Mason v. Mercy Medical Center et al

Filing 17

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison on 11/14/2011 DENYING plaintiff's 15 request for appointment of counsel. (Yin, K)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JOSHUA LEWIS MASON,

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Plaintiff,

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No. CIV S-11-1309-CMK-P

vs.

ORDER

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, et al.,

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Defendants.

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/

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Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to

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42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel

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(Doc. 15). The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to

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require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. See Mallard v. United States

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Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may

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request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). See Terrell v.

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Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36

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(9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court does not at this time find the required exceptional

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circumstances.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for the
appointment of counsel (Doc. 15) is denied.

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DATED: November 14, 2011
______________________________________
CRAIG M. KELLISON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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