Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00939/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00939-3/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

CHARLES A. EDWARDS, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

R. FOX, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:16-cv-0939 CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, has requested 

appointment of counsel. The court cannot require an attorney to represent a plaintiff who cannot 

pay for the attorney’s services. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). 

However, under the federal in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the court may request

that an attorney represent a person unable to afford counsel. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). The court 

will make that request only when there are exceptional circumstances. When determining 

whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court considers, among other things, plaintiff's 

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). While the court is aware of the difficulties attendant to litigating an action while 

incarcerated, circumstances common to most prisoners do not establish “exceptional 

circumstances.”

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Case 2:16-cv-00939-TLN-CKD Document 11 Filed 05/26/16 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances at this 

stage of these proceedings. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for 

the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 9) is denied.

Dated: May 26, 2016

1/mp

edwa0939.31(3)

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:16-cv-00939-TLN-CKD Document 11 Filed 05/26/16 Page 2 of 2