Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-03020/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-03020-0/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH HILL,

Plaintiff,

v.

SCOTT KERNAN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:16-cv-3020 KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has not, however, filed an in forma pauperis affidavit or paid the 

required filing fee of $350.00 plus the $50.00 administrative fee.1See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 

1915(a). Therefore, plaintiff will be provided the opportunity either to submit the appropriate 

affidavit in support of a request to proceed in forma pauperis or to submit the required fees 

totaling $400.00.

Plaintiff is cautioned that the in forma pauperis application form includes a section that 

must be completed by a prison official, and the form must be accompanied by a certified copy of 

plaintiff’s prison trust account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the 

 

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 If leave to file in forma pauperis is granted, plaintiff will still be required to pay the filing fee 

but will be allowed to pay it in installments. Litigants proceeding in forma pauperis are not 

required to pay the $50.00 administrative fee.

Case 2:16-cv-03020-JAM-KJN Document 4 Filed 01/04/17 Page 1 of 2
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filing of this action.

In addition, plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel. District courts lack authority 

to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States 

Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request an 

attorney to voluntarily represent such a plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 

935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 

1990). When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider 

plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his 

claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 

965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). 

The burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances 

common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not 

establish exceptional circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel. 

Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to 

meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of 

counsel at this time.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff shall submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, an affidavit in 

support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of Court, or 

the required fees in the amount of $400.00; plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result 

in a recommendation that this action be dismissed; 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a new Application to Proceed In 

Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner; and

3. Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 2) is denied without 

prejudice.

Dated: January 4, 2017

hill3020.3a+31

Case 2:16-cv-03020-JAM-KJN Document 4 Filed 01/04/17 Page 2 of 2