Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00741/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00741-16/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

KEITH A. SOMERS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-0741 MCE EFB P

vs.

BPT COMMISSIONER M. PEREZ,

et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner without counsel suing for alleged civil rights violations. See 42

U.S.C. § 1983. By order filed November 1, 2007, the court directed plaintiff to file either an

opposition to defendants’ motion for summary judgment or a statement of no opposition within

20 days. The 20 days have elapsed and plaintiff has not complied with that order.

Instead, on December 4, 2007, plaintiff requested that the court appoint counsel. As the

court explained in its December 11, 2007, order, 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 counsel voluntarily to

represent such a plaintiff. 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). The court found in

the December 11, 2007, order and finds again here that there are no exceptional circumstances in

Case 2:05-cv-00741-MCE -EFB Document 64 Filed 12/19/07 Page 1 of 2
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this case. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff has 30 days from the date this

order is served within which to file an opposition or statement of no opposition to defendants’

motion for summary judgment, or to show good cause for his failure to do so. Failure to comply

with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. 

So Ordered.

DATED: December 18, 2007.

Case 2:05-cv-00741-MCE -EFB Document 64 Filed 12/19/07 Page 2 of 2