Ackley v. Carroll et al

Filing 43

ORDER DENYING Motion for Appointment of Counsel 42 , signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 7/30/10: Motion is DENIED, without prejudice. (Hellings, J)

(PC) Ackley v. Carroll et al

Doc. 43

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DONALD J. ACKLEY, 12 Plaintiff, 13 vs. 14 D. CARROLL, et al. 15 Defendants. 16 ________________________________/ 17 On , plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff does 18 not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 19 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff 20 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern 21 District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). However, in certain 22 exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 23 section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 24 Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court 25 will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining 26 whether "exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of 27 success of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of 28 -1Dockets.Justia.com

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1:06-cv-00771 AWI-SKO (PC) ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL (MOTION #42)

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the complexity of the legal issues involved." Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does not find that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id. For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY DENIED, without prejudice. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 0mee July 30, 2010 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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