Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05929/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05929-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
George Hamilton
Plaintiff
Bill Lockyer
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GEORGE HAMILTON, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

 )

v. ) 

)

BILL LOCKYER, )

 )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:04-CV-5929 REC SMS P 

 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR

EXTENSION OF TIME - AND -

DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(DOCUMENT #10)

Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding pro se in a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983. On June 2, 2005 plaintiff filed a motion to extend time to file an amended complaint. 

In addition to plaintiff's request for an extension of time to file an amended

complaint, plaintiff has requested appointment of counsel.

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. 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 District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S.

296, 109 S.Ct. 1814 (1989).

In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance 

of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Without a reasonable method of securing and

Case 1:04-cv-05929-NVW Document 12 Filed 07/08/05 Page 1 of 2
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compensating counsel, this court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and

exceptional cases.

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

Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious

allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is

faced with similar cases almost daily. Therefore, plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel

must be denied.

Good cause having been presented to the court and GOOD CAUSE APPEARING

THEREFOR, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

 1. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order in which to file

the amended complaint..

2. Plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 7, 2005 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

b6edp0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-05929-NVW Document 12 Filed 07/08/05 Page 2 of 2