Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01488/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01488-1/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

MICKEY DONOHUE,

Plaintiff,

v.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF’S 

DEPARTMENT,

Defendant.

No. 2:15-cv-1488 CKD P 

ORDER

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 5.) 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. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court 

does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of 

counsel will therefore be denied without prejudice to renewal at a later stage of the litigation.

Plaintiff also seeks an extension of time to file unspecified documents after using the 

prison library. (ECF No. 5.) The only deadline at this time is for plaintiff to file an affidavit in 

support of his application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the filing fee, so that this action 

Case 2:15-cv-01488-CKD Document 6 Filed 08/10/15 Page 1 of 2
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may go forward. (ECF No. 4.) Plaintiff will be granted thirty days from the date of this order to 

file an IFP affidavit or pay the fee, extending the earlier deadline. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s August 3, 2015 motion is 

granted in part and denied in part as follows: 

1. Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. 5) is denied without prejudice; and 

2. Plaintiff shall submit, within thirty days of the date of this order, an affidavit in support 

of his request to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of Court, or the 

required fees in the amount of $400.00. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in 

a recommendation that this action be dismissed. 

Dated: August 10, 2015

2/dono1488.31

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:15-cv-01488-CKD Document 6 Filed 08/10/15 Page 2 of 2