Matthew v. Lahey et al

Filing 80

ORDER DENYING 79 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 9/30/11. (Manzer, C)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JOSEPH B. MATTHEWS,
Plaintiff,

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vs.

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No. 2:09-cv-2415 GEB KJN P

LAHEY, et al.,
Defendants.

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ORDER
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Plaintiff requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court

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has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in

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§ 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain

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exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to

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28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v.

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Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court does not

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find the required exceptional circumstances. Therefore, plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of

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counsel is denied.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s September 26, 2011

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motion for the appointment of counsel (dkt. no. 79) is denied.

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DATED: September 30, 2011

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_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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matt2415.31

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