Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01657/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01657-3/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

JOHN C. WARD,

Plaintiff, No. 2:11-cv-1657 GEB EFB P

vs.

RICHARD IVES, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a federal prisoner proceeding in this civil action. He requests that the court

appoint counsel. District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners

in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In

exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily to represent such a

plaintiff. See 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). When determining whether

“exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider the likelihood of success on the

merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the

complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). 

Having considered those factors, the court finds there are no exceptional circumstances in this

case. 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for appointment of

counsel, Dckt. No. 27, is denied.

DATED: May 13, 2013.

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