Walker v. Karles

Filing 49

ORDER denying 48 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 07/08/10. (Plummer, M)

(PC) Walker v. Karles

Doc. 49

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 vs. A. KARELAS, Defendant. / Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On July 2, 2010, plaintiff filed a motion for the appointment of counsel, arguing therein that he is unable to adequately argue his legal claims in this action due to his psychiatric medication. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, however, the district court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). ///// 1
Dockets.Justia.com

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CHARLES E. WALKER, Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-2545 MCE DAD P

ORDER

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DAD: sj walk2545.31

The test for exceptional circumstances requires the court to evaluate the plaintiff's likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986); Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Circumstances that are common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional circumstances that would warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel. Here, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's July 2, 2010 motion for appointment of counsel (Doc. No. 48) is denied. DATED: July 8, 2010.

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