Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00680/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00680-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Brazelton
Defendant
Ronald Everett
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RONALD EVERETT,

Plaintiff,

v.

BRAZELTON,

Defendant.

1:12-cv-00680-BAM (PC) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(ECF No. 26)

On June 10, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff 

does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 

F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern 

District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). However, in certain 

exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 

section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek 

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 

Aexceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the 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.@ Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

Case 1:12-cv-00680-BAM Document 29 Filed 06/11/15 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. 

Although plaintiff asserts that he has serious health issues, he does not provide the Court with any 

identification of those issues or evidentiary support. Moreover, 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. Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that 

plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the 

court does not find that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id.

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff=s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY 

DENIED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 11, 2015 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:12-cv-00680-BAM Document 29 Filed 06/11/15 Page 2 of 2