Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00257/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00257-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Henry A. Jones
Plaintiff
David Macher
Defendant

Document Text:

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

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HENRY A. JONES, et al., )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

)

v. )

)

DAVID MACHER, et al., ) 

 )

Defendants. )

)

 )

1:05-CV-0257-OWW-SMS 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(DOC. 15)

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On April 22, 2005,

Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint and entitled the

document, in part, as a motion for the appointment of counsel.

Plaintiff made no showing or argument in support of the request.

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. §

Case 1:05-cv-00257-OWW -SMS Document 16 Filed 04/27/05 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

27

28

2

1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015 (9th Cir. 1990);

Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332 (9th Cir. 1990). Without a

reasonable method of securing and 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. The Court is faced with similar cases

almost daily. Therefore, Plaintiff’s request for the appointment

of counsel is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 26, 2005 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00257-OWW -SMS Document 16 Filed 04/27/05 Page 2 of 2