Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01124/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01124-1/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

LACY CHARLES BLACK,

Plaintiff,

v.

DELANO REGIONAL MEDICAL 

CENTER, et al., 

Defendant.

1:15-cv-01124 MJS (PC) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(ECF No. 9)

On August 9, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. 

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. 

Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an attorney 

to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for the 

S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However, in certain exceptional 

circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 

section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court 

will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In 

determining whether exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate 

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. Id.

Case 1:15-cv-01124-MJS Document 10 Filed 08/10/15 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional 

circumstances. Even 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. Further, at this early 

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. Id. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is 

HEREBY DENIED, without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 10, 2015 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01124-MJS Document 10 Filed 08/10/15 Page 2 of 2