Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-00723/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-00723-9/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

LISA BELYEW,

Plaintiff,

v.

LARRY LORMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:17-cv-0723 MCE CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff 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 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 plaintiff’s 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) (district court 

did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The burden of demonstrating 

exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances common to most prisoners, such 

as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional 

circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel. 

Case 2:17-cv-00723-DJC-CKD Document 79 Filed 03/17/20 Page 1 of 2
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Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to 

meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of 

counsel at this time.

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

counsel (ECF No. 78) is denied.

Dated: March 17, 2020

1/mp

bely0723.31

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:17-cv-00723-DJC-CKD Document 79 Filed 03/17/20 Page 2 of 2