Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00712/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00712-2/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MELVIN L. EDDINGTON, Jr., 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J. REED, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:19-cv-0712-EFB P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. He requests appointment of counsel as well as an extension of time to file his 

amended complaint pursuant to the court’s December 12, 2019 order. 

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 the 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). Having considered those factors, 

the court finds there are no exceptional circumstances in this case. The court will, however, grant 

plaintiff’s request for an extension of time. 

Case 2:19-cv-00712-TLN-EFB Document 13 Filed 01/29/20 Page 1 of 2
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 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for the appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 12) is denied and his request for an extension of time (ECF No. 12) is granted. 

Plaintiff shall file his amended complaint within thirty days from the date this order is served. 

DATED: January 29, 2020. 

 

 

Case 2:19-cv-00712-TLN-EFB Document 13 Filed 01/29/20 Page 2 of 2