Himes v. Gipson et al
Filing
7
ORDER DENYING 6 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 8/12/2013. (Sant Agata, S)
(PC) Himes v. Gipson et al
Doc. 7
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 RODERICK HIMES,
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1:13-cv-00021-DLB (PC)
Plaintiff,
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
13 vs.
14 CONNIE GIPSON, et al.,
(MOTION #6)
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Defendants.
16 ________________________________/
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On August 9, 2013, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff
18 does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113
19 F.3d 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.
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Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek
25 volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether
26 “exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success
27 of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the
28 complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
-1Dockets.Justia.com
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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even
2 if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious
3 allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is
4 faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the court
5 cannot make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a
6 review of the record in this case, the court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately articulate
7 his claims. Id.
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Moreover, to the extent that Plaintiff requests that Inmate Lionell Tholmer be permitted
9 to represent him, his request is denied. Inmate Tholmer, who is a non-lawyer, may not represent
10 anyone but himself in court. Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th Cir. 1997);
11 C. E. Pope Equity Trust v. United States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore,
12 Plaintiff’s motion for leave to allow Inmate Tholmer to represent Plaintiff must be denied.
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For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY
14 DENIED, without prejudice.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
9b0hie
August 12, 2013
/s/ Dennis L. Beck
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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