Hernandez v. Ballam, et al.

Filing 26

ORDER Denying 23 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 02/11/2018. (Flores, E)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ANTHONY CEASAR HERNANDEZ,

Case No.: 1:17-cv-00468-BAM (PC)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

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v.

[ECF No. 23]

BALLAM, et al.,
Defendants.

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Plaintiff Anthony Ceasar Hernandez is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

18 pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel, filed on

20 February 7, 2018. (ECF No. 23.) In support, Plaintiff states that he is unable to afford counsel,
21 his imprisonment limits his ability to litigate, that this case is complex, and he has limited legal
22 knowledge and law library access. He also discusses that he has not completed high school and
23 has mental health issues that affect his comprehension, and takes psychiatric medications.
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Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v.

25 Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), rev’d in part on other grounds, 154 F.3d 952,
26 954 n.1 (9th Cir. 1998), and the Court cannot require an attorney to represent Plaintiff pursuant
27 to 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(1), Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298
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1 assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. Without a
2 reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek volunteer counsel
3 only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether “exceptional
4 circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success on the merits
5 [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the
6 legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
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In this case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances for the

8 appointment of counsel. Even if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that
9 he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not
10 exceptional. Despite Plaintiff’s mental health issues and treatment with psychiatric medications,
11 a review of the record in this case shows that Plaintiff is able to articulate his claims and
12 arguments. The legal issue he proceeds upon is not complex; the Court is faced with similar
13 cases involving allegations of excessive force and the failure to protect almost daily.
14 Furthermore, at this stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make a determination that
15 Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits.
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For these reasons, Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel, filed on February 7,

17 2018 (ECF No. 23), is HEREBY DENIED, without prejudice.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

/s/ Barbara

February 11, 2018

A. McAuliffe

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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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