Stephens v. City of Montgomery et al (INMATE2)

Filing 15

ORDER denying 4 Motion for Appointment of Counsel. Signed by Judge Charles S. Coody on 6/1/2007. (cc, )

Stephens v. City of Montgomery et al (INMATE2)

Doc. 15

Case 2:07-cv-00473-ID-CSC

Document 15

Filed 06/01/2007

Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA NORTHERN DIVISION _____________________________ JAMES A. STEPHENS, III Plaintiff, v. CITY OF MONTGOMERY, et al., Defendants. _____________________________ * * * * * 2:07-CV-473-ID (WO)

ORDER ON MOTION Pending before the court is Plaintiff's request for appointment of counsel. A plaintiff in a civil case has no constitutional right to counsel. While an indigent plaintiff may be appointed counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), a court retains broad discretion in making this decision. See Killian v. Holt, 166 F.3d 1156, 1157 (11th Cir.1999). Here, the court finds from its review of the complaint that Plaintiff is able to adequately articulate the facts and grounds for relief in the instant matter without notable difficulty. Furthermore, the court concludes that Plaintiff's complaint is not of undue complexity and that he has not shown that there are exceptional circumstances justifying appointment of counsel. See Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 193 (11th Cir. 1993); Dean v. Barber, 951 F.2d 1210, 1216 (11th Cir. 1992); see also Fowler v. Jones, 899 F.2d 1088, 1096 (11th Cir. 1990). Therefore, in the exercise of its discretion, the court shall deny Plaintiff's

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Case 2:07-cv-00473-ID-CSC

Document 15

Filed 06/01/2007

Page 2 of 2

request for appointment of counsel at this time. The request may be reconsidered if warranted by further developments in this case. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. No. 4), is DENIED. Done, this 1st day of June 2007.

/s/ Charles S. Coody CHARLES S. COODY CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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