Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02002/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02002-2/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MELVIN THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

v.

MARLENE SMITH, et al.,

Defendants.

1:14-cv-02002-LJO-EPG (PC) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(Document# 18)

On May 16, 2016, 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 

Aexceptional circumstances exist, the 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).

Case 1:14-cv-02002-LJO-EPG Document 20 Filed 05/20/16 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. 

Plaintiff asserts that he is incarcerated and unknowledgeable about the law. This, without more, 

does not make his case exceptional. At this stage of the proceedings, the Court cannot find that 

Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits of the case. Defendants have not filed an Answer to the 

Complaint, and discovery has not been opened. Plaintiff claims that Defendants in this case 

failed to provide him with kosher meals and services. This claim is not complex, and a review of 

the record shows that Plaintiff is responsive, adequately communicates, and is able to articulate 

his claims. Therefore, Plaintiff's motion shall be denied, without prejudice to renewal of the 

motion at a later stage of the proceedings.

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

DENIED, without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 19, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-02002-LJO-EPG Document 20 Filed 05/20/16 Page 2 of 2