Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_07-cv-00024/USCOURTS-alsd-1_07-cv-00024-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Officer Barbers
Defendant
Kenneth Toney
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

KENNETH TONEY, :

Plaintiff, :

vs. : CIVIL ACTION 07-0024-CG-C

OFFICER BARBERS, :

 Defendant. :

ORDER

Plaintiff has filed two Motions for Appointment of Counsel (Docs. 9, 12). Plaintiff's

requests for appointed counsel are DENIED. 

In a case such as this, the Court may exercise its discretion by requesting the assistance of

counsel under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e). Mallard v. U. S. Dist. Court for the Southern Dist. of Iowa, 490

U.S. 296, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 104 L.Ed.2d 319 (1989). Such requests are not mandatory except in

"exceptional circumstances" where the complexity of the case or the competence of Plaintiff makes

pro se prosecution of the claim fundamentally unfair. Steele v. Shah, 87 F.3d 1266, 1271 (11th Cir.

1996); Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 193 (11th Cir. 1993) ("key is whether the pro se litigant needs

help in presenting the essential merits of his or her position to the court"); Poole v. Lambert, 819

F.2d 1025 (11th Cir. 1987); Wahl v. McIver, 773 F.2d 1169, 1174 (11th Cir. 1985). 

A review of the file in this cause reveals no such circumstances. Plaintiff has demonstrated

his ability to communicate and present his case to this Court. Upon consideration of the standard

set forth in those cases cited herein, the Magistrate Judge denies discretionary appointment. 

Case 1:07-cv-00024-CG-C Document 13 Filed 04/12/07 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff's Motion for Identification of defendant's counsel (Doc. 6) is DENIED as moot.

 DONE this 11th day of April, 2007.

s/WILLIAM E. CASSADY 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00024-CG-C Document 13 Filed 04/12/07 Page 2 of 2