Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00622/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00622-0/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

MELVIN RAY BRUMMETT, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v. 

STUART SHERMAN, D. LOPEZ, G. 

BEARD, E. AGUIRRE, 

 Defendants.

No. 1:20-cv-00622-HBK (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

TO APPOINT COUNSEL

Doc. No. 8

 

This matter comes before the Court upon initial review of the case which was recently 

reassigned to the undersigned. See Doc. No. 13. Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for 

appointment of counsel filed on May 13, 2020. (Doc. No. 8). Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se

and incarcerated, initiated this action by filing a prisoner Civil Rights Complaint on April 30, 2020. 

Doc. No. 1.1 Plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. No.7. 

Plaintiff lists a litany of reasons why he requires appointment of counsel, including, but not 

limited to:(1) he is unable to afford counsel and his case has merit; (2) the issues involved are 

1 The Court notes that the Screening Order (Doc. No. 11) permitted Plaintiff to file an Amended 

Complaint within sixty days. See Doc. No. 11 at 6. Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint on 

October 5, 2020, which the court will review under § 1915A and/or by separate order direct service 

of process on Defendants as appropriate. 

Case 1:20-cv-00622-HBK Document 14 Filed 01/08/21 Page 1 of 3
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complex medical issues; (3) the case is complex because it contains several different legal claims, 

some of which include supervisor liability claims; (4) the case will require extensive discovery; and 

(5) plaintiff’s work hours conflict with the law library hours. See Doc. No. 8 at 1-2. 

The United States Constitution does not require appointment of counsel in civil cases. See

Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 354 (1996) (explaining Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. at 817, did not 

create a right to appointment of counsel in civil cases). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, this Court has 

discretionary authority to appoint counsel for an indigent to commence, prosecute, or defend a civil 

action. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) (stating the court has authority to appoint counsel for people 

unable to afford counsel); see also United States v. McQuade, 519 F.2d 1180 (9th Cir. 1978) 

(addressing relevant standard of review for motions to appoint counsel in civil cases) (other 

citations omitted). However, motions to appoint counsel in civil cases are granted only in 

“exceptional circumstances.” Id. at 1181. The Court may consider many factors including, but not 

limited to, proof of indigence, the likelihood of success on the merits, and the ability of the plaintiff 

to articulate his or her claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved, to 

determine if exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel. Id.; see also Rand v. 

Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh’g en 

banc, 154 F.2d 952 (9th Cir. 1998). 

Here, the Court does not find exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel for 

Plaintiff. Although Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and is incarcerated, he faces the same obstacles 

all pro se prisoners face. A review of the pleadings filed by Plaintiff further show he can articulate

his claims. 

Accordingly, it is now ORDERED:

Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel (Doc. No. 8) is DENIED.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 8, 2021 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00622-HBK Document 14 Filed 01/08/21 Page 3 of 3