Ratcliff v. Schriro et al

Filing 30

ORDER denying without prejudice 29 Motion to Appoint Counsel. Signed by Magistrate Judge David K Duncan on 9/14/09.(DMT, )

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

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Larry R. Ratcliff, Plaintiff, vs. Dora B. Schriro, et al., Defendants.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

No. CIV 08-2022-PHX-MHM (DKD)

ORDER

This matter arises on Plaintiff's Motion for the Appointment of Counsel (Doc.#29). Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel because he lacks legal training, cannot afford counsel, and because the issues in this matter are complex. (Id.) There is no constitutional right to appointment of counsel in a civil case. See Johnson v. Dep't of Treasury, 939 F.2d 820, 824 (9th Cir. 1991). Appointment of counsel in a civil rights case is required only when exceptional circumstances are present. Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986)). In determining whether to appoint counsel, the court should consider the likelihood of success on the merits, and the ability of plaintiff to articulate his claims in view of their complexity. Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335 (9th Cir. 1990). Plaintiff has not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits, nor has he shown that he is experiencing difficulty in litigating this case because of the complexity of the issues involved. Moreover, Plaintiff's numerous filings with the Court as well as the pending motion, indicate that Plaintiff is capable of presenting legal and factual arguments to the Court. After

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

reviewing the file, the Court determines that this case does not present exceptional circumstances requiring the appointment of counsel. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for the Appointment of Counsel (Doc. #29) is DENIED without prejudice. DATED this 14th day of September, 2009.

-2-