Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01470/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01470-6/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

KENNETH ALLAN ACQUAH,

Plaintiff,

v.

DAVID BAUGHMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:19-cv-1470 JAM DB P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action. Plaintiff alleges 

defendants used excessive force in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. Plaintiff has 

requested appointment of counsel. Plaintiff states he cannot afford counsel and has limited 

knowledge of the law. Plaintiff also argues that it will be difficult to manage litigation while 

incarcerated. 

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 district 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. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). 

The test for exceptional circumstances requires the court to evaluate the plaintiff’s 

likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in 

light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 

Case 2:19-cv-01470-JAM-DB Document 25 Filed 03/31/20 Page 1 of 2
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1331 (9th Cir. 1986); Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Circumstances 

common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not 

establish exceptional circumstances that would warrant a request for voluntary assistance of 

counsel. In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 24) is denied.

DATED: March 30, 2020

/s/ DEBORAH BARNES

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

DLB:9

DB/prisoner-civil rights/acqu1470.31

Case 2:19-cv-01470-JAM-DB Document 25 Filed 03/31/20 Page 2 of 2