Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00350/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00350-3/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

CHARLES E. CRAYON,

Plaintiff, No. 2:13-cv-0350 KJN P

vs.

RICK HILL, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under

42 U.S.C. § 1983. 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 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 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. 

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Case 2:13-cv-00350-MCE-KJN Document 14 Filed 05/15/13 Page 1 of 2
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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. 

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.

In addition, plaintiff has filed a motion for extension of time to file an amended

complaint.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel (Docket No. 12) is denied

without prejudice;

2. Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time (Docket No. 13) is granted; and

3. Plaintiff is granted sixty days from the date of this order in which to file an

amended complaint.

DATED: May 14, 2013

_____________________________________

KENDALL J. NEWMAN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

cray0350.31+36

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