Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00171/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00171-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID MADDOX,

Plaintiff,

vs.

JAMES A. YATES, et al.,

Defendants. 

________________________________/

1:13-cv-00171 BAM (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 3)

On February 4, 2013, Plaintiff David Maddox (“Plaintiff”) filed a motion seeking the

appointment of counsel. Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this

action. Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an

attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States

District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). 

However, in certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of

counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether

“exceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success of

the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the

complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even

if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law, that he is taking mental health “Psych

medication” and that he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to

relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is faced with similar circumstances almost daily. 

Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that plaintiff

is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does

not find that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id. 

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY

DENIED without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 12, 2013 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe 

10c20k UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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