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01759-2/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 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BOBBY GENE GLOVER, 

Plaintiff,

 vs.

M. S. EVANS, Warden, E. B. JONES,

Warden, M. HILL, ROXANNE

LESNIAK, GAYLE JANSEN,

Accountants, 

Defendants. 

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No. C 07-1759 JSW (PR)

ORDER DENYING

APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL AND 

PARTIALLY GRANTING 

EXTENSION OF TIME

(Docket Nos. 12, 13)

On October 26, 2009, this Court ordered service of Plaintiff’s amended

complaint on Defendants. Plaintiff subsequently filed a motion requesting

appointment of counsel (docket no. 12). However, there is no constitutional right to

counsel in a civil case unless an indigent litigant may lose his physical liberty if he

loses the litigation. See Lassiter v. Dep't of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981);

Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997) (no constitutional right to

counsel in § 1983 action), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh'g en banc, 154

F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). A court “may request an attorney to represent any

person unable to afford counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1).

The decision to request counsel to represent an indigent litigant under § 1915 is

within “the sound discretion of the trial court and is granted only in exceptional

circumstances.” Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1236 (9th Cir. 1984). A finding

Case 3:07-cv-01759-JSW Document 22 Filed 01/14/10 Page 1 of 3
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of the “exceptional circumstances” of the plaintiff seeking assistance requires an

evaluation of the likelihood of the plaintiff’s success on the merits and an evaluation of

the plaintiff’s ability to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the

legal issues involved. See Agyeman v. Corrections Corp. of America, 390 F.3d 1101,

1103 (9th Cir. 2004); Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525; Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017

(9th Cir. 1991); Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). Both of

these factors must be viewed together before reaching a decision on a request for

counsel under § 1915. See id. Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED without prejudice, for

want of exceptional circumstances (docket no. 12). 

Thereafter, on December 31, 2009, Defendants filed a motion seeking an

extension of time to file a dispositive motion (docket no. 13). Defendants requested an

extension of ninety days based on counsel’s appearance as lead counsel on a class

action in which discovery is ongoing and a trial is anticipated in April, 2010, though no

trial date has been set. However, due to the age of the instant case, Defendants will be

granted an extension of time until February 15, 2010 to file a dispositive motion. 

Plaintiff will then have until March 17, 2010 to file any opposition to the motion and

Defendants will have until March 30, 2010 to file a reply. Further extensions of time

will be granted only upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 14, 2010 JEFFREY S. WHITE

 United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BOBBY GENE GLOVER JR,

Plaintiff,

 v.

M. S. EVANS et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV07-01759 JSW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on January 14, 2010, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing

said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office

delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Bobby Gene Glover

K46066

PVSP

P.O. Box 8504

Coalinga, CA 93210

Dated: January 14, 2010

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Jennifer Ottolini, Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-01759-JSW Document 22 Filed 01/14/10 Page 3 of 3