Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-01691/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-01691-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DERRICK SIMS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

DR. MICHAEL SAYRE, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 08-01691 SBA (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL AND

DENYING MOTION FOR ORDER TO

ALLOW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM

PRISONER JAIL HOUSE LAWYERS

WHILE COURT CONSIDERS TO

ASSIGN COUNSEL

Plaintiff has filed a motion for appointment of counsel to represent him in this action. He has

also filed a "Motion for Order to Allow Legal Assistance from Prisoner Jail House Lawyers While

Court Considers to Assign Counsel."

There is no constitutional right to counsel in a civil case unless an indigent litigant may lose

his physical liberty if he loses the litigation. See Lassiter v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 25

(1981); Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997) (no constitutional right to counsel in

§ 1983 action), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh'g en banc, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998)

(en banc). The court may ask counsel to represent an indigent litigant under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 only

in "exceptional circumstances," the determination of which requires an evaluation of both (1) the

likelihood of success on the merits, and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se

in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See id. at 1525; Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d

1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). Both of

Case 4:08-cv-01691-SBA Document 34 Filed 05/21/10 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.08\Sims1691.DenyAtty.frm2

these factors must be viewed together before reaching a decision on a request for counsel under

§ 1915. See id. 

The Court is unable to assess at this time whether exceptional circumstances exist which

would warrant seeking volunteer counsel to accept a pro bono appointment. The proceedings are at

an early stage and it is premature for the Court to determine Plaintiff's likelihood of success on the

merits. Moreover, Plaintiff has been able to articulate his claims adequately pro se in light of the

complexity of the issues involved. See Agyeman v. Corrs. Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th

Cir. 2004). Accordingly, the request for appointment of counsel (docket no. 29) at this time is

DENIED. The Court will consider appointment of counsel later in the proceedings, after Defendants

have filed their dispositive motion and the Court has a better understanding of the procedural and

substantive matters at issue. Therefore, Plaintiff may file a renewed motion for the appointment of

counsel after Defendants' dispositive motion has been filed. If the Court decides that appointment of

counsel is warranted at that time, it will seek volunteer counsel to agree to represent Plaintiff pro

bono.

Because the Court has denied Plaintiff's request for appointment of counsel, the Court also

DENIES his "Motion for Order to Allow Legal Assistance from Prisoner Jail House Lawyers While

Court Considers to Assign Counsel" (docket no. 31).

This Order terminates Docket nos. 29 and 31.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 5/17/10 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:08-cv-01691-SBA Document 34 Filed 05/21/10 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.08\Sims1691.DenyAtty.frm3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DERRICK SIMS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

MICHAEL SAYRE et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV08-01691 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on May 21, 2010, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Derrick D. Sims J-20913

Pelican Bay State Prison

P.O. Box 7500

Crescent City, CA 95531

Dated: May 21, 2010

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:08-cv-01691-SBA Document 34 Filed 05/21/10 Page 3 of 3