Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01344/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01344-30/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

ANDRE CRAVER,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. HASTY, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:11-cv-1344 TLN KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

This action is set for jury trial before the Honorable Troy L. Nunley on September 28, 2015. 

Pending before the court is plaintiff’s October 29, 2014 motion for appointment of 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 

Case 2:11-cv-01344-SMM Document 127 Filed 11/07/14 Page 1 of 2
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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. 

Plaintiff requests appointment of counsel on grounds that he has mental health problems. 

Plaintiff alleges that on July 27, 2014 he attempted suicide. Plaintiff alleges that in September 

2014 his depression became overwhelming. Plaintiff alleges that his mental health treatment care 

was upgraded to Extended Outpatient Treatment.

The undersigned is sympathetic to plaintiff’s mental health problems. However, the trial 

in this action is approximately eleven months away. The present record demonstrates that 

plaintiff has adequate time to prepare for trial, taking into consideration plaintiff’s mental health 

problems. The undersigned also observes that plaintiff was able to file several pleadings with the 

court following his alleged suicide attempt. 

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. 124) is denied without prejudice.

Dated: November 7, 2014

crav1344.31kjn

Case 2:11-cv-01344-SMM Document 127 Filed 11/07/14 Page 2 of 2