Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00383/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00383-0/pdf.json

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

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARCELLUS COOKSEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

S. F. SHERIFF'S DEPUTY F. FIELDS,

Defendant. /

No. C 06-383 MHP (pr)

ORDER 

Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment on November 2, 2006. Plaintiff did

not file his opposition by the deadline of December 8, 2006, and instead filed what appeared

to be a discovery motion. The court denied the discovery motion and allowed further

briefing on the motion for summary judgment, directing plaintiff to file his opposition by

May 25, 2007. Plaintiff did not file his opposition by the extended deadline to do so. 

Instead, plaintiff filed a letter dated May 24, 2007 complaining about a discovery response,

and filed on June 26, 2007 motions for appointment of counsel, in forma pauperis status, and

pro per status. 

Plaintiff complained about a discovery response he did not like in a May 24, 2007

letter to the court. Plaintiff obtains no relief because he did not comply with the court's

February 26, 2007 Order Denying Plaintiff's Discovery Motion And Allowing Further

Briefing. That order explained how the discovery process worked and what plaintiff needed

to do if he wanted to compel discovery responses. 

Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel to represent him in this action is

DENIED. (Docket # 28.) A district court has the discretion under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(1) to

Case 3:06-cv-00383-MHP Document 31 Filed 07/20/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

designate counsel to represent an indigent civil litigant in exceptional circumstances. See

Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). This requires an evaluation of

both the likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his

claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See id. Neither of these

factors is dispositive and both must be viewed together before deciding on a request for

counsel under section 1915(e)(1). Exceptional circumstances requiring the appointment of

counsel are not evident. 

Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis filed in support of his motion for

appointment of counsel is DISMISSED as unnecessary. (Docket # 30.) The court already

granted plaintiff leave to proceed as a pauper on June 2, 2006.

Plaintiff's last motion is a "motion for statement of pro-per status." To the extent

plaintiff seeks a written confirmation that he is proceeding without representation of counsel

in this action, the motion is GRANTED in part. (Docket # 30.) The court confirms that

plaintiff is representing himself in this action. The court will not, however, order plaintiff's

jailers to provide him any particular amount of time in the law library or supplies. 

The court once again, and for the last time, grants an extension of time for plaintiff to

file his opposition to defendant's motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff must file and serve

his opposition to the motion for summary judgment no later than August 17, 2007. This

deadline will not be extended for any reason, including the pendency of any discovery

request or any motion. Defendant may file and serve his reply brief no later than August 31,

2007. 

Plaintiff has informed the court that he has been moved to the San Bruno facility of

the San Francisco County Jail. The clerk will mail this order to him at that address and

update the court's records to reflect the new address. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 19, 2007 ______________________

 Marilyn Hall Patel

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00383-MHP Document 31 Filed 07/20/07 Page 2 of 2