Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05439/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05439-10/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

CHRIS EDDIE GREENE,

Plaintiff,

v.

SANCHEZ, et. al, 

Defendants.

 /

CV F 04 5439 AWI LJO P 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL (Doc. 37.) 

CHRIS EDDIE GREENE (“Plaintiff”) s a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On November 30, 2005,

Plaintiff filed a Motion seeking the Appointment of Counsel.

The Court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff. Mallard v. United States

District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional

circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). Without a reasonable

method of securing and compensating counsel, this court will seek volunteer counsel only in the

most serious and exceptional cases. “A finding of exceptional circumstances requires an

evaluation of 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.’” Terrell, 935

F.2d at 1017 (citations omitted).

In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even

Case 1:04-cv-05439-AWI-LJO Document 41 Filed 12/15/05 Page 1 of 2
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if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious

allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This Court is

faced with similar cases almost daily. At this stage in the proceedings the Court cannot make a

determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record

in this case, the court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Terrell,

935 F.2d at 1017. 

For the foregoing reasons, the Motion for the Appointment of Counsel is denied, without

prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 15, 2005 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-05439-AWI-LJO Document 41 Filed 12/15/05 Page 2 of 2