Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-02167/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-02167-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RANDY LAMAR BLACK,

Plaintiff,

v.

P. THOMPSON, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:21-cv-2167-TLN-EFB P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a federal prisoner proceeding without counsel in a civil action. On February 

17, 2022, the court issued findings and a recommendation that this action be dismissed after 

plaintiff failed to submit the trust account statement required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). ECF No. 

13. Thereafter, plaintiff notified the court that he was told by a “program review case manager” 

that she would get him one. ECF No. 14. Subsequently, on March 3, 2022, plaintiff notified the 

court that the “Unit Team” would not comply. ECF No. 16. To date, plaintiff has not submitted a 

certified trust account statement to the court. 

In an abundance of caution, the court will hold the findings and recommendations in 

abeyance and grant plaintiff an extension of time to submit the required trust account statement

or, alternatively, submit information as to what efforts he made to obtain that statement and the 

response(s) by prison officials to his request for the statement.

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Case 2:21-cv-02167-TLN-EFB Document 20 Filed 03/23/22 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff has also filed several requests for 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 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. 

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date of this order to submit a certified trust account 

statement. If plaintiff is unable to comply with this order, he must submit to the court 

a copy of his request for a copy of his certified trust account statement along with any 

responses received from prison officials. If plaintiff does not receive a written 

response from a prison official, he shall identify, by name, the official who denied his 

request. Should plaintiff fail to timely comply, the findings and recommendations will 

be submitted to the district judge for consideration. 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a new Application to Proceed In

Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner.

3. Plaintiff’s requests for appointment of counsel (ECF Nos. 7, 16, 19) are denied.

Dated: March 23, 2022.

Case 2:21-cv-02167-TLN-EFB Document 20 Filed 03/23/22 Page 2 of 2