Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-01744/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-01744-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ARMANDO HERRERA,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-10-1744 EFB P

vs.

GARDNER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff has requested 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

counsel voluntarily to represent such a plaintiff. 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 court finds that there are no exceptional circumstances in this case. 

Plaintiff has also submitted an affidavit requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Section 1915(a)(2) requires “a prisoner seeking to bring a

civil action without prepayment of fees or security therefor, in addition to filing the affidavit

Case 2:10-cv-01744-GEB-EFB Document 5 Filed 07/19/10 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

filed under paragraph (1), shall submit a certified copy of the trust fund account statement (or

institutional equivalent) for the prisoner for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing

of the complaint . . . , obtained from the appropriate official of each prison at which the prisoner

is or was confined.” Plaintiff has not submitted a certified copy of his trust account statement or

the institutional equivalent. He may comply with this requirement by having prison officials

complete the “Certificate” portion of the form application for leave to proceed in forma

pauperis.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s July 8, 2010 request for appointment of counsel is denied.

2. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this order is served to submit the required trust

account statement. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that 

this action be dismissed. 

3. The Clerk of the court is directed to send to plaintiff a new form Application to

Proceed In Forma Pauperis by a Prisoner.

DATED: July 19, 2010.

Case 2:10-cv-01744-GEB-EFB Document 5 Filed 07/19/10 Page 2 of 2