Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02417/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02417-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JIM DEAN WOLFENBARGER,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-03-2417 MCE EFB P

vs.

VIRGINIA BLACK, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

On December 18, 2006, plaintiff filed a request for reconsideration of the court’s order

filed August 22, 2006, denying his request for appointment of counsel. Local Rule 72-303(b)

provides that “rulings by Magistrate Judges shall be final if no reconsideration thereof is sought 

. . . within ten (10) court days.” Plaintiff’s motion was filed five months after the order denying

counsel. Accordingly, it is untimely and the request for reconsideration is denied.

Although untimely as a request for reconsideration, the court construes the December 18,

2006, filing as a renewed request for appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court

has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in

§ 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 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); Wood v.

Case 2:03-cv-02417-MCE -EFB Document 91 Filed 02/06/07 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). Even considering the additional showing

made in plaintiff’s December 18, 2006, filing, the court does not find the required exceptional

circumstances. 

Plaintiff’s December 18, 2006, motion for reconsideration, construed as a renewed

request for the appointment of counsel, is denied.

DATED: February 5, 2007.

Case 2:03-cv-02417-MCE -EFB Document 91 Filed 02/06/07 Page 2 of 2