Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00437/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00437-8/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

TOMMY LEE MATTHEWS, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-0437 LKK GGH P

vs.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme

Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent

prisoners in § 1983 cases. 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). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991);

Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court

does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of

counsel will therefore be denied.

Plaintiff has also requested an extension of time to respond to defendants’

discovery requests. Plaintiff does not state when his responses to defendants’ requests are due. 

Nevertheless, the court will grant plaintiff thirty days from the date of this order to respond to

Case 2:05-cv-00437-LKK -GGH Document 35 Filed 07/24/06 Page 1 of 2
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defendants’ requests.

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s July 7, 2006 request for the appointment of counsel is denied;

2. Plaintiff’s July 7, 2006 motion for an extension of time is granted; and

3. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of this order in which to serve his

discovery responses.

DATED: 7/24/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:bb

matt0437.36+

 

Case 2:05-cv-00437-LKK -GGH Document 35 Filed 07/24/06 Page 2 of 2