Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01220/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01220-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JORGE FERNANDEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

SATTERFIELD, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01220-JLT (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(Doc. 14)

Jorge Fernandez requests the appointment of counsel to represent him in this action. (Doc. 

14.) Plaintiffs do not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in section 1983 actions, 

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

to represent a party under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). See Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 

304-05 (1989). However, in “exceptional circumstances,” the Court may request the voluntary 

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

Because the Court has no reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the 

Court will seek volunteer counsel only in extraordinary cases. In determining whether 

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

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).

///

Case 1:19-cv-01220-ADA-CDB Document 15 Filed 02/27/20 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

The Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances in this case. Even if the 

Court assumes that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and has made serious allegations that, if 

proven, would entitle him to relief, his case is not extraordinary. The Court is faced with similar 

cases almost daily. In addition, at this stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make a 

determination on whether Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits; and, based on a review of 

the records in this case, the Court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his

claims. See id.

In his motion, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants are continuing to harass him. (See Doc. 14 

at 1-2.) Though Plaintiff’s allegations do not satisfy the “exceptional circumstances” standard 

articulated above, the Court notes that Plaintiff may pursue a new civil rights action based on 

constitutional violations that occur(ed) after he initiated the present action.

For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 27, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-01220-ADA-CDB Document 15 Filed 02/27/20 Page 2 of 2