Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01880/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01880-1/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM D. FARLEY, No. 2:14-cv-1880-GEB-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

RON RACKLEY, et al.,

Defendant.

 /

Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983. 

On November 19, 2014, plaintiff was ordered to file a complete application to

proceed in forma pauperis, along with a certified copy of his trust account statement for the sixmonth period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint, or pay the required filing fee in

order to proceed in this action. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a), (a)(2). On December 24,

2014, plaintiff filed a new motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 8), but again failed to

include the required certified copy of his trust account statement. This statement is required to be

filed with the application. Until plaintiff files a complete application, he will not be able to

proceed in this action.

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Plaintiff will be provided another opportunity to submit either a completed

application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the appropriate filing fee. Plaintiff is warned that

failure to resolve the fee status of this case within the time provided may result in the dismissal

of this action for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with court rules and orders. See Local

Rule 110.

In addition, plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel (Doc. 3). The

United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to

represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. See Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S.

296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary

assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). See Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015,

1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). A finding

of “exceptional circumstances” requires an evaluation of both the likelihood of success on the

merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims on his own in light of the complexity

of the legal issues involved. See Terrell, 935 F.2d at 1017. Neither factor is dispositive and both

must be viewed together before reaching a decision. See id. 

In the present case, the court does not at this time find the required exceptional

circumstances. While petitioner indicates he has some mental disabilities, he has demonstrated

sufficient writing ability to articulate his claim and communicate effectively with the court. The

facts he alleges and the issues raised in this case are not of substantial complexity. Based on the

limited information before the court at this time, it does not appear that there is a high likelihood

of success on the merits of plaintiff’s claims. Rather, it would appear that his claim, although

couched as freedom of religion claim, relates to the condition of the food he was served rather

the being denied food which satisfies the dietary laws of his religion. In addition, it would

appear that the claims raised in the complaint are unexhausted, which would likely result in the

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dismissal of this action as prematurely filed. 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 8) is denied as

incomplete;

2. Plaintiff shall submit on the form provided by the Clerk of the Court,

within 30 days from the date of this order, a complete application for leave to proceed in forma

pauperis, with the required certified copy of his trust account statement, or the appropriate filing

fee; 

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a new form Application

to Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner; and

4. Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel (Doc. 3) is denied.

DATED: January 28, 2015

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

The undersigned acknowledges the defendant will have the burden of showing the 1

claims as unexhausted. See Albino v. Baca, 697 F.3d 1023 (9th Cir. 2012). However, in terms

of likelihood of success of this action, it would appear that plaintiff has filed this action

prematurely. 

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