Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00393/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00393-6/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

DARIUS SIMS,

Plaintiff,

v.

SCOTT HEATLEY, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-0393 KJN

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se, in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. Plaintiff requests that the court appoint 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 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). 

By concurrent order, this case has been referred to the Post-Screening Alternative Dispute 

Resolution (“ADR”) Project in an effort to resolve this case. Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion for 

appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice following the completion of the ADR process. 

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Case 2:14-cv-00393-KJN Document 50 Filed 05/02/16 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 48) is denied without prejudice.

Dated: May 2, 2016

sims0393.31.kjn

Case 2:14-cv-00393-KJN Document 50 Filed 05/02/16 Page 2 of 2