Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-01126/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-01126-0/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDWARD L. TURNER,

Plaintiff,

v.

JEFFREY S. WHITE, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-cv-01126-EMC 

ORDER

Docket Nos. 7, 8

Edward Turner, an inmate at the California Medical Facility, filed this pro se civil rights 

action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on February 28, 2019. On that date, the Clerk notified Mr. Turner 

that his complaint was deficient because he had not signed it; the Clerk notified him that he 

needed to submit a signed copy of the complaint within 28 days or the action would be dismissed. 

On that same date, the Clerk notified Mr. Turner that he had failed to pay the filing fee or submit a 

completed in forma pauperis application; the Clerk notified him that he needed to pay the filing 

fee or submit a completed in forma pauperis application within 28 days or the action would be 

dismissed. Although the deadline by which to do so has long passed, Mr. Turner did not submit a 

signed copy of his complaint and did not submit a completed in forma pauperis application or pay 

the filing fee. 

Mr. Turner filed a motion for appointment of counsel in which he also requested a 60-day 

extension of time for an unspecified deadline. Docket No. 7. A district court has the discretion 

under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(1) to 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. 

Case 3:19-cv-01126-EMC Document 9 Filed 06/18/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed together before deciding on a 

request for counsel under § 1915(e)(1). Exceptional circumstances are not present in this case 

because there appears to be virtually no likelihood of success on the merits of the complaint that

makes little sense and sues two federal judges and the State of California. Mr. Turner’s request 

for appointment of counsel to represent him in this action is DENIED. Docket No. 7.

The Court construes the request for an extension of the deadline in the motion for 

appointment of counsel to be a request an extension of the deadline to file a signed copy of the 

complaint and a completed in forma pauperis application and GRANTS the request. Mr. Turner 

must file a signed copy of the complaint no later than July 26, 2019. Mr. Turner also must pay the 

$400.00 filing fee or submit a completed in forma pauperis application no later than July 26, 

2019. Failure to file the required materials by the deadline will result in the dismissal of this 

action. 

Mr. Turner’s motion for a hearing and a meeting with opposing counsel is DENIED. 

Docket No. 8. There is no matter pending that requires a hearing or any sort of meet-and-confer 

proceeding.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 18, 2019

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:19-cv-01126-EMC Document 9 Filed 06/18/19 Page 2 of 2