Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_11-cv-01083/USCOURTS-cand-4_11-cv-01083-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDDIE L. YOUNG,

Plaintiff,

 v.

C. J. CHAPMAN, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 11-01083 SBA (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Plaintiff has filed a motion for appointment of counsel to represent him in this action (docket

no. 19). Plaintiff has also filed a motion entitled, "Plaintiff's Motion for Court Order Requiring

Investigation and Appointing Counsel," which the Court construes as another motion for

appointment of counsel (docket no. 31). 

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 Soc. Servs., 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§ 1983 action), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh'g en banc, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998)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). The court may ask counsel to represent an indigent litigant under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 only

in "exceptional circumstances," the determination of which requires an evaluation of both (1) the

likelihood of success on the merits, and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se

in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See id. 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

Case 4:11-cv-01083-SBA Document 43 Filed 03/13/12 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

§ 1915. See id. 

The Court is unable to assess at this time whether exceptional circumstances exist which

would warrant seeking volunteer counsel to accept a pro bono appointment. The proceedings are at

an early stage and it is premature for the Court to determine Plaintiff's likelihood of success on the

merits. Moreover, Plaintiff has been able to articulate his claims adequately pro se in light of the

complexity of the issues involved. See Agyeman v. Corrs. Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th

Cir. 2004). Accordingly, the request for appointment of counsel is DENIED without prejudice. 

This does not mean, however, that the Court will not consider appointment of counsel at a later

juncture in the proceedings; that is, after Defendants have filed their dispositive motion such that the

Court will be in a better position to consider the procedural and substantive matters at issue. 

Therefore, Plaintiff may file a renewed motion for the appointment of counsel after Defendants'

dispositive motion has been filed. If the Court decides that appointment of counsel is warranted at

that time, it will seek volunteer counsel to agree to represent Plaintiff pro bono.

This Order terminates Docket nos. 19 and 31.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 3/13/12 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:11-cv-01083-SBA Document 43 Filed 03/13/12 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.11\Young1083.DenyAtty.frm 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDDIE L YOUNG,

Plaintiff,

 v.

C J CHAPMAN et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV11-01083 SBA 

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 March 13, 2012, 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.

Eddie L. Young H-72370

Califorina Correctional Institution

P.O. Box 1902

Tehachapi, CA 93581

Dated: March 13, 2012

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Lisa Clark, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:11-cv-01083-SBA Document 43 Filed 03/13/12 Page 3 of 3