Christ v. Blackwell et al

Filing 117

ORDER denying 115 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan on 09/26/13. (Plummer, M)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JON CHRIST,
Plaintiff,

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No. 2:10-cv-760-EFB P

vs.
R. BLACKWELL, et al.,
Defendants.

ORDER
/

Jon Christ, plaintiff, is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought

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under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The case is before the court pursuant to the parties’ consent. ECF Nos.

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4, 14, 74; 28 U.S.C. § 636; E.D. Cal. Local Rules, Appx. A, at (k)(1)-(2). Plaintiff has filed a

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motion requesting appointment of counsel. ECF No. 115.

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District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section

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1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S. Ct. 1814, 104 L. Ed.

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2d 318 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily to

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represent such a plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1); Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017

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(9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). When

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determining whether "exceptional circumstances" exist, the court must consider the likelihood of
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success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light

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of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir.

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2009).

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The court finds no exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of counsel at
this time, and plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 115) is therefore denied without prejudice.
So ordered.
Dated: September 26, 2013.

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