Suniga v. Van Sant et al

Filing 12

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 4/12/2012 DENYING, without prejudice, plaintiff's 7 motion for the 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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ALFRED SUNIGA,
Plaintiff,

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vs.

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No. CIV S-11-2572 CKD P

J. VAN SANT, et al.,
Defendants.

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

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

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

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certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel

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

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Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court

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does not find the required exceptional circumstances at this time. Plaintiff’s motion for the

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appointment of counsel will therefore be denied without prejudice to renewal at a later stage of

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the proceedings.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the

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appointment of counsel (Docket No. 7) is denied without prejudice.
Dated: April 12, 2012

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_____________________________________
CAROLYN K. DELANEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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