Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00093/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00093-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Doctor
Defendant
Tracy Lee Dotson
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TRACY LEE DOTSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

DOCTOR,

Defendant.

1:14-cv-00093-SKO (PC) 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(Document #2)

On November 27, 2013, 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 of 

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 1:14-cv-00093-LJO-SKO Document 8 Filed 01/23/14 Page 1 of 2
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances at this 

stage in the proceedings. Once the court has screened plaintiff’s complaint, the court will 

reevaluate plaintiff’s need for counsel if it determines the complaint states a viable claim for 

relief.

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 Id.

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

DENIED, without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 23, 2014 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

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Plaintiff’s complaint will be screened in due course. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. 

Case 1:14-cv-00093-LJO-SKO Document 8 Filed 01/23/14 Page 2 of 2