Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00978/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00978-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

On June 23, 2014, Plaintiff Antonio Ramirez, Jr. (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint, including a 

request for appointment of counsel “due to the complexity of [his] complaint.” (Doc. 1 at 3.) 

Plaintiff is informed that in most civil cases, there is no constitutional right to counsel, but the 

Court may request an attorney to represent indigent persons. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). The Court cannot 

require representation of a plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Mallard v. U.S. District Court for 

the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). Nevertheless, in “exceptional circumstances,” 

the Court has discretion to request the voluntary assistance of counsel. Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 

1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997). 

To determine 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.” Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525 (internal quotation marks 

and citations omitted). Here, Plaintiff has demonstrated that he is able to state his position in an 

ANTONIO RAMIREZ, JR., 

 Plaintiff,

v.

BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPT., et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-00978 - --- - JLT

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST

FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE

Case 1:14-cv-00978-JLT Document 4 Filed 06/30/14 Page 1 of 2
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intelligible manner before the Court. Further, at this early stage in the proceeding, the Court is unable 

to make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits. Therefore, the Court does not 

find the required exceptional circumstances at this time. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel is 

DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 30, 2014 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00978-JLT Document 4 Filed 06/30/14 Page 2 of 2