Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00604/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00604-19/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Michael Huftile
Plaintiff
Jack Vognsen
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL HUFTILE,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-03-0604 RRB JFM P

vs.

JACK VOGNSEN, Ph.D.,

Defendant. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel in light of his medical

problems and severe back pain. 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 Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the

court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 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). "A finding of exceptional circumstances requires an evaluation of both the

likelihood of success on the merits [and] the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro

se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved." Terrell, 935 F.2d at 1017 (citation

omitted). Neither factor is dispositive and both must be viewed together before reaching a

decision on request for counsel under § 1915. Id.

Case 2:03-cv-00604-RRB -JFM Document 58 Filed 06/22/07 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court finds that plaintiff’s health concerns do not present

such extraordinary circumstances that the appointment of counsel is required, particularly

because it is unlikely plaintiff will succeed on the merits of this case. (See Findings and

Recommendations issued herewith.) Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel will

therefore be denied.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s June 14, 2007 request

for the appointment of counsel is denied.

DATED: June 21, 2007.

/mp/001

huft0604.31(2)

Case 2:03-cv-00604-RRB -JFM Document 58 Filed 06/22/07 Page 2 of 2