Opinion ID: 498455
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Request for Counsel and Issuance of Subpoenas

Text: 17 Cupit additionally argues that the magistrate erred in refusing to appoint counsel to assist him in the pursuance of his section 1983 claim. There is no automatic right to the appointment of counsel in a section 1983 case. Jackson v. Dallas Police Department, 811 F.2d 260, 261 (5th Cir.1986). Furthermore, a district court is not required to appoint counsel in the absence of exceptional circumstances which are dependent on the type and complexity of the case and the abilities of the individual pursuing that case. Id. at 261. We will overturn a decision of the district court on the appointment of counsel only if a clear abuse of discretion is shown. Id. 18 In the instant case, the magistrate, in denying Cupit's motion for counsel, found that the type of case was not complex, that Cupit had done a credible job of presenting motions and filing papers, that Cupit had been adequately able to investigate his case, and that the evidence primarily would consist of medical records and other documentary evidence. Furthermore, the magistrate noted Cupit's ability to interrogate witnesses at the evidentiary hearing; therefore, the magistrate denied Cupit's motion for counsel. On this record, we do not perceive the magistrate's decision denying Cupit counsel to be an abuse of discretion. See Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691 F.2d 209, 213 (5th Cir.1982). 19 Cupit also claims that the magistrate erred in refusing to grant his request that subpoenas be issued to approximately nine witnesses and in denying his request for production of certain jail documents. While we have found no authority in our Circuit on this specific point, the Eighth Circuit has held that the trial court has discretionary power to refuse to subpoena witnesses and prevent abuse of process in both civil and criminal proceedings. Mosby v. Mabry, 697 F.2d 213, 214 (8th Cir.1982). See also Cookish v. Cunningham, 787 F.2d 1, 5 (1st Cir.1986) (No authority exists for the proposition that an indigent litigant is constitutionally entitled to subpoena an unlimited number of witnesses, including prisoners, without the payment of witness fees, and without a more substantial showing of need for the testimony of the requested witnesses.). As Cupit has failed to demonstrate that any relevant testimony was excluded because the magistrate denied his request to subpoena witnesses, nor has Cupit demonstrated a substantial showing of need for the testimony of those witnesses, we conclude that the magistrate did not abuse his discretion in denying Cupit's request. As a practical matter, most of the witnesses requested by Cupit testified at the evidentiary hearing. Furthermore, we believe that the magistrate's decision to deny Cupit's request for production of jail documents did not constitute an abuse of discretion. The magistrate noted in his order denying Cupit's request for production of documents that the defendants would have the requested documents at the evidentiary hearing. We therefore reject Cupit's contentions and affirm the judgment of the district court. 20 AFFIRMED.