Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00777/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00777-9/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

RONALD ADAMS, ) 2:07-cv-0777-HDM (RAM)

) 

Plaintiff, ) MINUTES OF THE COURT

)

vs. ) February 9, 2010

) 

C. GIBSON, et al., )

 )

Defendants. )

____________________________)

PRESENT: THE HONORABLE ROBERT A. McQUAID, JR., U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

DEPUTY CLERK: JENNIFER COTTER REPORTER: NONE APPEARING 

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF(S): NONE APPEARING 

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT(S): NONE APPEARING 

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS:

Plaintiff has filed a Motion for the Appointment of Counsel (Doc. #36).

A litigant in a civil rights action does not have a Sixth Amendment right to appointed

counsel. Storseth v. Spellman, 654 F.2d 1349, 1353 (9th Cir. 1981). In very limited

circumstances, federal courts are empowered to request an attorney to represent an

indigent civil litigant. The circumstances in which a court will make such a request,

however, are exceedingly rare, and the court will make the request under only extraordinary

circumstances. United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, 795 F.2d 796, 799-800 (9th Cir.

1986); Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). A finding of such

exceptional circumstances requires that the court evaluate both the likelihood of success

on the merits and the pro se litigant’s ability to advocate his claims. Neither factor is

controlling; both must be viewed together in making the finding. Terrell v. Brewer, 935

F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991), citing Wilborn, supra, 789 F.2d at 1331. The district court

exercises discretion in making this finding. 

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Case 2:07-cv-00777-CKD Document 44 Filed 02/10/10 Page 1 of 2
MINUTES OF THE COURT

2:07-cv-0777-HDM (RAM)

February 9, 2010

Page Two ____

Plaintiff’s Motion for the Appointment of Counsel (Doc. #36) is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

LANCE S. WILSON, CLERK

By: /s/ 

Deputy Clerk

Case 2:07-cv-00777-CKD Document 44 Filed 02/10/10 Page 2 of 2